Doctoral Degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering

The doctoral degree in computer science/computer engineering builds on prior knowledge, education, and experience in the field. The degree typically takes 4-5 years to complete and involves independent study and research in a focused area of interest. The doctoral program includes coursework and research that culminate in a final dissertation. The Graduate Catalog contains more information about the CSE doctoral programs.

Applicants are advised to email faculty members to explore potential shared research interests. However, the CSE Department is responsible for making the final admission decisions.

Key dates:

Deadline for full consideration: March 15 (Fall admission), October 15 (Spring admission)

Note: The department begins the review of applications and selects candidates for financial aid as early as January 15 (Fall admission), September 1 (Spring admission).

Notifications to admitted students: Early February to mid-March (Fall admission), Early October to mid-November (Spring admission).

Deadline for a decision to accept the admission offer: April 15 (Fall admission), November 15 (Spring semester).

The CSE graduate admission committee bases its decision for Ph.D. graduate admission on the following criteria (in no specific order): relevance of the student's degree(s) (background), major GPA, the rigor of the student's bachelor's degree and master's degree (if applicable), the reputation of the university/college that the student has received his/her previous degrees from, class rank, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, research experience, publications, and English proficiency.

Admission Requirements

  • An undergraduate degree in CS or CpE or a closely related field.
    • Applications from other fields, particularly mathematics, science, and engineering are also considered. These applicants may need to take some deficiency courses.
  • An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in undergraduate coursework.
  • A 3.2 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) on the last two years of undergraduate coursework. In particular, performance in CS/CpE related courses is emphasized.
  • Rigor of the student's bachelor's degree. A three-year degree is not considered rigorous enough.
  • Reputation of the university/college that the student has received their previous degrees from.
  • GRE General Test: Highly recommended but not required.
  • (International Applicants) A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 90 or higher (iBT).

Application steps

Applicants need to complete the following steps for their application:

  • An application through ApplyUTA, along with payment of the application fee ($75 for domestic applicants, $90 for international applicants).
  • GRE test scores (optional).
  • (International applicants) English test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo).
  • Email the following documents addressed to the Head of Ph.D. Admissions to CSEGradAdvising@uta.edu.
    • Curriculum Vitae.
    • Statement of Purpose.
    • Three letters of recommendation.
    • Supplementary documents, such as awards, academic work, and publications.

If all the steps above are not completed, the application is considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the department.

Undergraduate Applicants

Graduate Applicants

Graduate Certificates