Frequently Asked Questions - PhD students

Most students come in with either a bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering or a related STEM field, such as electrical engineering. A significant minority have a master's degree, but this is not required or expected. Doing a master's degree can help students get exposure to research and graduate-level courses but it does not necessarily accelerate the time to completion of the PhD.

Students who graduate with a PhD in Computer Science or Computer Engineering have a wide range of options for future careers.

• Becoming a professor of computer science at a research university.
• Becoming a professor of computer science at a college that focuses primarily on teaching.
• Becoming a leader in the research labs of a large company, such as Google, Facebook or Microsoft.
• Becoming a leader in research and/or development at a medium-sized company.
• Becoming a leader at a small or startup company.

Regardless of the career they choose, PhDs are typically well paid and have quite a bit of freedom in how they carry out their work. PhDs often take on leadership roles and the jobs available to them are often more interesting, varied, and independent than the jobs held by those with a terminal Bachelor's or Master's degree.

Washington University is a prestigious, world-renowned private university. St. Louis is a city with a low cost of living and a high quality of life (many students and faculty have a short, pleasant walk to school). However, it is big enough to be cosmopolitan and to offer many cultural, dining, and entertainment opportunities.

On the research front, the CSE department is friendly, collaborative, and has many faculty with active, exciting research programs and opportunities for graduate students. We are large enough to offer a wide-range of research areas, yet small enough that students know each other and most faculty, which makes for an interactive and collegial environment. This supportive environment allows our students to publish in the top venues in their field and to secure highly competitive positions upon graduation, be it in academia or industry.

While there is no fixed time to complete a PhD, most students finish in approximately five years.

If you join the PhD program at Washington University, one of the courses you take in your first semester is Introduction to Graduate Study in CSE. As part of this course, you will do two one-month rotations in the research groups of faculty members who are recruiting graduate students. After two rotations, the majority of students identify a research group they are excited about and are offered the opportunity to join. Students who do not match with a faculty adviser after two rotations do one or more rotations in other labs until they find a good fit. 

The rotation model does not preclude students from initiating discussions with faculty whose group they really want to join prior to joining WashU, but it offers the opportunity to be exposed to other research areas and approaches and to interact with potential research advisers before finalizing a commitment. Once an advising relationship is finalized, students become a full member of the lab they have joined with their advisor now responsible for their financial support. However, the department guarantees continued financial support of all PhD students who remain in good standing, independent of their adviser's ability to continue supporting them.

There are a number of resources offered by the Graduate School in regard to housing, transportation and support for both domestic and international students. All students have access to a free UPass which provides free, unlimited rides on the St. Louis metropolitan region’s public transit system. The University assists graduate students with finding suitable off-campus housing through quadrangle.wustl.edu.

Overall, St. Louis is a safe city, with crime rates that are typical of medium-sized U.S. metropolitan regions. St. Louis, like other major cities, faces social disparities and inequities, and some neighborhoods are safer than others. WashU is committed to promoting systemic change and keeping students safe.

The CSE department is centrally located on WashU’s Danforth Campus. Adjacent to campus you’ll discover a rich cultural life that supports your time outside of the classroom: the coffee shops and music venues of the Delmar Loop, as well as the museums and trails of nearby Forest Park, voted “Best City Park” by USA Today. The campus is served by several MetroLink light rail stations and bus lines, making the area easy to navigate. Go to police.wustl.edu for statistics and information recommended for safety precautions. Learn more about St. Louis.

Students are expected to commit 40 hours/week towards the program. This includes time for both academic coursework as well as research.

You will have as much time for a social life as you would in any other full-time job.

We provide monetary support for living expenses and tuition. This stipend is adjusted each year for living expenses.

Yes, you can connect with a Graduate student ambassador.