GRADUATE PROGRAM

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Degrees Offered

How to Apply

Application Materials

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

English-Language Proficiency Requirement (for International Applicants)

Costs and Financial Support

Graduate Student Corner

DEGREES OFFERED

The Department of Cognitive Sciences offers the following Ph.D. degrees:

Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences
Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences with a Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience
Joint M.S. in Statistics and Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences - available to current students in the department's Ph.D. programs only.

*Note: The degree name changed from Psychology to Cognitive Sciences effective Fall 2019.*

The Ph.D. program in Cognitive Sciences prepares students for research and teaching careers in academia, industry, and government. The department is regarded as one of the world's leading centers for mathematically oriented research in cognitive sciences. The Ph.D. program places particular emphasis on modern and leading-edge techniques of experimental and theoretical research into the function of the human mind and brain. Special attention is given to providing hands-on research experience and equipping students with sophisticated mathematical and computing skills.

The Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences with a Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field which studies the relation between mind and brain. With the development of non-invasive functional brain imaging techniques during the last two decades, the integration of cognitive and neural models of information processing has become a major focus in the field. Commensurate with the multidisciplinary nature of cognitive neuroscience, the department expects to admit students with a variety of undergraduate educational backgrounds. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, undergraduate degrees in psychology/cognitive science, neuroscience, biology, computer science, mathematics, and engineering.

Current students in the Department of Cognitive Sciences' Ph.D. program are eligible to apply for the joint program with the Department of Statistics. Ph.D. students interested in pursuing the joint program must notify the Graduate Director and receive approval to enroll in STATS 210 and either STATS 210B or STATS 211, which fulfills the quantitative requirement in the Ph.D. program.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested in applying to our graduate program? Applications must be submitted using UCI's Online Application for Graduate Admissions.

There is a non-refundable application fee to apply. The fee is $135 for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents, and $155 for all international applicants. Fee Waivers are available to qualified domestic applicants only. Eligibility to apply for a fee waiver is determined by participation in one or more of the Graduate Preparation programs listed here or US veteran status. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer fee waivers on any other basis (financial circumstances, participation in programs not listed below, etc). Further information about the application fee can be found at this link: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/application-fee-fee-waivers/.

The UCI campus uses a fully-online graduate application program, Slate. All applications and supplemental application materials are to be sent through Slate, by the applicant. Letters of recommendation will be submitted by recommenders through the application portal. See below for the required application materials.

The deadline to apply is DECEMBER 1. Admission decisions for our program are made in March. Please note that we do not make mid-year (winter or spring) admission offers. Admission is for the beginning of fall only.

Information on applying can be found on UCI's Graduate Division website at: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/applying-to-uci/
Information specific to the School of Social Sciences can be found at: https://www.gradstudies.socsci.uci.edu/admissions/overview.php
Further information about our graduate program and life as a graduate student can be found at: https://sites.uci.edu/cogsphd/
The Graduate Admissions Committee meets in December to review applicant files and to determine who will receive an invitation to join us during our annual Graduate Recruitment Visit. This recruitment is held virtually and generally takes place in late January--early February. The visit is by invitation only.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Application materials include the following items:

CV/Resume
Statement of Purpose - Please prepare a statement focusing on your academic/research background and interests.
Personal Statement – Please prepare a statement focusing on your personal background, including any familial, cultural, or social experiences relevant to your academic journey.
Official Transcripts
Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are selected using a holistic evaluation system. The essay (statement) requirement will assist the admissions and fellowship review committees to evaluate your preparation for your proposed field of study as well as your background and motivation for graduate study.

GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATIONS (GRE)

**IMPORTANT NOTICE: The department has permanently removed the GRE requirement effective with the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. You do not need to take nor submit GRE scores with your application to be considered for admission into the program.**

Applicants to our graduate program are not required to submit GRE test scores in order to apply. While applicants may choose to include these scores with their application, please note that applications with scores will not be given greater consideration than those without scores. For those who choose to submit, please use the following institution code to ensure that the official GRE test score is sent to UCI: 4859.

Please note the following:

GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT scores are not accepted in lieu of the GRE scores.
Applicant file scores from any of the various GRE (subject) tests are not needed.
GRE test results are not valid for more than five years.

For further information, please see here (under Other Potential Requirements): https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/applying-to-uci/

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES

UCI recognizes two levels of English proficiency: A lower level that is required for admission to any doctoral program and a higher level that is required for working as a Teaching Assistant (TA). Because all doctoral students in Social Sciences work as TAs, we require all students to meet the higher standard. Students can show their proficiency by meeting any one of the following criteria:

TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 80 or higher; score of 26 or better on the speaking section. (Scores are good for two years.)
IELTS: Overall score of 7 or better; no section below 6; score of 8 or better on the speaking section. (Scores are good for two years.)
TOEP: Score of 5 or better. (Scores are good for as long as student is enrolled at UCI.)
Having earned an undergraduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction according to the World Higher Education Database within the past five years.

COSTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

The current financial support package offered to students admitted into our program is for five years - fifteen quarters - of enrollment contingent on satisfactory academic standing and progress. Satisfactory progress in the department is evaluated based on acceptable completion of course work, timely completion of program examination requirements, acceptable progress in research and teaching as determined by your program faculty, and adherence to UCI's student conduct code.

This guaranteed support takes the form of a teaching assistantship, a research assistantship, or a fellowship (internal or extramural). Tuition, most associated educational fees, and graduate student health insurance (UC-SHIP) are covered as a benefit of employment for students holding teaching assistantships or research assistantships, and paid by the School during fellowship quarters.

An additional fee ("local fees") is assessed on all students each quarter. It covers on-campus, student-funded services - i.e., Associate Graduate Students, Student Center, Bren Events Center, Recreation Center - and is a quarterly out-of-pocket expense for the student. For 2024-25, the total was $270.45 per quarter. See: https://www.reg.uci.edu/fees/2024-2025/graduate.html

GRADUATE STUDENT CORNER

The Cognitive Sciences Graduate Student Corner provides current and prospective students with information about milestones and available graduate and wellness resources in addition to annual reminders about while progressing through the program. For prospective applicants, some FAQs along with expected backgrounds can be found on this site. See: https://sites.uci.edu/cogsphd/