Frequently asked questions

October 1: Applications for all programs open

December 15: Early admission deadline

January 15: Final application deadline

You can read the graduate application process steps and deadlines or jump to the application page to start your application

• If you are applying to MSIT, MS EAI, or MS ECE for the first time, you are considered a first-time user. You will be required to create an account and start a new application.
• You are considered a returning user and must log in to continue your previous application if:
  • You are a returning applicant to MSIT, MS EAI, or MS ECE.
  • You are a returning MSIT, MS EAI, or MS ECE applicant applying to a different program.
  • You have already created an application this cycle and would like to open/update it.

Please review the checklist on your submitted application's status page for completeness. If you have additional questions, contact the Admissions Team at africa-admissions@andrew.cmu.edu and expect a response within 48 hours of sending your query.

• Applications officially close on January 15. Applicants cannot make any changes to their applications after that date.
• However, limited sections of the online application will remain open. Applicants can still update their resume/CV and test scores after applying. To edit your application, simply log in to your account to upload a new document.
• MS ECE applicants can also update their recommenders' contact details. After logging in, you can send a reminder, request new letters, and exclude letters/recommenders.
• For any other inquiries regarding your application, please contact our admissions team at africa-admissions@andrew.cmu.edu.

Yes. You can withdraw an application before an admission decision is rendered. Simply send an email to africa-admissions@andrew.cmu.edu, and you will be required to submit a form signaling your wish to withdraw.

Yes, you can apply again for the next application cycle. All you need to do is log in as a returning user to continue your application and submit it before the deadline to be considered for admission.

Your new application will retain some previously entered biographical information. However, some sections, including your program selection, must be completed again. Each section must be reviewed and updated, then saved to complete the new cycle application process. Ensure you have submitted the most up-to-date information.

You do not need to request that ETS send new official scores if you had ordered them with your previous application, unless you have retaken the tests and updated your scores.

A complete application consists of a completed online application, responses to the written and video essay questions, a CV/Resume, contact details for three recommenders, and unofficial transcripts. In addition, you can submit Duolingo English Test (DET), TOEFL, or IELTS score reports if you have them; CMU-Africa covers DET test fees for first-time applicants who submitted their applications before the early admission deadline of December 15.

• Essays: You must answer a few questions in an essay format on the online application portal and one video essay.
• CV/Resume: Please upload your resume as a PDF. The uploaded document should be at most 2 pages; additional pages will not be considered.
• References/Recommendations: Once you access the online application, you will be required to enter the names, titles, and email addresses of your three recommenders.
  • MSIT/MS EAI Applicants: Enter the contact information of three individuals who can provide the Admissions Team with a recommendation for you attesting to your professional and/or academic acumen in your application. You will not need letters of recommendation while applying. If necessary, the Admissions Team will contact your recommenders directly after you submit your application.
  • MS ECE Applicants: Your recommenders will receive a link to the online recommendation form. They must complete and submit the recommendation online. You can track the status of the letter on your application status page.
• Transcripts:
  • Unofficial transcripts showing grades awarded to all coursework up to date must be uploaded to the online application portal, and the school information must be entered.
  • When you submit your unofficial transcript, you must include a document explaining what the grades mean - commonly known as a “grading scale,” or “grading key,” or “back page.” Learn more.
  • Please ensure that all transcript pages are scanned and uploaded in a single PDF document.
  • Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended are used for admissions review. Upon admission, the Admissions Team will require an official hard copy of your transcripts sent by the Registrar of your Undergraduate institution.
  • Transcript requirements for applicants in their final year of an undergraduate program:
    • To assess your academic qualifications, you are required to submit your application with transcripts showing that you have completed at least three-quarters of your undergraduate degree program.
  
  
  • • Criteria for three-quarters program completion:
      • If you are in a three-year program, you must submit at least two years of transcripts and the first-term transcript of your final year of study. For a four-year program, you must submit transcripts for at least three years of undergraduate study and the first-term transcript of your final year of study.
      • If you pursued a diploma program before earning your bachelor's degree, you must submit all the transcripts from both programs. This also applies to candidates who attended two universities to earn their bachelor's degree.
      • If you have already completed your undergraduate studies and graduated, you must submit your final transcripts and diploma, if available.
        
        

Your CV/resume is a snapshot of your professional experience and helps us understand how your professional profile is relevant to your program of choice. Below are the elements of the CV/resume you should include:

• Overall format: The CV/resume should be correct in grammar and punctuation, well structured, easy to read, and consistent in formatting, style, presentation, alignment, fonts, and length (ideally no more than two pages long).
• Summary: This paragraph introduces the candidate. This section should have 4-5 sentences providing the following information:
  • Candidate’s overview and introduction as a professional
  • The value they bring to the organization (evidence should be displayed in the experience section of the CV/resume)
  • Objective/ambition
• Professional experience: In this section, the applicant provides sufficient information about their professional experience relevant to the program they are applying to. This section should include:
  • Candidate's professional experience in reverse chronological order. It is preferred that the experience is listed using bullet points.
  • The most notable accomplishments for each job and their level of involvement in each project are listed. Including metrics and percentages is a plus.
  • Level of responsibility in the jobs listed.
• Education: This part of the CV/resume details the academic background of the candidate, including:
  • Name of institution, graduation date, location, degree, major, and GPA. The information should be presented in reverse chronological order.
• Skills: Relevant technical or nontechnical skills that the candidate has accumulated. For technical skills, the level of proficiency for each skill listed should be specified, as well as the programming language where applicable.
• Additional sections: List of extracurricular activities, awards, membership in a professional organization, or leadership roles taken by the applicant. Ideally, the description should include skills gained and leadership roles for each project/award.
  

