Applying to the program.
Below, you'll find the essential information you need to prepare a strong application to our graduate program, including qualifications, expectations, and application steps.
Bold thinking and a strong foundation.
The Master of Science (MS) program is designed for students ready to deepen their knowledge and write a thesis. Ideal for candidates with a computer science background, this four-semester program admits students who have excelled as undergraduate teaching assistants and who have a demonstrated propensity for independent research.
A Bachelor's degree in CS is required, with a strong preference to Cornell undergraduates. Students who have limited or no formal computer science coursework should review our prerequisite information before applying.
See and compare degrees.
MS | M. Eng. | MS/Ph.D. | |
|---|---|---|---|
Degree Awarded | Master of Science | Master of Engineering | Master of Science (after A Exam); Doctor of Philosophy (after B Exam) |
Overview | Two-year research degree. Small program with strong preference for Cornell undergraduates. | Principle one year master’s professional degree. | Research degree; multiple years (typically 5-7 years total) |
Degree Differences | Specialized area coursework with the completion of a thesis; aiming to provide advanced knowledge and skills in a specific area of computer science. | Primarily focused on coursework with a capstone project that advances students' placement in industry jobs. | Emphasizes original research and requires the completion of a dissertation; aiming to contribute new knowledge to the field. |
Financial Support | Supported by teaching assistantships for fall and spring semesters with good standing. No guarantee of summer support. | Self-supported | Full support for duration of degree with good standing. Students supported by a combination of any of the following: teaching assistantships; graduate research assistantships, or fellowships. |
Career Path | Development or research jobs in industry; Ph.D. programs; teaching positions. | Development jobs in industry | Research jobs in industry/academia; teaching positions. |
How to Apply
You must complete the online application through the Graduate School. The application deadline is January 15 for Fall Admissions.
Students wishing to earn a Ph.D. should apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Students will earn a MS degree during enrollment of the Ph.D. Program.
Students looking for a master’s degree to work in industry should consider the M.Eng. Program.
A Bachelor's degree in CS is required, with a strong preference to Cornell undergraduates. Applicants must have a proven record of excellence as an undergraduate teaching assistant in one or more computer science courses. Experience as an undergraduate researcher is highly recommended.
In addition, students should have taken the following Cornell courses (or equivalent):
- CS 2110 - Object-Oriented Programming
- CS 3110 - Functional Programming
- CS 2800 - Discrete Structures (mathematical foundations of computer science)
- CS 3410 - Computer System Organization
If you are not a Cornell undergraduate, please outline your background in the course equivalents in your Statement of Purpose.
Upload transcripts after grades from your most recently completed semester/term are posted. You will want the admissions committee to see your most recent grades.
Please make sure your transcripts can be shared as an upload before submitting your application.
Scan or upload each transcript into the online application system. The transcript must be legible and oriented correctly. (Some secure digital transcripts are not legible once uploaded.)
Before matriculation, you will be asked to have an official electronic version of each transcript sent to the Graduate School records office. Cornell undergraduates will not be required to follow this step.
To learn more, visit Prepare Transcripts.
International Credentials
If you are an international student, please visit the Grad School application information for more details.
Three letters of recommendation including at least one that addresses expository skills and the ability to work in a classroom setting.
An essay that explains how the degree program and the anticipated thesis area resonates with your career plans.
International applicants must demonstrate competency in the English language. You must have your official scores sent by Educational Testing Services to Cornell before our application deadline. Scores should be sent to Institutional Code 2098, the department code is not required.
TOEFL: The Graduate School mandates that applicants meet the following minimum scores in order to be considered for admission:
Writing (>=24), Listening (>=24), Reading (>=24), and Speaking (>=28).
- CS MS. requires that applicants meet the above section minimums. Most admitted applicants have exceeded the minimum.
- Scores should be sent directly by the testing service to Cornell University Graduate School (institution code 2098) Department code is not required. Additional information on TOEFL requirements is provided by the Graduate School.
IELTS: is also accepted as a test of English Language Proficiency. An overall band score of 7.0 or higher is required.
- Please see information about English Language Proficiency Requirements on the Graduate Admissions webpages including how to send IELTS scores, exemptions, and timelines.
