{"id":728,"date":"2020-12-18T14:54:45","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T19:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/?page_id=728"},"modified":"2025-08-05T09:22:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:22:53","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/programs-admissions\/phd-degree\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your Questions Answered: BU CDS PhD Program<\/span><\/h2>\n

Considering a PhD in Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University? This FAQ covers common questions about the program\u2019s structure, admissions process, funding opportunities, research focus areas, and student experience. Explore answers to help you decide if BU\u2019s interdisciplinary, research-driven PhD program is the right fit for your academic and professional goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the differentiating factors of the CDS program? How is it different than a Computer Science PhD program?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

The PhD program in Computing & Data Sciences is designed for those who hold a degree in one of the core areas of computing and data science, such as Computer Science, as well as students with degrees in applied areas of CDS, including information systems, earth & environment, journalism, and others.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to help foster a close-knit community, the program provides small incoming cohorts with unifying experiences. Students are not expected to identify a research or thesis advisor(s) before applying to the CDS PhD program; for the first two years, you are supported by CDS while you complete your methodology and subject area course requirements, <\/span>ethics requirement, and lab rotations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the course requirements of the CDS PhD program incorporate core topics that are rooted in computer science, our program offers students the flexibility of choosing a subject area from which they can select elective courses. These subject areas allow students to build additional depth in core computing and data science topics, such as machine learning, or focus instead on the refinement or application of computational and data-driven approaches in domain-specific settings, such as economics. <\/span><\/p>\n

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When is the application deadline?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

The application deadline for CDS PhD is December 15th<\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Who is eligible for an application fee waiver?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

A fee waiver, called \u201ccoupon codes\u201d in our application system, can be obtained by reaching out to cds-admissions@bu.edu with justification and affiliation. The Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences (CDS) Admissions team reviews each request on an individual basis. If you would please provide us with specific details regarding your reason for requesting a waiver, we can review your circumstances and determine your eligibility for a waiver.<\/p>\n

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Are GRE scores required for admission?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

As part of CDS’ commitment to a holistic review approach, GRE scores are not required.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Can I apply without IELTS\/TOEFL scores? I have an English proficiency certificate.<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

Boston University requires TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers. Learn more about our English proficiency requirements here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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I am currently in the last year of my undergraduate degree program. Am I eligible to apply for the PhD program?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

We encourage students to apply. Any offer of admission is contingent on completion of your undergraduate degree before the start of the PhD program.<\/p>\n

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Do I need to identify a research\/thesis advisor(s) prior to applying?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

While this is encouraged, and you will be asked to select potential advisors in the application, students enter the program un-bound to specific faculty.\u00a0 For up to the first two years of the program, students will be supported financially by CDS, providing them time to focus on completing required coursework, RCR training, etc. During this time, students will be introduced to the scholarship of (and the rich set of research projects pursued by) CDS faculty through their participation in the CDS First Year Doctoral Seminar and through two required research\/lab rotations with affiliated CDS faculty. No later than the end of their second year in the program, students will identify who will serve as their research\/thesis advisor(s). From year 3 onward, these advisors will provide the student financial support.
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Who are the CDS faculty?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

Please visit our CDS Faculty<\/a> page for a complete list of core and affiliated faculty, as well as links to individual research pages.<\/p>\n

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Who is currently taking PhD students?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

CDS Core Faculty and CDS Affiliated Faculty.
\nPlease note that the following CDS professors are not currently accepting Ph.D. students: Margrit Betke, Ran Canetti, Tanima Chatterjee, Ivan Fernandez-Val, Roscoe Giles, Kevin Gold, Leonidas Kontothanassis, Kate Saenko, and Langdon White.<\/p>\n

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Is there a possibility of getting financial support in the form of a TA or RA position?<\/h3>
<\/p>\n

Yes, all students admitted are guaranteed financial support for five (5) years as long as they maintain excellent standing in the program. Students in the PhD program do not typically serve as TFs or RAs until year 3 of the program.<\/p>\n

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Apply Now<\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your Questions Answered: BU CDS PhD Program Considering a PhD in Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University? This FAQ covers common questions about the program\u2019s structure, admissions process, funding opportunities, research focus areas, and student experience. Explore answers to help you decide if BU\u2019s interdisciplinary, research-driven PhD program is the right fit for your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17518,"featured_media":0,"parent":616,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/728"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17518"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=728"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17373,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/728\/revisions\/17373"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}