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FAQs for PhD Applicants

Application Process

Please review this page for full application details: Application Requirements.

All requests for application fee waivers must be submitted here: Application Fee Waiver.

No. We only accept applications for enrollment in the Fall Semesters.

Minimum expected scores for standardized tests are given below. Beyond this, we are unable to preview your materials and predict your chances of acceptance. Our admissions process is thorough and holistic and considers all the material evidence you submit to evaluate your relevant academic and research preparedness, and your fit based on your research interests and the research strengths and activities of our program faculty. 

A degree in Computer Science is not required. However, successful applicants will have earned at least a bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent degree) before matriculating at Emory and possess a strong background in computing, informatics, mathematics, or another relevant STEM discipline. Prior computational and programming experience is also expected. 

Yes, we highly encourage you to review our CSI Faculty's research activities and identify at least two faculty of potential interest. Be sure to study their individual research or publication profiles in-depth, and if you choose to reach out, make sure your communication is tailored to their specific research activities. Faculty often receive many inquiries, and emails that are not specific or well-informed may be overlooked. 

Preferably, yes. After the deadline, recommenders can submit letters directly to: CSI-PhD-Admins@listserv.cc.emory.edu. We will consider all letters received by the time our review process begins, which is typically within days of the application deadline. 

Yes. 

No

When completing your application to the PhD program, you can specify that if not accepted to the PhD program, you would like to be considered for the Master’s program. Your application will be forwarded to the Master’s admissions committee for their evaluation and decision.

Yes, however, you will need to submit a separate application for each program. The sole exception is if you apply for the CSI PhD and CS MS programs at the same time, as described above.  

Programs start reviewing applications after the application deadline. The Council of Graduate Schools recommends that offers of financial support for PhD applicants be made by April 15. Admission notifications are sent out between the application deadline and April 15. 

Finances

Tuition fees information can be found here: LGS Tuition and Fees, however all accepted CSI PhD students receive a full tuition scholarship and stipend, as described here: LGS Scholarships and Stipends. 

Transcripts and Standardized Test Scores

You must submit a transcript issued by the registrar’s office for each post-secondary institution attended, present school included. For the application review process, unofficial scans or copies issued to the student are acceptable. If accepted to our institution, official transcripts (sealed or sent directly from the registrar) will be required. 
 

Electronic transcripts must be readable without requiring a password or other security information. Transcripts in a language other than English must be translated and notarized, with both the original and the translated versions submitted together as one file. We do not accept printed web pages from the University’s student information system. 

English language proficiency test scores are required for international applicants from countries for which English is not an official language. 

Either TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores are acceptable. 
 
For the Internet-based TOEFL test, a minimum total score of 85 is required. 

For the paper-based TOEFL test, a minimum total score of 600 is required. 
For IELTS, a minimum score of 7 is required. 

GRE scores are not required but recommended. Preferred minimum GRE scores are Verbal Reasoning: 150, Quantitative Reasoning: 165, Analytical Writing: 3.5. 

You may include copies of your test scores with your application and have official scores sent to Emory via ETS (Educational Testing Service). Emory's code is: 5187 

To qualify for the language proficiency waiver, you must have earned a two-year degree from an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction and is located in a country where English is the primary language.

For the application review process, unofficial copies (self-report) are acceptable. If accepted to our institution, official test scores will be required.

Miscellaneous

If you wish to simply visit the Emory campus, you are welcome to do so at any time. Please contact the program at CSI-PhD-Admins@listserv.cc.emory.edu to arrange meetings with program faculty, staff, and students. Note that we invite and fund a campus visit for all admitted PhD students, before they have to make their accept/decline decision. 

Yes. You can find more information here: STEM OPT FAQ. 

No.

No.

Yes, you can still apply while completing your last year in obtaining a bachelor’s degree.  

No, this is not available at this time.  

Link to general PhD application statistics: https://gs.emory.edu/academics/data/phd.html 

To apply for the BMI Track or the CS Track, you can choose your track either before you apply to the program or during your first year in the program. If you decide before applying, be sure to indicate your preference clearly in your application. Alternatively, if you are unsure when you apply, you may explore both tracks and decide during your initial year, with guidance from your advisor.