Admissions Requirements and Procedures

General guidelines for applying to a graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh should be reviewed prior to submitting an application for admission.  These guidelines are available on the University’s Application for Admission Catalog page  .

The School of Computing and Information seeks students with diverse interests and abilities for its graduate degree and certification programs. All applicants will be judged on their own merits. Applicants for Master’s study must have earned a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better; the doctoral programs have more stringent requirements. For those who have been in the workforce, admission will be based upon academic achievement, area of study, career orientation, and work experience.

Apply Online: Applications for graduate study must be completed and submitted entirely online. Applicants must set up a free account with the ApplyYourself Application Network, which enables you to work on your application over several sessions. Your information is transmitted through a secured server and is kept private until you submit your application.  After submission, your application materials will be managed confidentially within the review process.

Individual programs require supplemental application materials, and some programs require prerequisite coursework and skills knowledge. More details regarding expectations for statement of intent or writing portfolios, pre-requisite courses, and other supplemental application materials can be found on the individual program pages (through the appropriate program ).

Admissions Status: Students are admitted to a graduate program and granted one of the following three types of status: Full graduate, Provisional graduate or Special graduate.

1. Full graduate status: when all admission requirements are met; for full details, see Admissions Status in the Regulations Governing Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh .
2. Provisional graduate status: when some admission requirements are not (or inadequately) met;

Applicants who are graduates of a recognized college or university but who do not qualify for admission to full graduate status because of deficiencies in either appropriate background courses or their scholastic achievement may be considered for provisional graduate status if strong supporting evidence of their ability to complete a graduate program is provided. Courses taken to remove deficiencies do not contribute toward completion of graduate degree requirements. Transfer from provisional to full graduate status is initiated by the student and recommended by the department or program, and is possible only after removal of deficiencies and other conditions noted at the time of admission and satisfactory progress in graduate work.

Students at the School of Computing and Information are expected to complete a Provisional Condition Review form in order to have their status reviewed upon completion of provisions/removal of deficiencies. Students are notified by e-mail when they have reached full graduate status and may request a new admissions letter at that time.

     3. Special graduate status: to take specific graduate-level courses for one or more terms without the intent of earning a degree or certificate.

A special status student who takes courses while not seeking an advanced degree may transfer up to 12 credits taken while on special status to a degree program if the student is subsequently admitted into one, and if the department recommends the transfer. A course transferred from special status to full graduate status must carry a grade of B or better.

Application Processing: Begin the online application process at www.sci.pitt.edu.

Your application will be available for review by the department or program once all the recommendation letters are submitted and all test results and transcripts are uploaded.

Applications are reviewed after receipt of all required documents.  Please note that, during the December-January timeframe, numerous applications are received. Due to the volume of submissions, there may be a delay in confirmation of receipt of materials.

Applicants are encouraged to check their online application account to ascertain if documentation has been received or if an admissions decision has been made PRIOR to contacting the School for such details. Note, the status of your application, related documents and admission decision cannot be verified until you have submitted the application fee (which is the final step in submitting your application).

Applicants are notified via e-mail when an admissions decision has been posted to the online application system.

The University of Pittsburgh participates in the Council of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) “Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and Assistantships” also known as the “April 15 Resolution.” Participation in the resolution allows admitted graduate students to consider all offers of financial support through April 15. In turn, the resolution binds students to their decisions made or held in place after April 15. SCI’s cooperation ensures that both students and programs conduct their admissions in an ethical manner, and that they receive equal treatment and consideration in the financial support decision-making process. Further details regarding the “April 15 Resolution,” including a list of participating institutions, can be found on the CGS Web site.

Deadlines for US Citizens and Permanent Residents: see the individual degree or program pages for application deadlines. Note, SCI processes applications on a rolling basis.  However, priority consideration will be given to applications received by these deadlines. 

