FAQ For The CS Graduate Program

• How do I apply to the Computer Science graduate program?

  Students can apply through the OSU Graduate College.  You can see general information at the Graduate College and admissions requirements for international students websites.

   

  No decisions will be made by email submissions and no assessments on your chances of being admitted will be provided outside of the application process.

• What is the deadline for applying to the Computer Science Graduate Program?

  Applications for the master’s program are due April 1 for the fall semester and September 1 for the spring semester. 

  Applications for the PhD program are due March 1 for the fall semester and August 1 for the spring semester. 

• What are the requirements for applying for the graduate program?

  You can see the requirements for applying for the MS program at the Master of Science Degree page.

  You can see the requirements for applying to the PhD program at the Doctor of Philosophy Degree page.

• Can I apply for both the MS and PhD programs?

  Yes, but the Graduate College will require you to apply separately for each program and each application will require application fees. 

• Can I still apply for the program if my background is not in computer science?

  You may still apply for the CS graduate program if your previous degree is in an area other than computer science. However, you will still need to meet the eligibility requirements. See below for the links to the requirements. 

  Master of Science Degree page

  Doctor of Philosophy Degree page

• My GPA is not on the 4.0 scale, so how will it be evaluated?

  Student’s GPAs which are on a different scale will have their GPA recalculated so that their GPA number can be evaluated on an equal basis. 

• Are GRE scores required for application to the CS graduate program? What score is required?

  Official GRE scores are required for application to the CS graduate program. There is not a certain required GRE score for admittance to the program. Instead, the CS Graduate Committee will make a decision based on your overall application package. 

   

  GRE scores are waived if you are an OSU student or an OSU alumnus. Communicate with the CS advisor if this is the case for you. 

• Will the Computer Science Department waive the application fees? 

  The Computer Science Department does not waive the application fee for applicants. The Graduate College has an application fee waiver program for current OSU students or for OSU alumni.

• Are English Proficiency Exams required? 

  Applicants who have completed a degree from the countries listed at the English Proficiency Country Exceptions page are not required to provide English proficiency exam scores. Otherwise, applicants must submit scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exams. Duolingo scores are not accepted as proof of English proficiency.

• I have applied to the program. When will I know if I have been admitted? 

  You will receive information from the OSU Graduate College if you have been admitted to the program. Watch your emails.

• What scholarships are available for CS graduate students?

  There are few scholarships available for CS graduate students and the award amount is not large. Scholarships are awarded to current students and not to incoming students. 

• What financial support is available for CS graduate students?

  PhD students are supported with either a teaching assistantship (TA) position or a research assistantship (RA) position. Students are considered only after they have been admitted to the program. 

   

  TA positions are not awarded to incoming MS students.  RA positions may be available, but you will have to contact individual professors after you are admitted to the program to see if they have any positions available.  Typically, professors hire RAs who are current students.  Any TA positions available to MS students are decided by an application process of current students and by your academic performance at OSU. Not all students get assistantships within the department and some students have assistantships with other departments.

   

  Graduate Technical Lab Assistants (GTLA) positions are available but small in number. The (GTLA) applications will only be posted at the okstate.12twenty.com when available.

   

  Other departments hire CS graduate students and campus jobs are also available. Some of these opportunities are listed at the OSU HIRE website.  

• Are CPT and/or OPT opportunities available for international students?

  Our international students have CPT and/or OPT opportunities, however, the department does not actively place students into internships. Instead, students will secure internships and the department can provide degree credit if the internship is approved as an appropriate computer science experience.  

• What does it cost to go to OSU?

  You can see financial information for graduate students at Financing Your Graduate Education page.

  The International Student Services provides estimates of costs for international students.

• International Students

  International Student Services provides support and information for the OSU international student population. 

• Students with Families

  The OSU Family Resource Center can also provide support and information for student families.