Admission to the data science graduate program is based on background and experience, prior academic performance, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. Grades from previous coursework should indicate the ability to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in graduate level courses. Minimum requirements for previous experience are detailed in Prerequisites.
Ready to apply? Start your application on Slate, the centralized application portal for graduate admissions at the University of Oregon.
How to Apply
Fill out the Graduate Admission Application Form online by going to the Online Graduate Application. For full instructions, visit Graduate Studies. The form may be left unfinished until the deadline. Applicants pay the application fee ($90 for international students, $70 for domestic students) upon completion of the online form. Note: Applications sent via mail but not submitted via Slate (online application) will NOT be considered.
Deadline
Our deadline for applications for Fall 2026 is May 1, 2026. Applications after this point are not guaranteed for consideration. We may also consider applications on a rolling basis before this point.
Items submitted online
- Statement of purpose
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended, including the University of Oregon.
- Contact information for recommendations
- Resume or CV
- Statement of academic preparation (see Prerequisites)
Funding
Graduate students may be funded through graduate employee (GE) positions for teaching and research. The department has a small number of GE positions available for MS applicants. Students who do not initially receive an award will be considered for future positions, on a term-by-term basis. Students may also apply for GE positions in other departments.
Prerequisites
Incoming students must have experience in at least one of the areas listed below (programming, statistics, and math) and be prepared to take courses in any remaining areas. Applicants will need to document this experience in the application process.
Students aiming to finish in one year must have sufficient experience in all three areas by the time they start the program.
Incoming students aiming to finish in 1.5 or two years can take foundational courses to provide necessary background in math, stats, or programming during their first two quarters of the program. Students should already have experience equivalent to at least one of the following classes, and evidence that they are ready for the other two.
- Foundational Mathematics for Data Science (DSCI 625): Linear algebra, calculus, and introductory discrete math; specifically: vectors and matrix operations; linear transformations; eigenvalues/eigenvectors; continuous functions and limits; partial derivatives and Jacobians
- Foundational Statistics for Data Science (DSCI 626): Reading and plotting data; p-values; type I/II error and power analysis; univariate linear models; bootstrapping; permutation testing; chi-squared for contingency tables; application of simple machine learning methods for prediction or classification
- Foundational Programming for Data Science (DSCI 627): Introduction to data structures; algorithm analysis; version control; managing and sharing large datasets; python and jupyter notebooks for data wrangling
What this means for you: When you apply, you will let us know whether you have experience that covers these areas: either a list of courses that covers a majority of the topics (with a course syllabus if possible), or a short narrative describing your equivalent experience. For instance, if you have not taken courses but have worked extensively with python on the job, then let us know the years of experience and types of tasks done using python. You and your graduate advisor will then determine whether it is necessary to enroll in any foundational courses.
Graduate Admissions FAQ
What term can I apply for?
We only accept applications for fall admission.
What is the status of my application?
Your application goes through many checks, including a thorough review by multiple faculty members. This process takes time (applications may show as pending for some time), and little feedback is given. That said, if there is a problem with your application, you will be contacted by graduate admissions.
My undergraduate degree is not in data science or computer science. Is this OK?
We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds who are strongly motivated to work with data. This might mean an undergraduate degree in data science, computer science, statistics, or mathematics. Or, it might mean that you've worked with data in some other area and feel ready to dive deeper. The amount of preparation you need to be successful in the program is described in Prerequisites.
Where do I learn more about tuition and fees?
We recommend you look at the Office of the Registrar's tuition and fees information.
Where can I learn about graduate studies in general at University of Oregon?
We recommend you look at the Division of Graduate Studies website.
I am an international applicant. Where can I find more information?
We recommend you look at the International Student and Scholar Services website.