MS Computer Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

An M.S. candidate must earn 30 semester hours of credit in courses numbered 400 or higher (with the exception of some introductory courses), of which up to six hours may be transferred from another institution or graduate program, and of which 18 hours must be completed in the Department of Computer Science. A candidate must also satisfy the program product requirement and must demonstrate the ability to write a professional-quality technical document. A comprehensive exam (written or oral) is required for degree completion. For more in-depth information see the department's Web site. Each student must take one course in each of the following categories to fulfill a breadth requirement. 3

Faculty: The Graduate School | Department: Computer Science | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

Career pathways

Academic employment ranges from four-year colleges, where teaching is the primary focus, to positions at major research universities. A majority of the master's graduates work in industry, in companies ranging from small start-up operations to government laboratories and large research and development corporations.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School minimum (applies to all graduate programmes): a four-year bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited institution completed before graduate study begins and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better; application via the Graduate School online application with transcripts, three recommendation letters, statement of purpose and CV, plus any programme-specific tests/materials; international applicants add a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score; admission decisions are made by each programme. Programme-specific: Admission to the department is highly competitive, and preference is given to applicants who are solidly prepared. To ensure meeting that deadline, applicants are encouraged to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) no later than December 1. International applicants should complete their applications earlier to allow time for processing financial and visa documents.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants apply for a start term; fall is the main start term. Very few programmes admit new students for spring or summer terms.

Graduate applications and payment must be received by the deadline of the academic programme applied to, which varies by programme; the application closes at 11:59pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. The Graduate School recommends complete applications by December 15, 2026 for full fellowship consideration. The GRE is not required for the Master of Applied Professional Studies.

Apply through the official page: https://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions/

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