Graduate Info

Frequently Asked Questions by Applicants

Application Process • Transfers • Money Matters • Standardized Tests • Miscellaneous

The Application Process

How competitive is admission and obtaining aid?

Admissions for the Department of Computer Science are very competitive. Every year we receive over 500 applications for our programs. We encourage applicants to send complete applications well in advance of the deadlines.

What qualities do you look for in a good candidate? What goes into a promising application?

For a list of minimum admission criteria, go to our requirements web page. The criteria for an assistantship are comparable to that of admission to our PhD program: high scores on standardized tests, adequate background in computer science, strong letters of recommendation, good grades from a strong undergraduate program, and research interests shared with the faculty.

Can you give me an idea of my chances for admission or for assistantships before I submit my application?

It is not possible for us to pre-evaluate an applicant. You must send your entire application to us with all supporting documents in order for us to make such a determination. All admissions go through a central committee, and only after acceptances are made, do faculty look at the incoming students for possible assistantship offers.

What are the prerequisites for grad admission?

For a list of prerequisite courses for graduate admission, see our web page: prerequisites

I don't have the necessary prerequisites for admission. My undergraduate degree is in another major. What options do I have to get into the program?

You can take the prerequisites elsewhere before applying. Or you can begin here as a Graduate non-degree seeking student to complete these . In that status you can take undergraduate and graduate level courses in any department on campus.

You must apply directly to the Graduate College for non-degree status. It is often difficult for international students to get this type of admission because of visa requirements, so please be sure you check with the Graduate College.

There is no guarantee that you would be given admission to our program based on completion of the prerequisites here.

If I have professional work experience in the computer industry, can I count that toward my prerequisite course work?

Industrial experience can sometimes count towards prerequisite coursework; however, this determination is made on a case-by-case basis. It will be necessary for you to send us your complete application and supporting documents in order to evaluate you for admission, and determine if you have any course deficiencies.

How can I check the status of my application?

We will contact you if anything is missing. (NOTE: Applicants will be contacted via email.) You can contact the Graduate College Admissions office via email if necessary. Email sent to gradadmissions@cs.arizona.edu regarding status of applications will be answered as time permits. Please note that your application cannot be evaluated until all required supporting documents are received.

Can supporting documents be sent separately?

Since some schools and references will only send information directly to us, we will accept those materials sent under separate cover. Make sure any documents being sent by others is done so in a timely fashion. Letters of reference sent directly to us must be sealed by the writer and signed across the seal.

Transferring to The University of Arizona

If I want to transfer to UA, do I have to apply formally or is there another process?

Students wishing to transfer to our graduate program from another program must formally apply using the same application materials as regular applicants.

If admitted, how many classes can I transfer into the program?

Only 20% of course work required for the Master's degree can be transferred in from another institution. That is the equivalent of two 3-unit courses. However, these units must meet the following criteria: 1) they must have earned graduate credit, 2) they must have earned a grade of "A" or "B", 3) they could not have been used for credit towards another degree, and 4) they must be approved by a faculty member in this department as being equivalent to our course(s).

Money Matters

What forms of financial aid are available from the department?

For information about financial aid, see our web page: "Financial Aid"

What are the estimated yearly expenses for a graduate student?

For a list of estimated costs, see: Estimated Expenses

How do I apply for an assistantship?

Complete the one-page Assistantship application form in the departmental application packet. Those completing the form will be considered for all types of available aid.

Under what circumstances must I submit a financial guarantee statement?

If you are admitted and granted enough financial aid to cover the required amount, you will not need to do anything further. If you are admitted with partial aid or no aid, you will then have to submit a guarantee for the appropriate amount. Send all bank statements and/or letters of support with the financial guarantee to the Graduate College Admissions Office.

Is the financial guarantee and/or bank statement required by the application deadline?

No, the financial guarantee is not needed by the deadline. When you have been offered admission, the financial guarantee must be submitted to the Graduate College as soon as possible. Delays could hold up the processing of your admission and I-20 form.

What if I am applying for financial aid? Do I still need to submit the financial guarantee?

All you need to do is complete the first section entitled "Applicant's Personal Data" on the Assistantship Application form, sign and date the bottom line, and mark (x) the line above it that reads "Graduate Assistantship From the University of Arizona." This will alert the Graduate College that you are applying for the assistantship and that you do not have any other means of financial support.

Because of my severe financial circumstances, the application fee would be a serious burden. Can it be waived or deferred?

PhD applicants may request a fee waiver to the University of Arizona Graduate College through the the Department of Computer Science by submitting the PhD fee waiver request form found on our website (http://www.cs.arizona.edu/graduate/admissions/).

The Computer Science Graduate Admissions committee will review all fee waiver requests and all decisions made by the committee are final. There are a limited number of waivers the department is able to grant. An applicant must show financial need for the waiver and be prepared to pay the fee if the request is not granted by the admissions committee. The granting of the fee waiver in no way guarantees admission to the program.

Standardized Tests

If I don't provide original GRE and/or TOEFL scores with my application, will I still be evaluated for admission?

As stated in our application packet, we will accept attested copies of the GRE and TOEFL scores for purposes of evaluation. If you should be recommended for admission, you will then be required to submit original score reports from ETS.

What if my GRE scores are not available before/by the deadline for submitting my application?

Send in your application, fee, and all other supporting documents by the deadline. When the GRE scores arrive, we will then evaluate your application. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be considered for the semester of your choosing. It will depend on the date by which we receive the scores. Your application may be updated to another semester. Updates are permitted once, free of charge. After that, one would have to reapply and pay another fee. If you wish to update your application, please contact us.

What if my GREs (or GPA) is below your minimums? Am I automatically denied admission?

Our minimum GRE/TOEFL scores and GPA are guidelines and not hard cut-off points. Therefore, if your scores are below the minimums, this does not mean that you will automatically be excluded from the applicant pool.

What TSE score is required for a Teaching Assistantship? If I'm applying for a Research Assistantship, why should I take the TSE?

A TSE score of 50 is required of all international students who are applying for a Teaching Assistantship. The TSE/SPEAK requirement cannot be waived. This is a Graduate College requirement.

Be advised that the majority of incoming students supported with an assistantship will be given a Teaching Assistantship vs. a Research Assistantship. Therefore, it would behoove all applicants needing aid to take this exam. Submitting an application without this score will diminish one's chances of admission with an assistantship.

To further clarify, the TSE is not required for the Research Assistantship position. However, these RA positions are usually awarded to continuing students. New students given an assistantship usually get a Teaching Assistantship. It may be possible for you to get a research assistantship, but chances are slim.

If you should gain admission to this department without aid, you can take the University's SPEAK test, which is an equivalent to the TSE and is given free of charge. It would be to your benefit to take the SPEAK test as soon as possible upon arrival. In the event that an assistantship position might come open, having met the SPEAK requirement would allow you to be considered as a candidate.

Miscellaneous

I would like to ask some questions of the faculty. How do I go about this?

We prefer that applicants do not make blanket requests for information, advice, or financial aid to the entire faculty.

Be advised that it is not possible for us to pre-evaluate an applicant's chances of admission or chances of receiving financial support. You must send your entire application to us with all supporting documents in order for us to make such a determination. All admissions go through a central committee, and only after acceptances are made, do faculty look at the incoming students for possible assistantship offers.