FAQs
For questions specifically related to the Online MCS or MCS in Data Science track, see the Online MCS FAQs.
General Answers for All Applicants
What are the application deadlines?
The deadlines for each of our Graduate Programs are listed on our Application Deadlines page.
Changing personal information on the application
My personal information has changed. Can you help me change information on my application?
Please email your request to grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu or online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu (Online MCS applicants only). We will update our school database. We cannot update your Graduate College application in Apply Yourself. However, the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Admissions committee will review your application from our database.
My current email has changed. How could I update my contact information?
If your email address changes between submitting your application and the decision deadline, please email your new email address to grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu. Include your old email address, your new email address, your first and last name, your date of birth, and your Apply Yourself PIN number in the email message.
Transcripts
Detailed information about submitting application materials are found on our Application Process & Requirements page.
Do I need to submit official transcripts? I have already attached scanned copies of my transcripts to the application.
Official transcripts are not required for the initial application review process. Applicants will be required to submit official credentials (transcripts, academic records, diplomas, certificates of degrees, etc.) only if they are recommended for admission to the Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Applicants recommended for admission will be required to submit their official transcripts directly to the Graduate College.
How do I complete the transcripts portion of my application?
To complete your application, please follow the instructions provided by the Graduate College:
“Applicants must list in the online application each institution of post-secondary education from which they have earned credit. Applicants must also upload scanned copies of their transcript / academic record (and diplomas or certificates of degrees if the degree is awarded and not listed on the transcript) for each of these institutions to their online application.”
Notes:
- Scanned transcripts must include all grade records and the grading scale used by the institution. (If the grading scale is on the back of the transcript, a separate scanned page should be included.) It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure uploaded copies are legible and of high resolution.
- Do not upload password-protected transcripts. If you receive password-protected transcripts from your educational institutions, please print them and scan to a PDF file before uploading. Password-protected transcripts cannot be viewed by our Admissions Committee.
- If a transcript does not show the degree awarded date for a degree that is already awarded, please include a copy of the diploma/degree certificate that shows the degree was conferred.
Do I need to submit Primary and Secondary Education transcripts?
The requested Primary and Secondary Education fields can be useful in determining if an on-campus student qualifies for a TA position. However, you do not need to submit any transcripts for Primary and Secondary Education. Primary education is typically considered any education prior to high-school level and secondary would be any school after primary and prior to undergraduate-level education.
I have been offered admission. How do I submit official transcripts?
Submission of Official Academic Credentials (Graduate College policy)
“All credentials uploaded to the online application are considered unofficial. You will only be asked to submit official credentials (transcripts, academic records, diplomas, certificates of degrees, etc.) if you are admitted. These must be submitted during your first term of enrollment at the University of Illinois.
The University of Illinois reserves the right to require official academic credentials at any time during the admissions process, and to rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between unofficial and official transcript(s) are found.”
What is the mailing address to submit official transcripts?
If you are an admitted student, please send your official transcripts directly to the University of Illinois Graduate College.
Mailing address:
The Graduate College Admissions Office
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
507 East Green Street
Suite 101, MC-434
Champaign, IL 61820
USA
Are third-party evaluations an acceptable substitute for transcripts?
No, third-party evaluations are not accepted for the initial review. Please do not upload third-party evaluations. Scanned copies of transcripts (or mark sheets) showing all grades/marks must be uploaded for the full duration of your academic program.
Is the Diploma or the Degree Certificate an acceptable substitute for transcripts?
No, the diploma/degree certificate is not an acceptable substitute for transcripts. Scanned copies of transcripts (or mark sheets) showing all grades/marks must be uploaded for the full duration of your academic program.
Letters of Reference
Detailed information about submitting application materials are found on our Application Process & Requirements page.
Can I change my list of reference letter writers?
Yes, you can request this change by emailing grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu or online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu (Online MCS applicants only). Your request should include contact information of references to be added (name, email, official position, role in which they write the letter) and/or names to be removed from the current list. (These new letter writers will need to email their reference letters from their official email address to grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu or online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu (Online MCS applicants only).)
Can my reference letters be mailed or emailed?
Individuals writing letters of recommendation on your behalf should submit their letters through the online application system. Any recommendation letters that are not submitted through the online application system will impact timely processing of your application.
If the letter writers are unable to submit letters through the online application system, letters can be emailed directly from the letter writer’s official email address to grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu or online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu (Online MCS applicants only). Letters will not be accepted if sent from a personal email address.
Under extreme circumstances, letters in sealed envelopes can be mailed to the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science. However, standard mail should be used only when letters cannot be submitted through the online application system or sent via email to grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu or online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu (Online MCS applicants only). In such instances, please mail the letters directly to the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the address listed at the bottom of this page. Any application material received via standard mail can take up to three business days to process.
My recommender(s) are unable to submit letters by the deadline. Can you make an exception to the deadline?