Deadlines for International Students: Due to delays in the issuance of visas it is recommended that international students apply as early as possible, preferably at least six months prior to the start of the term of admittance, so that paperwork can be processed in a timely manner.

Deadlines for international students’ applications to the School of Computing and Information are:

Admission of International Students: Non-US Citizens must read through the International Graduate Student Admission section of the University’s Application for Admission page for a complete overview of University admissions requirements, including TOEFL or IELTS scores, for students from other countries.

English Language Proficiency Requirements: Graduate students must possess sufficient knowledge of English to study without being hindered by language problems, to understand lectures, and to participate successfully in class discussion. International applicants must submit either the TOEFL or the IELTS (taken within two years of the date of application).

Applicants must contact Educational Testing Services directly to request that an official score report be sent to the School of Computing and Information. The institution code for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927.  Submission of TOEFL test results is required for admission to graduate study in this School. Individual degree programs may have varying minimum requirements, which are outlined on each program’s Catalog page. Applicants who are citizens of a country where English is the official language are exempt from submitting the results of the TOEFL or IELTS. In addition, applicants who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. are also exempt from submitting the results of the TOEFL or IELTS. However, the School reserves the right to ask for TOEFL scores if deemed necessary for the evaluation of the application. Please note: degrees where anything less than the entire degree was completed in-residence within the English-speaking country will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students in these circumstances may be required to complete the TOEFL or IELTS with the required minimum score upon review.

Prior to registration, students with TOEFL scores less than 100 (Internet-based) will be given the on-campus administered English Language Proficiency Test.

Students may choose to take the International English Language Testing System exam (IELTS) in place of the TOEFL. Students must receive a score of Band 6.5. Students who do not achieve a score of Band 7.0 score or better will be given the on-campus administered English Language Proficiency Test.

If remedial courses in English as a second language are recommended as an outcome of the test, the student must complete the remedial course during the first academic year of study; some programs may require students to follow a shorter completion timeline for remedial courses.

SPECIAL ADMISSIONS

Deferred Admissions: Admission to graduate study is valid for the academic year. A student may defer admission for up to one year without reapplication. The student must submit a deferral request through the online application system. Additional course work taken during the deferred year and a new affidavit of financial support should also accompany any financial aid request. Approval of a student’s request to defer admission does not necessarily mean that any financial aid awarded is also deferred - the offer of financial aid will be reassessed for the student’s deferred admit term.

Reinstatement: Students who have left the University for one calendar year or more (whether of their own volition or as a result of a suspension), who did not complete work at another institution, and who wish to continue their studies must apply for reinstatement through the School’s online application system; exceptions noted in the Leave of Absence (LOA), Readmission, and Reinstatement section .

Readmission: Students who previously attended the University of Pittsburgh before attending another institution and who wish to return to the University are considered transfer students and must reapply following the guidelines for transfer students. Former students who have enrolled in other institutions may apply for readmission with advanced standing. Such students should submit a new application to their graduate degree program via the School’s online application system.  All supporting materials must be submitted; revision of essays is suggested. Inclusion of all transcripts - including new coursework completed during the period of leave - are required.

For more details regarding the different definitions and regulations for readmitted and reinstated students, see the Leave of Absence (LOA), Readmission, and Reinstatement section  of the SCI Catalog page.

Transferring Between SCI Departments or Programs Students may transfer to a different department or program within SCI. Transfers between SCI departments or programs will be reviewed by the receiving department’s admissions committee - including a thorough assessment of the student’s academic performance in previous institutions as well as within SCI. Faculty will review the student’s original application materials and may require that the student submit supplemental application materials.

To initiate a transfer between SCI Departments or Programs, a student must submit the Graduate Academic Plan Change Form at least one month prior to the start of the new admission term.  If a University break occurs during that time, students should allot for additional time for their transfer to be evaluated by the department’s admissions committee and their official student record to be processed.

Students should note that transfer to a different department or degree is not guaranteed.