Frequently Asked Questions About Our CS Master's Program

Why choose Brown for a master’s in computer science?

Brown's master of science in computer science combines rigorous academics, cutting-edge research and real-world experience in a highly customizable program. Students learn from world-renowned faculty and tailor their studies in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, security and software engineering while building valuable professional networks.

Our alumni continue to contribute through innovation and leadership in both industry and academic positions. Providence, Rhode Island is a walking- and bike-friendly community with wonderful local attractions as well as easy access to major cities and all of New England.

Is a computer science master’s degree worth it?

A computer science master's degree can help prepare you for advanced careers in software development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and product management. Brown graduates also pursue doctoral study and research careers.

Does the MS in computer science program include hands-on learning opportunities? 

Yes. Students gain hands-on experience through research projects, collaborations with industry and government partners and an optional professional track that includes a two- to six-month internship. The program also encourages collaboration among researchers, designers and developers working across a range of advanced computing fields.

What is the difference between the coursework and research options? 

The coursework option emphasizes advanced study across computer science disciplines, including software engineering, artificial intelligence and machine learning. The research option includes faculty-mentored research and a project, allowing students to pursue advanced computer science topics in greater depth.

Can I specialize in a particular area of the computer science master’s program?

Yes. Students can tailor the master’s degree through advanced electives in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, software engineering, robotics and more. You can also choose a faculty-supervised research project or coursework-only pathway, with the option to add the Professional Track for industry internship experience.

As a Master's student, what opportunities will I have to do research? How do I start a research project?

We have a whole page devoted to this subject: please see here. 

If admitted, will I have a faculty advisor? How will they be chosen?

Yes. After admission, you will be assigned a faculty Program Advisor based on your stated interests. Your Program Advisor will help you understand the degree requirements and assist in course selection in your area of primary interest. If you decide to pursue a research project, you'll work with a faculty Research Advisor who may be the same or different as your Program Advisor. If necessary, you can contact the Director of Graduate Studies for the Master's program (cs-masters-info@brown.edu) to request a new faculty advisor.

When can I begin study?

New students may enter and begin study in either September or January.

Who is the computer science master's program designed for?

The program is designed for students with a strong foundation in computer science who want to deepen their technical expertise, advance their careers in software development and related fields or prepare for doctoral study in advanced computer science.

What are the admission requirements?

Applicants typically have completed foundational coursework in programming, algorithms, systems and mathematics, along with at least one advanced computer science course. Students can choose to begin in the spring or fall semester.

What do you look for in evaluating an application?

We consider numerous criteria, including academic performance, letters of recommendation, and industrial experience. We also consider GRE scores, TOEFL scores (if relevant), motivation, work experience, awards, honors, prizes, and other accomplishments. Because Master's applicants are so diverse, no single set of criteria adequately covers all the cases. In more detail, we're looking for:

• Academic performance: The GPA isn't the only criterion. Grades in computer science and related disciplines (for example, math) count more than grades in other areas. Current undergraduates should send us your Fall semester grades. Also, we take into account the fact that at some very competitive schools it's very difficult to achieve a high GPA.
• Letters of recommendation: Letters must give a detailed, factual, and candid evaluation of your capabilities. Rankings and comparisons with other students are very useful. Ask your recommenders to follow these guidelines. Remind your recommenders of deadlines to ensure they meet them. We routinely find ourselves unable to admit potentially qualified students because their letters of recommendation haven't arrived in time.
• Work experience: Please describe any work experience you might have. Obviously, not all applicants have work experience, but for those who do, some description of it helps us better evaluate your application.
• General GRE scores: We don't require these, and we don't recommend that you take the GRE just for admission to our program. However, these scores provide an additional objective form of evaluation that's often helpful in determining your basic skills and comparing them to applicants from diverse backgrounds. We're aware that test performance can improve considerably with practice, some people don't perform well on tests, and that the verbal GRE is harder for some foreign applicants.
• TOEFL/IELTS: The TOEFL/IELTS exam is required for applicants to the Computer Science (ScM) program unless you meet one of the exemption criteria (see below):
  Your first language is English
  You have received a degree (or will obtain a degree) from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction
  You have received a degree (or will obtain a degree) from an institution in the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), West Indies, Zambia.
  If you meet one of the exemption criteria, you do not need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, but may choose to do so if you wish. If you do not meet one of the exemption criteria, you must submit TOEFL or IELTS exams. We don't consider applicants who have scored below 620 (PBT) or 260 (CBT) or IBT (105), and prefer scores higher than that. The corresponding minimum IELTS score is 8.0. If you need to request a TOEFL/IELTS waiver due to financial hardship, please contact masters_admissions@brown.edu.
• Program questions: These questions helps us learn more about you, your interests, preparation, and goals. An optional question will allow you to apply for need-based financial aid.
• Awards, honors, and prizes: Unless they're well known (for example, an NSF fellowship or graduation with honors), please give details about them (how many candidates? how many awards? what were the selection criteria?). This is especially important for foreign applicants. If these awards are really important, we'd expect your recommenders to mention them.
• Research experience: Research experience isn't required for Master's applicants and many of our applicants don't have any, but you can use experience you've had to demonstrate your ability to handle graduate-level computer science material.  

