Application rules and requirements

What is the application submission deadline?

For fall 2025, the CS PhD application deadline is December 15.  All application materials should be submitted by December 15th.

How should I submit my application?

In order to apply to the Field of Computer Science, you will be required to submit your application online. The Field of Computer Science does not mail out hard copy applications. Please do not send any applicatin materials; this will only delay processing your application.

What name should I use on my application?

Please make every effort to use the same name that is on your passport for your TOEFL or IELTS exam, as well as your application. Names that do not match delay processing of your application as scores need to be manually found in the reports sent from ETS and matched to your application.

What is a statement of purpose, and how do you use it?

For Cornell, the statement of purpose is one of the main criteria used to decide admissions, along with grades, papers or other accomplishments, and the reference letters.  Your statement of purpose tells us about you and your interests, and also helps us understand why you believe that the areas you list (some people just list one, some list several) are important opportunity areas for future research.  Some students are focused on working on one question with one person; others really haven't decided what they would want to work on or with whom, but do have a passion for research and use the statement to talk about experiences that have led them to decide that a PhD is the right step.  The statement of purpose is your way to communicate this information to us.  Each person is an individual, and we can't know you as an individual just from lists of classes you have taken and grades in them.  The statement of purpose shapes our perception of you as a scholar and researcher.

Some things to keep in mind: First, we really do read these carefully, so write the statement thoughtfully.  We also tend to believe what you tell us: if you say that you want to work on the unique games conjecture (an open theory question), or on new algorithms for rapidly training DNNs, we will make sure your application is seen by people who work on those topics.  We wouldn't want to admit a person who was very focused on one opportunity, only to realize that none of our faculty actually work on that question!  Conversely, if you tell us you want to work in machine learning, but actually had in mind the new platforms and programming languages emerging to support ML, we would route your folder to the wrong people.  So it really helps to write in a clear, fairly scientific way (more like a research paper than like a letter to a close friend).  Finally, keep in mind that we are Cornell, and this is a statement about your interest in being a student here: we will use the statement to assess your fit with our department.  Knowledge of the relevant faculty and what they are working on really helps.

Most statements are two to three pages in length, and some include references, although this is definitely not required.  We receive a lot of applicantions and would prefer that you not exceed three pages.  

What is a personal statement and why is one required?

Your Personal Statement should provide the admissions committee with a sense of you as a whole person, and you should use it to describe how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Additionally, it should provide insights into your potential to contribute to Cornell University’s core value to provide a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together. Within your Personal Statement, you may also share details on lessons learned from any of your lived experiences including but not limited to

  • being a first-generation college student or graduate (no parent/guardian completed a baccalaureate degree)
  • racial, ethnic, and/or cultural background(s)
  • managing a disability or chronic health condition
  • experiencing housing, food, economic, and/or other forms of significant insecurity
  • being a solo parent
  • gender identity and/or sexual orientation 
  • having served in the military
  • holding DACA, refugee, TPS, or asylee status

Your Personal Statement provides you with an opportunity to share experiences that provide insights on how your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate your ability to be both persistent and resilient, especially when navigating challenging circumstances. It also gives you an opportunity to provide examples of how you engage with others and have facilitated and/or participated in productive collaborative endeavors. Additionally, it is a place, where if necessary, you can (and should) address any blemishes, gaps, or weaknesses in your academic record. In these situations, you will want to be honest, but brief. It is best to turn negatives into positives by focusing on how you overcame obstacles, remained persistent in the pursuit of your goals, and showed resilience. Share what you learned from the particular experience, and how it led you to become a better researcher/scholar/person, etc.

Content in the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content contained within the Academic Statement of Purpose, which should focus explicitly on your academic interests, previous research and/or relevant professional experience, and intended area of academic focus during your graduate studies.

Diversity Fellowships?

A diveristy fellowship is a special form of financial support and is not required for PhD studies: we always provide support for all our students, while they remain in good standing.  But we do have some fellowships specifically for diversity students, offering one or two years of support during which you would not be asked to assist as a TA. 

To be considered for a diversity fellowship, first, you would then check a box saying that you wish to be considered for a diversity fellowship.  We will use your personal statement to decide which of the diversity fellowships you could be eligible for.  Beyond this, ithe essay will help the committee members understand your experiences, and to see how your strengths will enrich Cornell with respect to its diversity mission.

Is there any way to get feedback on my application before I submit it?

The Student-Applicant Support Program aims to assist students (especially those who self-identify as first-generation or low-income) as they apply to Cornell’s CS PhD program.

If accepted into the program, you will be paired with a graduate student volunteer who will:

  1. Have a 30-minute Zoom conversation with you to discuss the application process, share their experience, and answer any initial questions you may have.
  2. Following this, we will provide a new Google form where you can upload your application materials. You will then receive one round of detailed feedback on your resume and statement of purpose (capacity permitting).


Please Note: Participation in the Student-Applicant Support Program does not guarantee admission and our capacity for applications is limited as previously mentioned.