All application material must be submitted by the deadline. Late letters will be added to your application. But, we cannot guarantee that the admission committee will review late letters. You have the option of asking another recommender to write a letter by the deadline. (Please see above for directions for changing letter writers.)
GRE Examination
Does Computer Science require GRE scores?
No, the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science does not require applicants to submit GRE scores. If you would like to submit scores, we recommend that you scan your official score report as a PDF file and attach it to your application. You do NOT need to submit official scores through ETS.
I ordered my GRE scores to be submitted to the university. When would the exam scores show as received?
It can take more than four weeks from the time you order the scores to be received at the university and matched up with your application. Due to the high volume of application material processed, we are unable to check on the status of scores being submitted. You may upload a scanned PDF copy of the full official score report to your application as "supplemental material" until official scores are received.
Additional Application Material
Are there other additional application materials required by the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science?
There are no other additional material required by the school. All program-specific questions are incorporated in the application form.
Should I submit a writing sample as part of my application?
No writing samples are required.
Is there a word limit for the academic statement of purpose? What are the formatting requirements?
No, the personal statement has no word limit and no formatting requirements. It should, however, be precise and free of errors so that your application is strengthened.
Do I need to upload a separate essay for Program-Specific Questions?
No, a separate program-specific essay is not needed for any Siebel School of Computing and Data Science graduate program application. However, please be sure to upload your Personal Statement.
I am applying to the M.S. or Ph.D. program. Am I required to provide areas of research interest in my application?
You are required to identify a minimum of one area and a maximum of three areas that you might be interested in pursuing for research. The application form provides a list of research areas to select from.
I am applying to the M.S. or Ph.D. program. Am I required to provide three faculty names in my application?
This is not required. But, we strongly encourage you to identify up to three Siebel School of Computing and Data Science faculty with whom you might want to work if admitted. Please explore the faculty profiles on our website if you are not familiar with the research interests of our faculty. Faculty are also listed by research area.
Can I upload additional material to my application after the application is submitted?
If you wish to upload additional documents, such as recent test scores or a revised resume, you may continue to do so after your application is submitted. Please revisit your application status page to upload additional documents. Please note that full consideration of these documents is not guaranteed if application material is uploaded after the application deadline.
Checking Application Materials Submitted
Due to the volume of applications received, our office will not be able to check for individual documents. However, you can check on material received by logging in to your application at the application portal.
Application Review Process
Could the school review my credentials (including past GPAs, full transcripts, test scores) before I submit my application and let me know if I qualify to apply?
Due to the high volume of applications received and school admission policies, the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science does not conduct provisional review of individual credentials. All applications are reviewed by our Admissions Committee after application deadlines have passed.
I am undecided about which graduate program to apply for. Could I apply for more than one graduate degree program?
If an applicant submits multiple applications to different graduate programs, we will ask the applicant to select one application. Please consider your options carefully and submit only one application to the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science.
I do not have a Masters degree in Computer Science (or related field). Could I be admitted to the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science PhD program at Illinois?
Applicants with a strong computing and data science record can be admitted to the PhD program with only a bachelor's degree.
I have a Masters degree in Computer Science (or Computer Engineering). Could I be admitted to the MS or MCS program at Illinois?
Applicants who already hold a Master’s degree in computer science or computer engineering whose degree requirements are equivalent to Siebel School of Computing and Data Science master’s degree are not eligible to apply for our MS or Professional Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree.
My undergraduate GPA is below the average quoted on your website. Will my application be reviewed?
Our website states the average GPA of admitted students. It is not a minimum.* Our admissions committee considers all the information you provide in your application, GPA, research projects, letters of recommendation, Computer Science course/grades, statement of purpose, etc. The decision to submit an application is personal and must be decided based on the information we provide regarding admissibility.
*The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign does require applicants to hold at least a 3.0/4.0 or higher GPA in their undergraduate degree to be eligible for graduate studies on this campus.
Will the school notify me of missing application materials?
The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science will not send individual reminders on missing materials. Please check at the Graduate College application portal that all your application materials have been submitted.
I have been admitted to a CS on-campus (PhD, CS MS, MS Bioinformatics, MCS) graduate program. Can I defer my admissions offer?
The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science will not defer any admissions offers to our on-campus graduate programs. However, your current application can be considered in the next application cycle (up to one year) without paying a new application fee. Requests to reconsider the application for a future cycle must be sent to grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu (from the email account used for your application) by the deadline to respond to your admissions offer.
Online MCS applicants: Please contact the school at online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu.
Questions Answered for International Students
Minimum admission requirements
Will I be admitted to the Graduate College with an undergraduate degree from a 3-year program?
Applicants whose undergraduate degree is a three-year program may not be eligible for graduate level admissions consideration at the University of Illinois. Eligibility depends on the country where the applicant received their degree -- please see the Graduate College's list of eligible degrees.
