Master's Programs Admissions

 You must submit the following with your application.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE): 

The GRE is strongly recommended in order to apply to the MSCS program, especially for students who do not have clear documentation of strong mathematical proficiency. If you cannot provide GRE scores, please briefly explain in your statement of purpose.

GRE scores are waived for applicants who have graduated from, or are enrolled at, Carnegie Mellon University. 

The GRE at Home Test is not accepted unless the score date is between January 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021; or between August 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. If you are submitting at-home GRE scores, describe the circumstances which made that necessary in your Statement of Purpose.

TOEFL or IELTS Test: 

If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you (native language is defined as spoken at home from birth), we are required to formally evaluate your English proficiency via one of these standardized tests: 

• TOEFL (preferred)
• IELTS
• Duolingo

We do not accept the "TOEFL ITP Plus for China,” since speaking is not scored. Applicants currently in mainland China are encouraged to take the IELTS test. 

The Computer Science Department follows the Language Proficiency Policy set by the School of Computer Science and does not issue waivers for non-native English speakers.

Please refer to details on the SCS Frequently Asked Questions page and in the Graduate Application Instructions.

Transcripts: A PDF of your most recent transcript from each college and/or university you attended, even if no degree was granted.

Resume/CV: Please submit in PDF format.

Statement of Purpose: Provide a concise one- or two-page essay describing your primary research interests, related experiences and objective in pursuing a Masters in computer science.

Three letters of recommendation: At least two letters should be from faculty or recent employers.

• Early application deadline fee $80 per program.
• Application fee after November 19, 2025, $100 per program.

We expect all applicants to submit payment with their online application. Information about possible fee waivers will be displayed when you select a program during the online application process.

To apply to the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) program please use the School of Computer Science Online Application. Students are admitted for the fall semester and cannot begin in the spring. 

For more on the application process, please refer to the SCS Online Graduate Application Instructions.

For general questions about applying to master's degree programs in the School of Computer Science contact: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/about-scs/contact

Scholarships and financial assistance to the Master of Science Program are not offered by the program at this time.

General financial information is available via the following resources:

Graduate Tuition and Fees:
https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/scs.html

Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Financial Aid:
https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/financial-aid/graduate/index.html

The Fifth Year Master’s Program is open only to undergraduate students completing a B.S. or additional major in Computer Science. Students must provide:

• A 1-2 page curriculum vitae.
• A letter of recommendation from your academic sponsor.
• Students from the Qatar campus who have not yet identified an advisor can instead have a letter of recommendation from any faculty member familiar with their research.
• A second letter of recommendation. This letter can come from another faculty member or possibly and outside source (eg., supervisor from a summer internship).
• A two-page statement that covers the following three areas:
  1. A short description of your career goals.
  2. An overview of your research experience and how it prepared you for this program.
  3. A description of the research you plan to undertake if accepted into the Fifth Year Master’s Program
  4. Students who are working towards a BS in AI from CMU should also include a short paragraph describing how they will satisfy the additional breadth requirements
• A Carnegie Mellon transcript. An unofficial copy of your transcript is acceptable.
• Completed application and advisor form.

There is no application fee to apply for the Fifth Year Master's Program

Complete the application and advisor form and provide the items indicated above.

Once completed deliver all required components — including forms, letters of recommendation, CV, etc. — to:

Tracy Farbacher, 7117 Gates Center for Computer Science

Or email competed PDF documents to Tracy at: tt1b@andrew.cmu.edu.

You can also mail them to:

School of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University
c/o Tracy Farbacher / 5th Year
7117 Gates Center for Computer Science
5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213

The Fifth Year M.S. Program does not offer scholarships or financial assistance.  However, some research advisors may be able to provide funding.  Students should discuss funding with their research advisor before they apply.

General financial information is available via the following resources:

Graduate Tuition and Fees:
https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/scs.html

Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Financial Aid:
https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/financial-aid/graduate/index.html