Admitted Graduate Students
You’re admitted! What’s next?
First, we would like to warmly welcome you to the UIC computer science department. This page is designed to give incoming master’s and PhD students easy access to the resources you need to get started at UIC.
If, after reading this page, you still have any questions about joining us at UIC, please contact the computer science Student Affairs office at (312) 413-4950. We are happy to help you.
Important Next Steps
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Activate your my.uic.edu account
Go the university student portal, my.uic.edu, to activate your account and receive your university NetID. You will need your social security number or TNC, your university identification number (UIN), and date of birth to complete the activation. Look for the activation link on the left side of the page. Once you have activated your my.UIC account, you will be able to manage all aspects of your education at UIC through this site. The portal has information on UIC e-mail, registration, academic records, financial records, and more.
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Plan your arrival on campus
U.S. students should plan on attending the Graduate College orientation and the mandatory CS graduate orientation in August. Dates for these orientations will be sent by email. International students on a visa can enter the country 30 days prior to the start of the term. We strongly suggest you arrive early enough to allow plenty of time to find housing, register for classes, and get acclimated to the campus. International students will attend the Graduate College orientation and mandatory CS graduate orientation along with U.S. students.
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Prepare for registration
- The CS graduate program requires a non-refundable deposit of $300 as a part of the “intent to enroll” process. If you are accepted to the program and plan to attend, you must submit this deposit to hold your place in the class.
- CS graduate students do not have to be advised prior to registering for courses. For the first semester, you should choose courses that you are comfortable with; both 400-level and 500-level CS courses are acceptable. Please keep an eye out for prerequisites and take those into account when making your selections. All of our graduate courses are geared for students with an undergraduate degree in computer science or an equivalent understanding. Our undergraduate core curriculum consists of: CS 141, 151, 251, 261, 361, and 342. Please look over the topics covered and address any deficiencies either by enrolling in the appropriate undergraduate classes or through self-study. Rules and minimum requirements for class levels will be discussed during the mandatory CS graduate student orientation.
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Learn about registration holds
- All new CS graduate students have a “new student hold” automatically placed on their account. U.S. students can resolve this hold by email: please send your first name, last name, date of birth, and UIN to grad@cs.uic.edu. International students must come to the Student Affairs office (905 SEO) for your hold to be removed.
- All new international CS graduate students also have a “SEVIS hold” automatically placed on their account. To get this hold removed, check in with the university-wide Office of International Services (OIS) when you arrive to the United States. The OIS staff will provide details on how to remove the hold.
- Immunization hold: If you are residing in on-campus housing, an immunization form must be filled out by your doctor and submitted prior to or upon your arrival at UIC. The immunization form is available online. Download this immunization form and submit it by the deadline indicated.
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Get all the ID cards you’ll need
- UIC photo ID: Your university ID is called an I-card. You can get one after you have registered for classes. Full details and instructions are on the ID Center website.
- U-Pass: This is a transit pass for Chicago public transportation—CTA buses and trains—that is issued to eligible students. The U-Pass is issued on a semester-to-semester basis, with validity from the beginning to the end of the semester. Visit the ID Center’s U-Pass webpages for information on eligibility and distribution.
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Visit helpful links
- Computer Science department registration policy and restrictions
- Computer Science graduate student resources
- Computer Science financial aid page
- Graduate College admitted student page
- Graduate College guidelines
- University portal: my.uic.edu (in particular, ensure that you read all messages and attend to any requests)
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Additional information for international students
- If you are an international student who is just arriving in the United States, you will need a social security number to find employment. Visit the Social Security Administration website for details. You can use your Temporary Control Number (TCN) to start the hiring paperwork if you find a job, but you will need a SSN soon after that.
- You can open an account in any bank that you choose. However, it may be easiest to start a checking or savings account at Credit Union 1 until you have more time to learn about the other local banks. Credit Union 1 is located in the basement of University Hall (UH), on the second floor of Student Center East (up the escalator), and in the basement of Administrative Offices Building (AOB). Be advised that members of the credit union will be required to pay a small fee to withdraw money from other banks’ ATMs. To open an account at Credit Union 1, you need to show your UIC I-Card, passport, and letter of admission. You will be able to use your TCN number to open the account, but you eventually will have to provide a Social Security Number. Credit Union 1 requires a minimum deposit of US $10 to open a basic checking / savings account. Visit the Credit Union 1 website for full details.
Orientations
New CS graduate students have to attend a number of orientation events depending on their specific personal situations. The orientation sessions include:
CS Graduate Student Orientation
All new CS graduate students are required to attend this mandatory session. You will learn about degree requirements, department policies, student expectations, and other important topics. This orientation is held only once per year, before the start of the fall semester. Dates are sent each year by email. Students who start in the spring semester must attend this orientation in the fall after they begin at UIC.
New TA and New International TA Orientation
This orientation is conducted by UIC’s International Teaching Assistant Program and has two parts: one part for all new TAs and another part for new international TAs. This orientation is mandatory for students who fall into one or both of these classifications. Information, including dates and times, is updated on the ITAP website.
International Student Orientation
UIC’s Office of International Services (OIS) runs an orientation program that is mandatory for all new international students. There is an orientation fee for this program, which is charged to international students’ accounts. Visit the OIS website for information and schedules.
Graduate College Orientation
UIC’s Graduate College holds an orientation session for new graduate students from across UIC’s colleges each fall. There is no session in the spring term. Limited spaces are available for this orientation, which has no fee, and registration is required. The CS department highly recommends that new graduate students choose to attend. Learn more on the Graduate College orientation page.