The PhD program in Computer and Information Sciences offers an opportunity for exceptional students to pursue substantial research in the computer sciences and related areas.  To earn a PhD degree, a student must demonstrate breadth of knowledge in at least two research areas and significant depth in a chosen dissertation area. In addition, the student must conceive, write and defend a PhD dissertation representing a significant and original contribution to current academic research as demonstrated by a public dissertation defense and publication in established peer-reviewed academic conferences and/or journals.

Students can be considered for part-time and conditional admission. See below for details. 

Application Deadlines

The Computer & Information Sciences PhD admits students twice a year, in the Fall and Winter quarters. Applications and all supporting documents should be submitted as early as possible, but not later than:

• Fall quarter deadline: January 15
• Winter quarter deadline: October 1

PhD Funding

Please visit our PhD Funding page for full details. Only full-time applicants for Fall admission are considered for funding.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and Master’s degree awarded from college or university with institutional accreditation. The master’s degree must be in computer science, information systems, or a related field.
• Personal statement describing your accomplishments, goals and interests.
• Resume
• Official GRE score report of a test taken within five years of the application deadline. When ordering official GRE scores, use Institution Code 1165 and Department Code 0402.
• Three letters of recommendation
• Identify potential faculty advisor(s). Review the CIS PhD Faculty Advisor List. It is the doctoral candidate's responsibility to establish contact with potential faculty advisors prior to application submission.
• Test of English Proficiency for international students. We require at least a 92 on the internet-based TOEFL*, a 6.5 on the IELTS Academic, or a 125 on the Duolingo English Test (DET).

*The ETS TOEFL iBT score scale has changed as of January 21, 2026. For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026, the minimum score requirement is a 4.5 with no sub scores below 4.5 (on the new 1–6 scale). Exams taken prior to January 21, 2026 (with scores on the 0–120 scale) are still valid for two years from the exam date, and will be accepted until expiration.

Steps to Apply

1. Complete an online application and submit application fee ($25 application fee for domestic applicants, $75 for international applicants).
2. Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. One must show conferral of a Bachelor's degree and Master’s degree from a college or university with institutional accreditation and one must show conferral of a Master’s degree in computer science, information systems or a related field.
   • U.S. college and university transcripts should be submitted electronically (preferred) or mailed to:
     • admission@cdm.depaul.edu
       CDM Graduate Admission Office 
       1 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 8500 
       Chicago IL 60604
   • Individuals submitting international transcripts must have a course-by-course transcript evaluation completed by DePaul's internal transcript evaluation team or by one of three external evaluation companies that DePaul University accepts. For more information about this process please visit the Transcript Evaluation webpage.
   • DePaul alumni/undergraduate students applying for graduate admission must also submit a DePaul transcript. You can request a free electronic transcript on the Student Records webpage.
3. Submit all application materials listed above, under Admission Requirements.

When required application materials are missing, the College is compelled by University regulations to withdraw the application from consideration for admission. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all materials are submitted on time.

All submitted application materials will become part of your application file and cannot be returned. Please retain your own copies.

The program is highly selective. The Ph.D. Admissions Committee determines which applicants will be admitted to the program. Because the School admits only a limited number of students to the Ph.D. program, meeting the admission requirements outlined above does not guarantee acceptance.

Submitting Application Materials

Most materials (excluding official transcripts and test scores) can be submitted through the online application.

Please note that GRE and TOEFL scores MUST be official copies sent directly to CDM Graduate Admission Office by ETS:

• The Institution Code for the GRE is 1165
• The Department Code for the GRE is 0402
• The Institution Code for the TOEFL is 1165

Any materials not submitted through the online application may be submitted electronically (preferred) or mailed to:

admission@cdm.depaul.edu

CDM Graduate Admission Office 
1 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 8500 
Chicago IL 60604 

Conditional Admission

Students without a master’s degree in computer science or a related field may be considered for conditional admission to the doctoral program. These students must have an exceptional undergraduate record. A conditionally admitted student will be required to complete a doctoral prerequisite phase consisting of a set of courses determined to be appropriate for the student by the Ph.D. committee. These courses will include the core courses from the Master’s of Science in Computer Science program. Upon completion of the prerequisite phase, the Ph.D. committee will conduct an evaluation of the student's progress. Assuming such progress is satisfactory, the student will then be formally admitted into the doctoral program. Note: It is not the policy of the School to award a master’s degree to a student enrolled in the Ph.D. program.

We do not offer conditional admission for students whose English proficiency scores are below the minimum.

Part-Time Admission

In keeping with the CDM philosophy of blending academic and professional pursuits, students employed full-time will be considered for admission as part-time doctoral students. However, these applicants must have sufficiently flexible work schedules to allow them to attend required meetings and academic seminars that occur during daytime working hours throughout their degree program.