PenDoctor of Philosophy in Computer Science and EngineeringPennsylvania State University · University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

Program Overview

Dates and tuition are specific to the 2027 intake

Please check the official program website (link below) for specific writing guidelines

Statement of purpose

One-page statement of purpose on the how-to-apply page.

CV or resume

Current academic and professional history.

Recommendation letters x 3

Three letters required.

Official transcript(s)

From all post-secondary institutions attended; English translation if needed. Official copies typically required after admission.

Academic: Bachelor's degree with GPA 3.0/4.0 expected; Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in major courses is expected but not a published hard cutoff in all sources.
Prerequisites: Relevant academic background; Undergraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely aligned field is expected but not strictly required.
IELTS: 6.5 overall; Fox Graduate School GCAC-305 minimum. Required if prior degree was not taught in English.
TOEFL: New scale: 4.5 overall (Speaking 3.5) | Old scale: 80 overall (Speaking 19); Fox Graduate School GCAC-305 minimum. New scale applies to tests from 21 Jan 2026; old scale applies before that date.
GRE: Optional; GRE scores are not required for doctoral applicants; they may be submitted.

Historical admission data is not published.