School of Computer Science

About the school

The University of Austin is among the largest public universities in the US and is globally recognised as one of the leading public research institutions. The Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas (UTCS), Austin, was founded in 1965. Meanwhile, the graduate programme was launched in 1966–when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), under the United States Department of Defense, started working on ARPANET, which formed the basis of the Internet we use today. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the UTCS graduation programme ranks 10, the same as artificial intelligence, whereas programming languages ranks 9, and computer theory ranks 7. Some notable alumni of UTCS include Professor Peter Stone (director of Texas Robotics and executive director of Sony AI America), Chetan Kapoor (ex-associate Research Director at UT of Texas and head of Optimization and Automation at Tyson Foods) and Tarun Nimmagada (recognised by the White House as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs). Austin is well-known for its technology and entrepreneurial community. More than 5,500 high-tech companies are based out of Austin, offering students opportunities to explore and collaborate with the best in the industry.

Where is the school located?

Life at the School of Computer Science

The UTCS building, officially known as the Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex and Dell Computer Science Hall, comprises a total net assignable square footage of 140,000. The complex is designed to accommodate a 40% expansion in faculty capacity and a 50% increase in computer science student enrolment, addressing the urgent demand for advancements in computing and a growing pool of talent. Students can access a wide range of facilities, including roughly 17,500 square feet of flexible research laboratory space, a lecture hall that can accommodate 200 people, 7 classrooms, 10 electronic seminar rooms and instructional laboratories, 2 dedicated study areas tailored for both undergraduates and graduate students, over 24 discussion areas, 8 conference rooms, offices designated for student organisations, and multiple collaborative workspaces. GradFest, a long-running annual event, invites prospective computer science doctoral or graduate students to visit the UT Department of Computer Science. It is organised jointly by the department, GRACS, and volunteer graduate students. Department events include presentations and panel discussions on current research topics, Lab “open house” hours, individual meetings with faculty, and discussion forums with grad students about life in the department and in Austin.

Additional benefits of studying at the School of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas is among the world’s leading centres of excellence across all major research thrusts in computer science. The department boasts many Turing Award recipients, distinguished individuals inducted into the National Academies of Engineering and Sciences, winners of the Computers and Thought Award, accomplished Simon's Investigators, and a diverse faculty continually pushing the boundaries of computer science research and education. The department celebrates cultural diversity and has many student-led organisations, such as the Association of Black Computer Scientists (ABCS), Code Orange, Hispanic Association of Computer Scientists (HACS), Q++, and Women in Computer Science (WiCS), focusing on diversity, inclusion, and representation in computer science.

Admissions criteria

You must meet both the minimum requirements set by the graduate school and the requirements of the individual graduate applied programme to be considered for graduate admission to the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas. Admission criteria differ per programme. However, some minimum requirements to be considered for admission include: - A bachelor's degree or comparable foreign degree - A grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or comparable - Official test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS) Furthermore, each programme requirement defines additional documents to be submitted at the time of application. For more information, visit the university website. Here’s an estimated cost breakdown for graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin for a year. Housing Transportation Books and supplies Personal/miscellaneous

For updated information and details, visit the University of Texas at Austin website.

Job placements

Students at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas conduct research, participate in hackathons, and do internships to gain experience. Most graduates choose their careers in tech, data, research, and engineering or go on to graduate school. The university has career coaches who help UTCS students with resume writing services and recruiting advice.

The CNS Career Services offices offer a variety of resources for students seeking career guidance, including resume reviews, interview coaching, assistance with your job search, and career exploration tools. To learn more, visit the Career Service Office website.