If you would like to be considered for the Student-Applicant Support Program, please take note of the following deadlines:

  1. Please fill out this form (link) by 11:59pm EST, October 18, 2024. I guess the form description would have to be updated now.
  2. Your application material needs to be submitted by 11:59pm EST, Nov 8, 2024. (The relevant google form will be shared later.)


Final Note: Data collected from your form will be aggregated and anonymized to assess the program's impact, and individual responses will be deleted at the end of the application cycle. All demographic questions are optional.

Can I apply for Spring admission?  Could I defer?

We do not accept applications for admission in the spring semester. We only accept applications for consideration for fall admission.  Some admitted students do defer and start later than in the subsequent fall, but this is not automatic -- you would need to discuss this with the Associate Director of our graduate field and get approval.

What are the minimum requirements for all CS applicants?

Please see review the Graduate School Policy for Language requirements and waiver process.

Concentrations &. Specialties

Within each concentration we offer multiple specialties (noted below). On your application, please note area of concentration you are interested in, as well as the specialties that best match your interests.

  • Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Robotics, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Retrieval, Natural Language Processing, Knowledge Representation and Reasoning.
  • Programming Languages and Logics: Programming Methodology, Programming Environments, Program Logic and Verification, Automated Reasoning, Compilers, Type Theory and Program Analysis, Programming Language Design
  • Scientific Computing and Applications: Scientific Computing, Computer Graphics, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
  • Systems: Operating Systems, Softeware Engineering, Fault Tolerance, Distributed Systems, Systems for AI/ML, Blockchain, Security,  Database Systems, Machine Architecture, Networks, Parallel Computing, IoT and Applications
  • Theory and Computation: Algorithms, Complexity Theory, Cryptography

Which degree program should I select on the application form?

Regardless of if you will have earned either a Bachelor's or a Master's degree, you should be applying directly to our PhD Program.  At Cornell, PhD students receive an MS degree midway through their studies, when they take and pass the A exam (the exam we use to approve your doctoral thesis proposal).  Thus, a successful Cornell PhD student is in the PhD program from day one, but will graduate with an MS and a PhD.

We also run a separate program that is for students who are only pursuing an MS degree.  Although it is feasible to later transfer from the pure MS program into the MS/PhD program, we prefer that students who plan to obtain a PhD apply directly to our PhD program.

"Who I've been in contact with at Cornell"?

On this line, we find it helpful if you could list Cornell faculty you are interested in working with in this field, even if you have not been in direct dialog with those faculty members.  It is not necessary to discuss your application with our faculty members before you apply, although it is not harmful to do so.

When Are Recommendations Due?

Recommendation's should be submitted by December 15.

Items to accompany application submission

What items should be submitted along with my application?

All CS applicants are required to submit each of the following items.

You may upload a scanned copy of your transcript into the CollegeNet Online Application System. Please use the following guidelines to do so:

  • Application: You are strongly encouraged to apply online.
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement.  This may be as short as a single sentence, or it could be a longer discussion intended to be considered in light of Cornell's diversity mission and diversity fellowships (see above).
  • Cornell CS is "GRE free", meaning that we do not use the GRE in our admissions decisions and do not offer you a way to upload a GRE score.
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores. ALL international applicants are required to submit a either TOEFL or IELTS (TOEFL scores must be officially submitted by ETS, photocopies are not acceptable). 
  • Official Transcripts: one from each university you have attended. Each transcript must be translated into English and must be an official document from your university - photocopies are not acceptable.
    • Scan at the lowest dpi document (use under 200 dpi whenever possible)
    • Ensure that the institution name and other identifying marks are not missed during the scanning process, and that it is clearly legible and can print on 8 1/2" x 11" size paper.
    • Save your document as a PDF file.
    • Scanning in gray scale or black and white may produce the best results.
    • If you upload a scanned copy of your transcript, you do NOT have to provide an official hard copy version to accompany your application. You will only need to provide an official hard copy transcript if you are made an offer of admission and you choose to accept it.
  • Recommendation Letters: a minimum of three (3) letters are to be submitted, with at least two (2) of them from faculty. Please have your recommenders use the on-line application system.
  • Resume or CV: you can upload your CV to the suplimental materials section in the online application system.

DO NOT submit copies of papers, publications, projects, CD-roms, floppy discs, books, etc. If you have materials that you would like to have our faculty review, please post them online and include a link to them in your Statement of Purpose.

GRE/TOEFL/IELTS

Cornell CS made a decision to go GRE-free starting with applications in fall of 2021.  Our reasons for this center on two concerns.  First and foremost, we believe the GRE is not well correlated with research success.  As such, your GRE score tells us how you performed on the exam, but does not predict your performance as a PhD student.  And second, due to Covid, taking the GRE (which was already expensive and stressful) also became a Covid exposure risk.  

In contrast, foreign students who are not native English speakers do need to demonstrate language proficiency, because we feel that TOEFL and IELTS exams both do a good job of confirming that you are prepared to attend courses and seminars in English, able to teach and give presentations, and will be ready to function in an English-only environment.

Please make every effort to use the same name that is on your passport for your IELTS or TOEFL exam score as well as your application. Names that do not match delay processing of your application as scores need to be manually found in the reports sent from ETS and matched to your application. Please also ensure that your birthdate matches each record.