GPA Calculations
How does CS calculate the GPA from my home-institution?
School staff will calculate and convert international transcripts. This is not a simple process, but as a general rule, it will depend on your institution’s grading scale. Our Graduate College website provides information that shows the minimum GPA requirements by country. You can click on the country you obtained your degree and see the bottom of the page to find the “Full Status Admission Minimum GPA Requirements”. Please keep in mind that these minimums are Graduate College minimums and are based on a “B” equivalent. Our school typically requires a higher minimum as a benchmark for admission.
English language proficiency requirements
What are the English language proficiency requirements for admission to the Graduate College and Siebel School of Computing and Data Science?
Please see the Graduate College's English Proficiency Requirements for details. This page also provides information about two exemptions to the language proficiency requirements.
Note: English proficiency requirements for admissions purposes can different from requirements for consideration for financial assistance (for non-native English speaking students).
- PhD applicants whose native language is not English or are not exempt from demonstrating oral English proficiency by the university, must submit valid TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores regardless of receiving an exemption from submitting test scores for admission. Please review the information on "Financial Aid Considerations for On-campus Applicants" provided on the Additional Required Application Material page.
- If M.S. applicants wish to be considered for school funding, we require that you submit standardized test scores.
The medium of instruction in my country is English. Do I need to submit TOEFL or IELTS language proficiency scores to be admitted to the CS graduate program?
Please check the Graduate College website to see if your country is on the exempt list of countries for admission purposes. If your country is not on this list, then English proficiency requirements must be met for admission to the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science graduate programs, irrespective of medium of instruction.
Please note: TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid.
I am an international student, but I have received my undergraduate degree from a U.S. institution. Do I need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores?
For full consideration for school funding, M.S. applicants are strongly recommended to submit current (passing) scores. Ph.D. applicants are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. (The PhD program contains a Teaching Assistant requirement where English language proficiency requirements must be met.)
PhD applicants whose native language is not English or are not exempt from demonstrating oral English proficiency by the university, must submit valid TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores regardless of receiving an exemption from submitting test scores for admission. Please review the information on "Financial Aid Considerations for On-campus Applicants" provided on the Additional Required Application Material page.
Please note: TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid.
I am exempt from submitting English language proficiency scores for admission. Am I also eligible to receive a Teaching Assistantship?
Being exempt for admission purposes does not necessarily provide an exemption for international teaching assistants. For more information please see the English Proficiency Requirement for International Teaching Assistants.
The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science requires all non-native English speaking applicants who apply for Teaching Assistantships (even if they are exempted from admission requirements) to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores. TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid.
Minimum requirements in the speaking subsections:
- TOEFL iBT: 24
- IELTS: 8
Are TOEFL or IELTS scores required to apply for Research Assistantships?
International M.S. or Ph.D. applicants who wish to be considered for any type of graduate assistantship are required by the school to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid.
I am scheduled to take my TOEFL (or IELTS) test after the application is submitted. Can I enter that date on my application?
You can report future test dates on your application so that the admissions committee will see that you will be taking the exam. Please keep in mind that decisions regarding financial assistance will not be made until test scores are received. If official scores are not reported by the application deadlines, you run the risk of your application not being reviewed.
I do not have a passing Speak score in TOEFL or IELTS. Am I eligible for financial assistance?
If the admissions committee decides to admit you and you do not have a passing “speaking” score, you may be considered for financial assistance. However, these opportunities will be restricted by your qualifications and other available funding.
I ordered my TOEFL (IELTS) scores to be submitted to the university. When would the exam scores show as received?
It can take more than four weeks from the time you order the scores to be received at the university and matched up with your application. Due to the high volume of application material processed, we are unable to check on the status of scores being submitted. You may upload a scanned PDF copy of the full official score report to your application as "supplemental material" until official scores are received.
My TOEFL (IELTS) scores were submitted to the university before I submitted my graduate application. When would the exam scores show as received?
Please allow up to 5 business days after you submit the application, for exam scores to be matched to your application. Thank you for your patience.
Financial Verification
Do I need to submit the Declaration & Certification of Finances form for the application to be complete?
The Declaration & Certification of Finances form is not needed for the application to be complete. This form does not need to be submitted when applying to Siebel School of Computing and Data Science graduate programs.
If you are admitted to our graduate program without school funding, you will be asked to submit this form.
Contact Information
How can I get my questions answered?
Please review all information available on our website.
For questions not answered in the FAQs:
- Urbana-Champaign on-campus applicants: grad-admissions@siebelschool.illinois.edu
- Chicago in-person MCS applicants: Chicago-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu
- Online MCS applicants: online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu
Telephone number: (217) 333-4428
Applicants to the online MCS program: Please see Online MCS FAQs for advisor availability.
Pursue infinite possibilities with Grainger Engineering