What kind of applicant are you looking for? What kinds of courses should I take before I apply to strengthen my application?

There are exceptions, but typically we look for outstanding students who already have an undergraduate CS degree or the equivalent and are ready to take our Master's-level courses. Please see above, where work experience, research experience, and other factors are discussed in detail. While we sometimes discount weaknesses in some areas if there are strengths in others, we'd like to see most of the following courses:

• An introductory Programming course
• An introductory Algorithms and Data Structures course
• A Computer Systems or a Software Engineering course (preferably both)
• A course on Discrete Mathematics and basic Probability
• A Linear Algebra course

In addition, a student should have taken a more advanced course (normally offered to juniors and seniors) in at least one area of CS.

I've earned my Bachelor's degree from a three-year degree program. Can I still apply for a Master's degree?

The three-year programs we know about, specifically those in India, are acceptable, and students from those programs can apply. If you're coming from a program with which we are not familiar, we may need information from you before acting on your application.

Do you admit students only from certain elite universities and reject ones not from there?

We admit only outstanding students to our program. The institution you attended is just one of many indicators we consider. In particular, we recognize that excellent students graduate from all kinds of institutions; it's what they do there and after graduation that makes their applications stand out. Thus we do sometimes reject students from leading American and international institutions and accept students who did not attend such universities.

Who will be the primary readers of my application?

Your application (in particular, your statement) will be read primarily by Brown CS faculty.

Who decides whom to admit?

Officially, admissions are generated by the Graduate School of Brown University. In practice, Brown CS (specifically, a group of faculty members) evaluates your application and makes recommendations to the Graduate School, which typically follows our recommendations.

How much does a Master's degree cost?

Please visit Student Financial Services. Most students take two courses per semester, but this page assumes four. Please adjust accordingly: the actual tuition cost is the per-semester figure given, divided by four, and multiplied by the number of courses taken. Refer to other questions in this FAQ regarding financial aid availability.

Are there scholarships available for computer science graduate students?

Contingent on funds availability, our CS Master’s program offers financial aid in the form of tuition scholarships, which are awarded regardless of an applicant's race, color, national origin, or gender. All admitted students will automatically be considered merit-based scholarships. In addition, we will be awarding a small number of scholarships to applicants who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, but who have accomplishments showing that they can overcome the negative effects of their backgrounds. More information can be found in the admissions application.
 
More information about funding beyond program scholarships can be found on the Graduate Student Funding and Support website.

I can't afford the application fee. Can you waive it?

Application Fee Waiver Guidelines:
1) The Application Fee is automatically waived for:

• Active duty U.S. Military personnel, as well as U.S. Military veterans. Please be sure to list your status within the application.
• Domestic or international applicants who are members/alumni of certain programs listed within the application.

2) If you would like to request an Application Fee Waiver based on high-financial need:

Please complete the Application Fee Waiver Form found within the online application. The Application Fee Waiver Form is located under the section entitled Financial Information. You will see a link that says Application Fee Waiver Form. Please note this form is only accessible once you have started an application and selected your program of study.
The Application Fee Waiver Form must be submitted no later than three days before the application deadline. Applicants will be notified by email regarding the outcome of their request and should not submit their application until receiving notification about their waiver. In addition, you will need to upload documentation that substantiates your financial hardship.

Are scans of any of the application materials acceptable?

We encourage scanned copies as part of the initial application; original documents are required if you're admitted and decide to enroll here. Please send all documents to the Graduate School:

Master’s Study Enrollment Team
Brown University
225 Dyer Street | Box T
Providence RI 02912

Sending materials to the Brown Graduate School is fine, but there will be additional delays in processing these materials.

Should I use the institution code, the department code, or both for the GRE and TOEFL?

The GRE institution code is 3094 and the GRE department code is 0402. For the TOEFL, you should use the school code, which is 3094, and the department code, 78. Note that the answers to these questions and many like them may be found here.

Can I still apply if I don't have all the material ready by the deadline?

Unfortunately not. We need a complete application, including letters of recommendation AND OFFICIAL SCORE REPORTS (including TOEFL and IELTS when needed: see 2 above) before we can make admission decisions. Note that we don't require the GRE, and we don't recommend that you take it just for admission to our program. Therefore, please give your letter writers enough time to write and mail your letters of support.

What if I have other questions?

Please email us.