UCLDoctor of Philosophy in Computer ScienceUniversity of California, Los Angeles · Los Angeles, California, 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

500-word limit.

CV or resume

Personal statement

500-word limit. Required for all CS applicants.

Recommendation letters x 3

Academic letters preferred; recent research supervisors are especially useful.

Unofficial transcript(s)

From each post-secondary institution; official copies typically required after admission.

Academic: Bachelor's degree with GPA 3.0/4.0; University minimum 3.0/4.0. Applicants already holding an M.S. should typically have at least 3.5 in that degree. Bachelor’s-only admits often have at least 3.6; these figures are typical, not hard cutoffs.
Prerequisites: Relevant academic background; Preparation and aptitude for graduate research in computer science. Ph.D. applicants select a field of study and preferred faculty advisor.
IELTS: 7.0 overall
TOEFL: New scale: 4.5 overall | 87 overall; University minimum for exams taken on or after 21 Jan 2026.; University minimum for exams taken before 21 Jan 2026. UCLA does not accept MyBest scores.
GRE: Not considered; 2026–2027 Graduate Division listing: GRE not required.

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