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 2888; it is not necessary to use a department code. 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, & EMBS 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.

At  www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concordance_information.pdf is a chart comparing the pre-2011 GRE Verbal & Quantitative grading system with the current grading system.

TOEFL/IELTS

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 100 is expected for the internet-based exam.

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

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

-Submission of an official score report for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 7.5.

Information about the IELTS can be found at www.ielts.org/default.aspx

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

Grade Point Average

Applicants to the CIS graduate programs are expected to have high grade point averages.

Deadlines

The deadline date for all candidates applying to the doctoral program  for Fall 2013 is December 15, 2012.

The CIS/MSE, MCIT, CGGT, Embedded Systems, & Robotics programs have three Application Cycles Deadlines for Fall 2013:

• November 15, 2012
• March 15, 2013
• May 15, 2013 (for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents)

The deadlines are to monitor the number of applications, admittances, matriculants, etc.

Test scores, etc. may be submitted after the application has been submitted, i.e., after the deadline.

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

Due to administrative concerns, the sequence of course offerings, and the large number of applicants for the Fall, candidates will not be able to apply for the Spring. 

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

Transcripts/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.

Applicants must upload an unofficial copy (scanned, word, .pdf, etc.) of all transcripts into the online application; if an applicant is unable to upload the transcript copy, then the online self-reported transcript must be completed. 

The transcript submitted online is used for the evaluation.

The hard copy official transcript is used for verification and should be submitted when the application is submitted.

One official hard copy of the transcript, to verify those submitted online, must 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

The official hard copy transcript should be sent directly by the issuing college or university.

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 and applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to do this. When an applicant logs in, the information  re: materials received, etc. is listed at the bottom of the page, right below the application status.

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. 

Test scores, transcripts, etc. should be submitted when the application is submitted or shortly after the application is submitted.  An application will not be evaluated until all needed materials have been submitted and it is complete.  All completed applications are evaluated. 

Application Fee

The application fee is $80. This information is available in the online application.

The application fee to apply for a CIS graduate program is waived for United States active duty service members and military veterans - send email to Mike Felker mfelker@cis.upenn.edu; please include a scanned copy of your DD 214 or other appropriate documentation.

Application Statistics

At www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/admission-stats.shtml are admission statistics - number of applicants/admits, average GRE scores, etc. - for our six graduate programs for the past several years - this will give you an idea of what is expected of applicants.

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 masters 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

The University of Pennsylvania participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program; information can be found at www.upenn.edu/registrar/yellow-ribbon.html

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, & EMBS programs can be found at www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/admission-stats.shtml

Mike Felker, CIS Graduate Coordinator

Graduate Coordinator
PhD, CIS/MSE, MCIT, CGGT, Embedded Systems, & Robotics programs
Department of Computer & Information Science
University of Pennsylvania

mfelker@cis.upenn.edu
www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/
www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/mfelker.shtml

Department of Computer and Information Science
University of Pennsylvania

3330 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6389

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

Note: Before calling or emailing, please review the online application forms and procedures. Most of the questions you may have are probably answered there. And again, the online application allows the applicant to determine what materials have been received and and applicants are strongly encouraged to do this.

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