To apply for admission to our master's and/or doctoral programs, read the following instructions carefully and make certain that you have met all requirements when you submit your application. You can apply to up to three doctoral programs and any of the master's programs.

• Application Fee
  • The application fee is $100 per program. If you apply before the early deadline of Nov. 19, 2025 (3 p.m. EST), then the application fee is $80 per program.
    
    • Note: The MSE, MSE-ES, MSE-SS, MHCI programs are not following any early deadlines in the application fee is $100.
    • If the application fee presents financial hardship to the applicant, they may apply for a financial or participants of program fee waiver which is available within the application.
• Test Scores
  • If you need to take/retake your TOEFL, IELTS and/or GRE for this application, we highly recommend you take the exam no later than Nov. 26, 2025. Reportable scores can take two weeks to process and we may not be able to review any scores that arrive after our Dec. 10, 2025, deadline.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
    
    • Each program sets its policy on whether GRE scores are required and which test type is accepted. You will find this information in the application and on the programs website.
    • GRE scores will not be accepted if they are more than five years old.
    • Send scores via ETS using our SCS/CMU codes:
      • GRE Institution Code: 2074
      • GRE Department Code: 0402
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency (if applicable) 
    • If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you ("native language" meaning spoken at home and from birth), we are required to formally evaluate your English proficiency.
    • We require applicants who will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and for whom English is not a native language, to demonstrate English proficiency via one of these standardized tests: TOEFL (preferred), IELTS or Duolingo. We discourage the use of the "TOEFL ITP Plus for China," since speaking is not scored.
    • We do not issue waivers for non-native speakers of English. In particular, we do not issue waivers based on previous study at a U.S. high school, college or university. We also do not issue waivers based on previous study at an English-language high school, college or university outside of the United States. No amount of educational experience in English, regardless of the country it occurred in, will result in a test waiver. 
    • Some of our programs will accept expired test scores from applicants who have recently completed a degree in the United States if the applicant can present a copy of an official score report showing the applicant's picture, not an unofficial score listing. Please consult the information for each specific program you apply to.
  • Submit valid, recent scores: If, as described above, you are required to submit proof of English proficiency, your TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test scores will be considered valid as follows: 
    • If you have not received a bachelor’s degree in the U.S., you will need to submit a English proficiency score no older than two years. (Test scores taken before Sept. 1, 2023, will not be accepted.)
    • If you are currently working on or have received a bachelor's and/or a master's degree in the U.S., you may submit an expired test score up to five years old. (Test scores taken before Sept. 1, 2020, will not be accepted.)
      • Important: Applicants applying to MCDS and MHCI are required to submit scores from an English proficiency exam taken within the last two years. Scores taken before Sept. 1, 2023, will not be accepted regardless of whether you have previously studied in the U.S. For more information about their English proficiency score policies, visit the MCDS or MHCI admissions websites.
    •  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
      •  Send scores via ETS using our SCS/CMU codes:
        • TOEFL Institution Code: 4256
        • TOEFL Department Code: 78
        • A successful applicant will normally have a total iBT score of at least 100.
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 
      • We prefer that you take the TOEFL, but we will accept the IELTS.
      • The same restrictions of expiration dates apply with an IELTS.
      • An IELTS score of 7 is equivalent to a TOEFL score of 100.
      • We accept IELTS scores through E-delivery. Please use the information below when setting up your IELTS scores for delivery to our institution.
        
        Account Name: Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science
        Address: School of Computer Science
        5000 Forbes Avenue
        Pittsburgh, PA 15213   
        United States 
    • Duolingo
      • We prefer that you take the TOEFL or IELTS, but if you cannot do that, you may take the Duolingo test.
      • To see a score comparison please visit the Duolingo website.
      • Be sure to use the same email address as you plan to use when you apply to a CMU program. Also be sure that Duolingo scores are sent to “Carnegie Mellon University – Graduate Computer Science Programs."
      • Important: Make sure to request that Duolingo includes your subscores when they send your test results to Carnegie Mellon University – Graduate Computer Science Programs.
• Unofficial Transcripts 
  • All transcripts must be uploaded prior to submission.
  • Since fall grades are not required, upload your transcripts as early as possible.
  • We do not require hard copies of your transcripts at the time of application. If you are accepted to a program, you will be given instructions to mail your transcripts at that time. 
• Resume/CV 
  • Submit your current resume. It should outline your education, research experience, work experience, publications, scholarships awarded, prizes and honors received, society memberships, and any other extracurricular activities. 
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) 
  • Submit a Statement of Purpose. Each program has specific SOP instructions which can be found on the application.
  • Generally we are looking for you to prepare:
    • A concise one or two-page essay that describes your primary areas of interest in research, your related experiences and your objective in pursuing a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon.
    • Your essay should be specific in describing your interests and motivations. When describing your research interests, you should explain why you think they are important areas of study and why you are particularly well-suited to pursuing them.
    • You should describe any relevant education, research, commercial, government or teaching experience.
  • Our review committees in every program value applicants who display persistence and resilience in the face of challenge and adversity, demonstrate a commitment to ethics, show concern for others and for their community, and/or exhibit leadership in one or more endeavors.
  • We recommend that you use AI tools only in a limited fashion. They are great for correcting grammar and spelling. They are terrible for expressing your own interests and experiences. Remember that you are solely responsible for 100% of what is submitted in your application. Please consider carefully how you use these tools as the use of them may impact your ability to be admitted.
• Letters of Recommendation (LOR) 
  • Submit three letters of recommendation. Recommenders should know you relatively well and be able to evaluate the quality of your previous work. At least two should be from faculty or recent employers.
  • Letters of recommendation will be requested and submitted electronically. 
  • If you submit your application early, your recommenders still have until the final deadline to submit recommendations.
• Video Essay/Digital Portfolio
  • Some of our programs will ask for a "live" video essay or pre-recorded digital porfolio. 
  • For the video essay, you will have 1-3 minutes to record a live video of yourself answering a random question we provide. This recording is done within the application system.
  • For the digital portfolio, you will upload or provide a URL link to a 1-3 minute video of yourself responding to a specific question or set of questions the program will provide. This recording will be done outside of the application system.