FAQ

These FAQs pertain to our Graduate program. For an Undergraduate FAQ page, please visit the Caltech Undergraduate FAQ page.

When are graduate applications due? Applications for the graduate program are due by January 1st. However, early submissions are encouraged as application reviews are already in progress in December.

Can I earn a terminal Master's Degree in Computer Science at Caltech? Caltech only accepts students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science. We do not offer a Master's degree as a terminal degree.

How do I apply for graduate admission? Visit the Graduate Admissions website in order to download or request an application. Complete instructions may be found there. Applications are due on January 1st for entry the following September. Also peruse this website for detailed information on the faculty and their research expertise; current graduate students; dissertation titles of alumni; and general information about our department.

Where can I find Catalog information about the Computer Science PhD Program? In the online Catalog.

Can I attend Caltech as a part-time student? No. Our graduate program is for full-time students only.

What kind of research in Computer Science is done at Caltech? Research emphases are in algorithms; communication protocols, concurrent computation, and networks; graphics and human-computer interaction; novel computational substrates, including quantum mechanical computers and molecular computers; VLSI, with a specific emphasis on asynchronous and analog VLSI; high-confidence systems, including fault tolerance, program verification and security; information theory; learning theory; computer vision; and large-scale scientific computing. Projects frequently involve connections with other disciplines such as Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Mechanics, Control and Dynamical Systems, and Electrical Engineering.

How many years does it take to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science at Caltech? The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of three academic years of residence. Most students complete the Ph.D. program in four to six years.

Are stipends available for graduate students? In general, students offered admission to graduate study at Caltech are simultaneously offered a package of financial support that pays all tuition charges and provides them with a stipend. Financial support for graduate students comes in the form of fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantship, or some combination of fellowship and assistantship support. In most cases financial assistance is awarded on an annual basis, but there are also multi-year fellowships available. In any case, Caltech guarantees that the stipends that students receive in subsequent years of graduate study are as great or greater than their stipend for the first year. A separate application for requesting financial aid is not required. Applicants requesting additional information on financial assistance may contact the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies at (626) 395-6348.

Must I take the GRE? Yes. GRE scores are required, with a subject test of the student's choice strongly recommended. It is strongly recommended that applicants take the GRE in October to allow enough time for Caltech to receive the scores by January.

What kind of background preparation is recommended? Applications are encouraged from fields other than computer science, but applicants should be aware that the program is mathematically and scientifically oriented.

I already have earned a Ph.D. May I still apply to your program? Students who hold a Ph.D. degree from another institution are not normally admitted to graduate standing at Caltech to pursue a second Ph.D. degree.

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