MS Admissions

students in classrroom

 

New for Fall 2026! Domestic CS MS applicants (i.e., applicants with degrees obtained in the United States) are not required to submit GRE scores. The CS Department will waive the GRE score requirement once the application is submitted.

MS applicants applying for Fall ’26 admission to the computer science graduate program are eligible for a reduced application fee if they register and attend the CS Virtual Open House events on Nov 14th 2025 @9am Chicago local time, respectively @5pm Chicago local time. Registration to the events is available through the UIC Application system (candidates need to start an application as a prospective student).

For students who register and attend the CS Virtual Open House events, the fee waiver program conditions are: international students will only pay $100 (for the international evaluation fee, with the $80 application fee being waived), and domestic students will pay $0. To qualify for this reduction, masters applications must be fully completed before February 15, 2026. These reduced fees will be automatically applied at the time of application.

Applicants who were unable to attend the sessions listed above but are committed to applying before February 15th 2026 may contact the CS Graduate Admissions office (ask.csgrad@uic.edu) to request alternative session times.

 

Hear from our MS alumni

Applicants interested in the MS program in computer science must apply online through the graduate admissions website. Applicants are reviewed by the computer science graduate admissions committee.

Masters applicants are strongly encouraged to check out our typical admission requirements thresholds (GPA, GRE) before applying.

MS program applicants are expected to have earned an undergraduate degree in computer science or a closely related field. Download our master’s degree booklet for an overview of the MS program.

Detailed information:


Application deadlines

Fall

  • January 15: recommended deadline for MS applicants
  • February 15: all MS applicants

Spring

  • July 15: MS international applicants
  • November 1: domestic MS applicants

Admission requirements

  • MS applicants: bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related field. In addition, U.S. students who have very strong undergraduate records in other fields are occasionally admitted as non-degree students to take one or more semesters of undergraduate CS courses, and then to apply for the MS program. Please contact our student affairs  office at ask.csgrad@uic.edu for specific guidance.
  • Grade point average: at least 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
  • GRE general test scores are required for all MS applicants, with the exception of UIC graduates. Average score requirements: minimum of 300 GREV+GREQ score (with a minimum of 140+ GREV).
  • Minimum English competency test score: applicants whose native language is not English are required to take an English competency test. Minimum required scores are: iBT Internet-based TOEFL of 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21; New Paper-Based TOEFL (after August 2018) of 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21; Institutional Testing Paper-Based TOEFL (prior to August 2018) of 550; IELTS of 6.5, with all four subsections of at least 6.0; or PTE-Academic of 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.

Application requirements

  • Graduate application completed online
  • Transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate work
  • Test scores sent directly by the testing service to UIC’s graduate admissions office
  • Letters of recommendation (2 for MS)
  • Statement of purpose
  • Curriculum vitae

Core courses

Applicants have typically completed the following coursework as part of their undergraduate and/or graduate education. Applicants who lack this background can still be accepted into our graduate program, under the condition that they complete the required coursework during their first years of graduate study.

  • CS 111 Program Design I
  • CS 151 Mathematical Foundations of Computing
  • CS 251 Data Structures
  • CS 261 Machine Organization (optional)
  • At least one of the following: CS 301 Languages & Automata, CS 342 Software Design, or CS 361 Computer Systems

See the UIC Course Catalog for course descriptions.

Apply now