Application Procedures

The online application for the CIS Graduate Programs can be linked to at www.seas.upenn.edu/grad/ga.html

Application Information

Information about our Doctorate (PhD), Master of Science in Engineering in Computer and Information Science (MSE), Master of Science in Computer Graphics and Game Technology (CGGT), Master of Science in Robotics, Master of Science in Embedded Systems, and the Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) graduate programs can be found on the CIS Graduate web page.

The CIS Graduate web page also has information about faculty, research, course descriptions, etc.

Applicants to the Doctoral, MSE and CGGT graduate programs are expected to have a strong academic background in computer science.  Applicants to the Master of Science in Robotics program are expected to have a strong academic background in computer science, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering.  Applicannts to the Master of Science in Embedded Systems program are expected to have a strong academic background in computer science or electrical engineering.

The MCIT graduate program is designed for candidates with a strong academic background in an area other than computer science; i.e., candidates with a strong academic background in computer science should NOT apply to the MCIT graduate program.

Candidates may apply to the doctoral program only as full-time students.

Graduate Admissions FAQ page www.seas.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/admissions-faq.php

GRE

Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test scores must be submitted. Our institution code is 2926 and the department Code is 0402. The GRE subject test is not required.

Information re: GRE scores for applicants admitted to our graduate programs is at www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/admission-stats.shtml

Information about the GRE can be found at www.gre.org.

The average GRE scores for candidates admitted to the PhD, CIS/MSE, MCIT, CGGT & Robotics programs for the past several years can be found at - www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/admission-stats.shtml - this will give you an idea of what is expected of applicants, e.g., for the Fall 2008, the average GRE scores for admitted candidates were:

	Verbal	Quantitative	Analytical Writing
PhD	620	790	5.0
CIS/MSE	550	770	4.0
MCIT	570	730	4.0
CGGT	539	760	4.0
Robotics	580	760	4.0

Test scores, grades, recommendations, etc., are all considered equally in the evaluation for our graduate programs.

TOEFL

International students and permanent residents whose native language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency.

This may be done in the following ways:

- Completion of three full years of course work in an academic program at a college or university in the U.S. prior to matriculation, or

-Submission of an official TOEFL score.

A total score of at least 600 is required for the paper-based exam.

A total score of at least 250 is required for the computer-based exam.

A total score of at least 100 is required for the internet-based exam.

Our TOEFL Institution Code (University of Pennsylvania, Engineering & Applied Science) is 2888.
Our TOEFL Department Code is 78.

Proof of English proficiency may also be demonstrated by completion of three full years of course work in an academicprogram at a college or university in Canada, the U.K., New Zealand, or Australia.

Currently the IELTS is not acceptable as an alternative to submitting TOEFL scores.

Information about the TOEFL can be found at www.toefl.org.

Deadlines

• The deadline date for all candidates applying to the doctoral program  for Fall 2010 is December 15, 2009.
• The deadline date for candidates in the United States applying to the CIS/MSE, MCIT, CGGT, Embedded Systems, & Robotics programs  for Fall 2010 is June 1, 2010.
• The deadline date for candidates overseas applying to the CIS/MSE, MCIT, CGGT, Embedded Systems, & Robo programs for Fall 2010 is May 1, 2010.

PhD applications are generally reviewed after the deadline.

Completed CIS/MSE, CGGT, Robotics, Embedded Systems, and MCIT applications are generally reviewed on a rolling basis.

All applications are reviewed, and applicants notified of the decision, as expeditiously as possible.

Due to administrative concerns and the sequence of course offerings, candidates are not encouraged to apply for Spring admission. If candidates apply for Spring admission the deadline is November 1.

Personal Statement

All applicants should use the personal statement to describe academic, career, and, if applicable, research objectives, as well as any other information you wish to convey.  Applicants may include a resume' with the personal statement if they wish.

Applicants to the doctoral program should review the CIS Departmental research web page and note in the personal statement those research areas to be of special interest. 

Recommendations

Applicants to the doctoral program are required to provide three recommendations.

Applicants to the master's programs are required to provide two recommendations.

Recommendations should be from faculty familiar with the applicant's academic abilities; one industry recommendation is acceptable.

Recommendations can be accessed through the online application at www.seas.upenn.edu/grad/ga.html. 

Recommenders are strongly encouraged to submit their recommendations online - this is the quickest and most efficient method of submitting the recommendation.

Hard copy evaluation forms are not available. 

If recommenders wish to submit a hard copy recommendation rather than the preferred online version, it can be sent to

University of Pennsylvania
School of Engineering & Applied Science
Graduate Admissions
111 Towne Building
220 S. 33rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6391
USA

Documents/Evaluation

All materials needed to complete the application - transcripts, test scores, recommendations, personal statement, etc. - should be submitted online to insure accuracy and a swift completion of the application dossier.

One official transcript from each university or college attended and any materials not submitted online should be sent to:

University of Pennsylvania
School of Engineering & Applied Science
Graduate Admissions
111 Towne Building
220 S. 33rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6391
USA

International applicants are not required to provide proof of financial support at the time of submission of an application to the CIS graduate program and should not submit this information with the application..

International applicants may wish to provide an evaluation of their transcripts provided by the World Education Services -

www.wes.org/

Candidates who wish to have their papers, abstracts, talks, portfolios, etc., reviewed as part of the application dossier should not send hard copies; please link these materials on your web page and list the appropriate urls in your personal statement.

The online application allows the applicant to determine what materials have been received.

It is not possible to evaluate a candidate's potential for admission to the graduate program until the application is complete: transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, test scores, application fee, etc. - have been submitted. 

Application Fee

Financial Aid Information

Departmental financial aid is available only for doctoral candidates. Applicants to the CIS doctoral program are considered for available funding; it is not necessary to submit extra material to be considered for funding.

There is no departmental funding available for MSE and MCIT students. There are no RA positions available in the department; only research fellow positions for doctoral candidates. Teaching assistant duties are generally met by PhD candidates participating in a Teaching Practicum. Information about other funding resources can be found at www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/funding.shtml

Submatriculation

Information re: the submatriculation option for UPENN/CIS undergraduates is at

www.seas.upenn.edu/undergraduate/degrees/submatriculation.php

Questions

Admission statistics for the PhD, MSE, MCIT, CGGT & Robotics programs can be found at -

www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/admission-stats.shtml

Mike Felker, CIS Graduate Coordinator
Email: mfelker@cis.upenn.edu

Department of Computer and Information Science
Graduate Program
University of Pennsylvania
Levine 313

3330 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6389

Phone: (215) 898-9672
Fax: (215) 898-0587

Note: Before calling or emailing, please review the online application forms and procedures. Most of the questions you may have are probably answered there.