No tests other than IELTS and TOEFL are accepted as proof of English Language Proficiency at this time.
Submitted GRE scores are masked and we will not review them with application materials.
Financial Support
Students who are admitted into the program serve as full-time teaching assistants (TAs) during each of the four semesters. This involves a fifteen-hour commitment to TA duties each week. In exchange, the student receives full tuition, a stipend to cover basic living expenses, and health insurance.
Limited summer instructorships, TA-ships, and research assistantships are available but are not guaranteed. Serving as a TA is an integral part of the program. To remain in good standing in the program, students have to be among the top TAs in their assigned courses. TA performance is evaluated at the end of each semester.
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Admission questions? We have answers.
The MEng program is two semesters long and requires a large project, whereas the MS program is four semesters long and requires a written thesis. The MS program is also fully funded (tuition + stipend). Both programs only admit students with outstanding academic records. However, the MS program only admits students who have excelled as undergraduate TAs and who have a demonstrated propensity for independent research. Compared to the MEng program (about 175 students) the MS program is much smaller. There will typically be about 25-30 MS students at any one time; meaning admitting a class size of 10-15 students per year.
The program is small because the necessary resources (TA-ships, tuition, stipends, office space, and faculty time for thesis advising) are limited and are shared with the PhD program.
The CS MS is not considered a stepping stone to the Cornell CS PhD program. Undergraduates who are interested in PhD work at Cornell are better off applying to that program directly. However, we are aware that there will be MS students who discover after a semester or two that what they really want is a PhD. By taking rigorous courses and writing a strong Master's thesis it is possible to put together a strong PhD application during the second year of study as an MS student.
Students who apply to our PhD program but are denied admission are welcome to apply to either the MS or MENG programs as long as that program is still accepting applications. Please check your second choice program deadlines since often they are similar to our program. Please email the MS program to request that your application be reviewed by the PhD Program.
Here are five things that strengthen your case. (1) Take a graduate-level course and do well. (2) Develop a common interest with a CS faculty member through CS 4999 (undergraduate research). (3) Emphasize your skills as a speaker, teacher, and leader. (4) Establish a multi-semester track record as an excellent undergraduate grader/TA in our introductory courses and include a letter of recommendation from someone who can attest to your teaching skills.
There is no early admission option. All degree requirements must be satisfied by coursework completed after you have completed your Bachelors degree. However, you may choose to take courses in preparation for the MS during your final semester.
No. It is the policy of the Graduate School that Graduate students must be enrolled in 4 semesters in order to earn a MS degree.
Requirements are given in terms of credit hours, not courses. But if you assume a reasonable mix of 3-credit and 4-credit courses, then you can “model” what a semester looks like in terms of courses. Here are two sample schedules that illustrate how credit hours can sum to 34 and how more thesis research implies less coursework.
- 8 courses plus 6-credit Thesis
- Term 1- 3 CS Courses (4+4+3)
- Term 2- 1 CS Course, 1 NonCS Course (4+3)
- Term 3- 1 CS Course, 1 NonCS Course (4+3)
- Term 4- 1 CS Course, Thesis Research (3+6)
- 6 courses plus 12-credit Thesis
- Term 1- 2 CS Courses, 1 NonCS Course (4+4+3)
- Term 2- 1 CS Course, 1 NonCS Course (4+3)
- Term 3- 1 CS Course, Thesis Research (4+3)
- Term 4- Thesis Research (9)
There are certainly other possibilities. In reasoning about your overall schedule, keep in mind that the minor field course requirement depends on the field.
You are allowed to enroll in any Cornell Tech course that supports distance learning.
Yes, we are happy to consider your application, however admission will only be offered to students who are prepared for the courses required for the CS MS degree. We expect to see from your transcripts that you have taken courses that are equivalent to:
- CS 2110 - Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures
- CS 3110 - Data Structures and Functional Programming
- CS 2800 - Discrete Structures
- CS 3410 - Computer System Organization and Programming
You can see a list of these and other courses offered by the Department of Computer Science along with descriptions. Since your support is in the form of a TA, we also want to see that you can TA our CS courses offered at Cornell.