What do I need to know about the English Language Proficiency Requirement?

  • As an international applicant, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by taking a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam. (See exceptions.)
  • Cornell must receive official TOEFL or IELTS scores before the university can process your application.

  • The IELTS score must be dated within two years of your program’s application deadline. Scores must be delivered electronically through the IELTS E-Delivery service to the Cornell University Graduate Admissions e-download account.

  • TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid only if dated within two years of your program's application deadline.

Where should I submit my IELTS/TOEFL scores?

Your scores will be submitted directly to Cornell University, not to the Field of Computer Science.

What code(s) should I use to submit my IELTS/TOEFL scores?

TOEFL - You need to use the Institutional Code of 2098 for Cornell

I've taken the TOEFL/IELTS more than once. Which set of scores will be reviewed?

The Field of Computer Science will receive all of your scores.

If I've already taken the TOEFL/IELTS, how long are my test scores valid?

TOEFL/IELTS scores are valid for up to two (2) years from the original test date. In order to ensure your scores are both valid and up to date, contact ETS directly.

I'm an International Applicant. Do I have to submit an IELTS or TOEFL score with my application?

Please review the Graduate School's page on English Language Proficiency Requirement .

What is the deadline for submission of TOEFL/IELTS scores?

All official IELTS/TOEFL scores must be submitted by December 15. It is the responsibility of the APPLICANT to ensure that official scores are submitted by the deadline date. Be sure to self-report all available scores on your application and have the official scores sent immediately by ETS!

Available Funding Opportunities for Applicants

What types of funding are available for applicants?

There are three types of funding available that are awarded to our best applicants. Each of them include a full tuition waiver, an academic year stipend and a Student Health Insurance package provided through the University. We are actively recruiting students from Under-Represented Minority groups, and some generous donors have provided special funding to assist us in this effort.

Fellowships: Generally, our fellowship offers will be made to our very best applicants and for the most part last only one (1) year. Stipends for fellowships tend to be slightly higher for the first year only. Applicants who are awarded fellowships enter the program without any formal obligations such as teaching or research for a specific group.

Diversity Fellowships: Cornell offers several Diversity Fellowships and encourages our applicants to apply for them, if they qualify (US Citizens or Permanent Residents only). Please see this webpage for more information on the Diversity Fellowships available.

Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA): A GRA is given to a student whose research interests coincide with a sponsored research project. Typically, the work of a Graduate Research Assistant is an integral part of his/her dissertation research. The faculty member in charge of the project grants a GRA. GRAs are generally given to continuing, rather than incoming, students

Teaching Assistantship (TA): TA offers come directly from the CS department. Each TA is assigned to a course with an average time commitment of 15 hours per week helping the course instructor. TA assignments typically involve grading homework, holding office hours, preparing assignments, or teaching recitations.

How do Ph.D. admissions really work behind the scenes?

Admissions decisions at Cornell (and, incidentally, other top-5 schools) are made by a committee. The committee admits students into the department; the department guarantees funding and provides a stipend; the students typically spend a year or so taking classes; and eventually the students gravitate towards different advisors. Committee-based admissions give you maximum flexibility as a student: you can switch areas and advisors if you need to. It also ensures that everyone around you has been subject to the same standards, ensuring that your peers are as equally bright and well-versed in computer science as you are.

At some schools, individual faculty will make their decisions independently and admit students specifically to their group. A student showing up at such a school is expected to work with the professor who admitted him/her. This is not what we do at Cornell for many reasons. Committee-based admissions, as we do at Cornell, fosters an open, collaborative environment of equally matched peers.  Our approach ensures that every student will have time to meet all the faculty in their areas of interest before making any committment.

What does the admissions committee look for in a candidate?

The admissions committee does not apply a magic formula. The committee evaluates the entire application packet. Every item that is a required part of the packet is examined carefully. A weakness in one area (say, GPA) can be compensated by demonstrated strength in another (say, real implementation experience, or research publications, or recommendation letters). The department posts the minimum required criteria for all graduate applicants. If your scores are below these levels, your application will not be considered.

Can you tell me my chances of being admitted to Cornell if I send you my CV?

No one can tell any prospective student's chances of admission from just a resume. Your recommendation letters, your scores on standardized tests, and all the other items that go into the full application packet are required for a good reason.  Some students who ask this question are doing so out of concerns about the cost of applying to Cornell.  See this link to learn about fee waivers that can be requested in the application cost represents a burden for you.

My application has some weakness (E.g., a C- in a core CS course, or even all F's in a semester where you became sick and were unable to complete your courses). Do I still have a chance?

You can compensate for a weakness in one area through demonstrated strength in another. Every application that satisfies the minimum required criteria receives full consideration. The committee consists of actual human beings who take extenuating circumstances into account. If your packet satisfies the minimum required criteria (if you are applying from a non-US school, check the criteria carefully), you should just apply.

You can explain the problem if you feel very anxious, 

Contact us

Whom should I contact if I have further questions about the Cornell Ph.D. program that are not answered here?

The Graduate Office can be contacted at phd@cs.cornell.edu.