Graduate

Our graduate students learn from world-class faculty and explore and expand the field of computing through interdisciplinary collaboration and groundbreaking research.

We seek students passionate about innovation and building a better world through technology. We offer four degree options.

Special note for prospective international students

The U.S. government has announced entry restrictions for some countries that may affect prospective students. Consult the Cranwell International Center at Virginia Tech for updates and information.

Getting technical: Graduate study in computer science

The Department of Computer Science graduate program prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and leadership in academic and industry positions.

Our classes and research facilities are located at the flagship Blacksburg campus and in Alexandria, Virginia, giving students access to faculty, research, and professional opportunities in two locations.

Our Ph.D. is a full-time, in-person research degree built around close collaboration between students and faculty. Admission is highly competitive, and a strong research fit with our faculty and active research areas is an important part of the application. Applicants should identify faculty they are interested in working with and explain how their research interests, experiences, and skills connect with the faculty member’s current work and could contribute to their research.

Students may pursue the Ph.D. in Blacksburg or Alexandria, and we recommend selecting the campus where the faculty member a student hopes to work with is located. That allows students to participate fully in their advisor’s research group and the day-to-day research community.

The Ph.D. program admits students for the fall semester only. All admitted Ph.D. students receive five years of funding support, which covers tuition, most fees, and provides a monthly stipend to help with living expenses while completing their degree.

Students are also encouraged to apply for competitive fellowships, which are awards that provide additional financial support beyond the department's funding guarantee. Some fellowships offer opportunities to pursue independent research and gain recognition for academic and research achievements.

Our Master of Science (M.S.) is a two-year research degree for students who want to develop deeper expertise in an area of computer science through graduate coursework and original research. Students work closely with a faculty advisor and complete a thesis based on their research. As with the Ph.D., finding a strong research fit with our faculty and research areas is an important part of the M.S. experience, and applicants should consider how their interests and experience connect with the research being conducted at Virginia Tech.

Our Master of Engineering (M.Eng) is a professional, coursework-based degree designed for students who want to strengthen their technical and professional skills for careers in industry. Rather than completing a research thesis, students gain experience through advanced coursework and applied, project-based learning. The program offers a faster path to graduation, allowing students to build skills, expand their professional opportunities, and enter or advance in the workforce more quickly.

The CS Grad Council represents the interests of the graduate student body both inside and outside the department, organizes social events among graduate students, and helps incoming students navigate their graduate school career.

Note: In all official Virginia Tech Graduate School documentation, our degree is referred to as Computer Science & Applications (CSA).

Program contacts