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On Admissions

The goal of our graduate program is to educate scholar-technologists capable of performing cutting edge research and development, and pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary scholarship. Students interested in a joint Computer Science and Communication degree will come from diverse backgrounds and be looking for the chance to explore research beyond traditional department boundaries. The best and brightest students with a desire to marry a technological background with social science and humanities training are ideal candidates for the TSB program. The application for Fall 2027 admission will open September 15, 2026.

How to Apply

To apply, you must use the online application form at The Graduate School web site. This online application includes an Academic Statement and a Personal Statement. The following supplemental materials will be required in addition to your online application form:

  • 2-3 letters of recommendation
  • Original transcripts from all universities previously attended
  • Resume/CV
  • If your native language is not English, you must certify your proficiency in the English language (See below for details on how to do so)

Deadlines

Deadlines for the online application and all supplemental materials will be December 1, 2026.

Admissions Profile

Admission decisions are based on the overall academic record, quality of the school attended, grade point averages (GPA), strength of letters of recommendation, work experience, and match with faculty research interests. While no strict rules exist for minimum admission standards, admitted students will generally have at least:

  • GPA: 3.0/4.0 (undergraduate) or 3.5/4.0 (master’s degree, if applicable)
  • TOEFL (for international applicants): 5+(100+) on the TOEFL Internet Based Test or 7+ on the International English Testing System (IELTS) or 61+ on the Michigan English Test
  • Demonstrated research experience in a relevant area (e.g., as an undergraduate RA, summer intern, or post-graduate position)
  • Some form of technical background that indicates preparation for graduate-level technical coursework.

We expect that the majority of students will already hold a master’s degree or equivalent experience, although exceptional candidates may be admitted directly after the BA.

If your native language is not English, you must certify your proficiency in the English language. Please see The Graduate School’s Guidance on English language tests for details on requirements. In short you must either (1) Provide official transcripts verifying an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English; (2) Provide official transcripts verifying a graduate degree from an accredited institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English; or (3) Have an official score of 7 or higher on the IELTS or 5 (100) or higher on the Internet Based TOEFL (IBT), with a score of 5 (26) or higher on the Speak section; these scores may not be more than two year old. Have ETS send your official scores to institution code 1565 (the NU Graduate School).