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Computer Science PhD Program

The computer science program provides opportunities for students to join vibrant collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts in artificial intelligence, computer animation and virtual environments, cyber-physical systems, distributed real-time and embedded middleware, human-systems integration, image processing, intelligent learning environments, model-integrated computing, robotics, software engineering and trustworthy computing.

Important Admissions Deadlines

Applications for both spring and fall admission open on August 1.

Ph.D. Deadlines
Application deadline for Spring 2027 admissionOctober 15
Priority deadline for Fall 2027 Admission (Deadline for fee waiver) December 1
Final deadline for Fall 2027 Admission December 15

Graduate Degree Programs

The department of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and thesis and non-thesis Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Computer Science. The CS graduate program encourages both fundamental and interdisciplinary research. State-of-the-art facilities that include computational resources, networks, and laboratories in several areas are available to support research activities.

The graduate program in CS is structured around four primary areas:

  • Computing Foundations
  • Computer and Network Systems
  • Information and Intelligent Systems
  • Medical Image Computing

Please click here to view details of the application process through the Graduate School.

For more information about our programs please review our Computer Science Graduate Catalog

If you have any additional questions about the admission and application process, please contact Melissa Harrell.

Application and Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

  • What degrees are offered by the Graduate Program?

    The Graduate Program in Computer Science at Vanderbilt University offers students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). 

  • Can I apply to the Ph.D. program with only a Bachelor’s degree or must I apply for admission the Master’s program first?

    Applicants who are interested in earning a Ph.D., whether or not they have a master’s degree, are encouraged to apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Students who are accepted to the Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s degree can earn the master’s degree on the way to their Ph.D.

  • Do I have to choose a faculty advisor before my application is reviewed for admission?

    No. However, you are encouraged to reach out to and list any faculty in which you may want to work with that are in line with your research interest.

  • How do I contact professors for research opportunities?

    You are encouraged to explore the research institutes and groups in the department which have their faculty and contacts listed. 

  • Will there be any opportunity to transfer to the Ph.D. Program if I am admitted to the Master’s program?

    Transfer to the Ph.D. program from the Master’s will depend on research progress which will typically need to be exceptional and beyond Master’s level. Requests to transfer programs are subject to approval from the academic advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.

  • What funding opportunities are available?

    The College of Connected Computing seeks to provide a competitive admission package to its students. First year students can be admitted as a TA or RA and can switch roles throughout their time in the program.

    The continuation of funding is dependent on academic and research progress toward your degree.

  • Does the degree program offer Day 1 CPT?

    At this time, our program does not offer Day 1 CPT.

    • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment option available to F-1 students when the training experience is considered to be an integral part of the established curriculum and directly related to the student's major area of study. ("Training" is used here to refer to paid or unpaid internships or employment. According to Immigration regulations, CPT may be an internship, practicum, or other work experience that is required for the degree program (as defined in the course catalog) or for which academic course credit is awarded)
    • For more information regarding CPT click here

Application Process

  • What are the application requirements?

    To apply for admission to the Graduate Program in Computer Science, you will need to submit an application for admission electronically through  The Graduate School.  Application requirements include:

    Resume/CV
    The Graduate Program for Computer Science has indefinitely waived GRE scores for consideration for admission.
    Language Proficiency Exam (TOEFL or IELTS)
    Transcripts
    Statement of Purpose
    Letters of Recommendation
  • What are the language proficiency exam score requirements?

    The College of Connected Computing follows official graduate school language requirements. 

  • Can the language proficiency requirement be waived?

    For specific details about the policy and requirements, please refer here. 

    Please note that English language proficiency waivers will be reviewed only after the application has been submitted and, if required, the application fee has been paid.

  • How do I verify that my language proficiency requirement waiver was applied?

    The Application Checklist on the application status page will display a status of “waived.”

  • Do I need to mail in original transcripts?

    You do not need to mail in original transcripts when applying. You should upload an unofficial transcript from prior undergraduate or graduate work as a part of your online application. Official transcripts are required only after an offer of admission is made and accepted.

  • Is there an application fee?

    An application to the PhD program is 95.00 USD.

  • Can my application fee be waived?

    U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents can click here for Graduate School application fee waiver information.

    All applicants can review eligibility for the CCC’s discretionary fee waiver below:

    The following criteria determines eligibility for application fee waivers for spring and fall 2027 admissions:

    Your application must be submitted AND completed by the following deadlines:

    Spring 2027: October 15, 2026

    Fall 2027: December 1, 2026

    You are currently enrolled in, or have graduated from, a U.S. school OR

    Fee waivers may also be available to applicants from non-U.S. institutions. Eligibility is automatically determined through the online application portal.  We are unable to provide answers regarding eligibility, as this process is handled solely within the portal.

    If you meet the eligibility criteria listed above, our application system will automatically apply the fee waiver. If the waiver is not applied, this indicates that you did not qualify based on our current waiver policy.

  • How can I check the status of my application?

    You may check the status of your application through your applicant portal 

  • Can I upload additional documents after my application has been submitted?

    You may upload additional documents through the application portal after the application has been submitted.

    Please note that we cannot accept additional materials through email.

  • Can recommendation letters be submitted after the application close?

    Yes. You may submit your application even if all recommendation letters have not been submitted. However, an admission decision cannot be released until all materials, including recommendation letters, are received.

  • When can I expect to hear from the program about the admission decision?

    Please see important Admissions Deadlines section at the top of the page. All official decisions will be communicated by the Graduate School. 

  • If I receive an offer of admission, what are the next steps?

    If you have received an offer of admission, make sure to submit the Admission Response Form in your application portal, and follow any other steps provided by Graduate Admissions.

    Your official transcripts and immunization records must be sent to Vanderbilt University before you can enroll in classes.

    International students should reach out to ISSS at ISSS@Vanderbilt.edu for information on how to begin the visa process.

    If you have any questions, you can contact CS.PhD.Admin@Vanderbilt.edu.

  • How long after an admission offer is made do I have to respond?

    April 15th is the National Response Day, however, you will have at least 2 weeks to respond with either your acceptance or rejection of the admission offer. You should complete the Admission Response Form through the application portal to indicate your response.

Financial Aid

Graduate students in the computer science department seeking the Ph.D. degree receive a competitive stipend, full tuition waiver and health insurance. Typically, students are supported on a Teaching Assistantship or a Research Assistantship. Students on a Teaching Assistantship assist the faculty with undergraduate courses, typically by grading assignments and holding office hours. Opportunities to teach are available for those that wish to gain such experience. Both Teaching and Research Assistantships can be supplemented by any one of the following university fellowships, which are awarded through a competitive process to highly qualified applicants.

Provost's Graduate Fellowships:

$10,000/year for up to 5 years.

University Graduate Fellowships:

$5,000/year for up to 5 years.

Dean’s Graduate Fellowship

$6,000/year for up to 3 years

 

In order to be considered for these fellowships, an applicant's file must be completed by December 15. Prospective applicants are also urged to apply for external fellowships or grants from national, international, industrial or foundation sources.

Contact

Prof. Kevin Leach
Dir. of Graduate Recruitment
Kevin.Leach@Vanderbilt.edu

Prof. Taylor Johnson
Dir. of Graduate Studies (PhD)
Taylor.Johnson@Vanderbilt.edu

Melissa Harrell
Graduate Program Coordinator (PhD)
CS.PhD.Admin@Vanderbilt.edu

Graduate Student Information

Visit the Graduate Student Information page for more information.