You are advised to select people who know you well, such as a current or former professor, a work supervisor, or a community leader.

First, please have your recommender check their spam mail. If your recommender still has not received the email, please log in to your application and edit your letters of recommendation. Click the 'exclude' button to exclude the recommender who cannot receive the email, and then click to add a new recommender. You can then add a new recommender or even enter the same recommender using a different email address. The reference letter must be written on letterhead and attached if you use the recommender's email address.

To resend notification emails: Visit the application portal and navigate to the "application checklist"; at the bottom of this list, click "recommendations page," click on the reference name, and then click "send reminder."

To correct recommender details: In the application portal, click on the reference name, update the necessary details, and click "save."

To change a recommender: In the application portal, click the reference name, select "exclude," and immediately add a new reference.

Note: Leaving the page without adding a new reference will lock the screen.

All applicants must submit at least one valid score report from one of the following examinations: IELTS, TOEFL, or the Duolingo English Test (DET) to fulfill the English proficiency requirement.

Grounds for exemption: We provide an English proficiency exemption to candidates with an undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University (all global locations).

Applicants with undergraduate degrees in residence in the US, UK, or Canada (excluding Quebec) are also exempt from providing English language exam scores with their application.

We recommend that students have a minimum of 81 on the TOEFL, 6.5 on the IELTS, and 120 on the DET. Enrolled students with lower levels of English proficiency may be required to take the Academic Skills course in their first year.

Yes, there is no distinction between the at-home tests and those taken at a testing center.

• If you have already taken the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET tests, you can submit scores with your application to fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
• How to submit English test scores: Official test scores must be sent directly to CMU-Africa by the appropriate testing agency (e.g., ETS for TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo). CMU-Africa will cover DET fees for first-time applicants who submit their applications by the December 15 early application deadline. Returning applicants will be required to take the tests at their own cost.
• If you submit your application after the early admission deadline of December 15, you must submit the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English test scores or indicate a date you plan to take the test.

• CMU-Africa does not accept self-reported DET and TOEFL scores.
  • Your scores will only be verified in the system once they have been sent directly to CMU-Africa by the appropriate testing agency (e.g., ETS for TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo).
  • Applicants are responsible for ensuring their test provider has successfully sent their scores to CMU-Africa.
• Applicants can self-report their IELTS scores and Test Report Form (TRF) number in the online application, then upload their test report PDF for verification. 

To submit the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores, please use the following information and ensure you send your test scores in time to meet the admissions deadline:

• DET: Please find the step-by-step process and review other frequently asked questions on how to send Duolingo English Test results to an institution. Please follow this process and indicate Carnegie Mellon University Africa as a recipient.
• TOEFL: Request ETS to send your scores to Carnegie Mellon University, Institution Code: 2074.
• IELTS: Use the information below to send the scores to Carnegie Mellon University.
  • Account Name: Carnegie Mellon University
  • Address:
    Carnegie Mellon University
    College of Engineering
    431 Hamerschlag Drive
    Ansys Hall Suite 250
    Pittsburgh, PA 15213

To complete your IELTS, TOEFL, or the DET requirements, you must follow the following steps:

• You must request that the testing center (ETS/Duolingo/IELTS) send the official scores to CMU-Africa.
• Important: Applicants must self-report their IELTS test scores by entering them in the online application. The Admissions Team shall verify these self-reported scores.

It may take several days for CMU-Africa to receive and verify your scores.

Please note that the system may not be able to link scores to an application if the names are entered differently or a different email is used. If you believe there is a discrepancy between the name in your application and your name in the ETS/Duolingo/IELTS system, please email us at africa-admissions@andrew.cmu.edu, and we will check your scores. The same applies to using different emails for Duolingo scores.

GRE is not required for the fall 2026 intake. Applicants may submit their GRE score report as part of their application package; however, it will not be considered for admission purposes.

• Yes. Once your application has been submitted and is considered complete, you will be invited to take a one-hour online technical test. The test assesses your analytical and quantitative skills, as well as your programming logic. CMU-Africa will cover the test fees.
• Instructions for accessing and completing the test will be shared via email after the application is submitted.

1. If you met the submission date for an early application deadline — December 15
2. If you have not received the complimentary DET from CMU-Africa before

While no "cut-offs" exist for GPA, most students have graduated with a GPA of 3.0 or above. The test scores and GPA are evaluated in the context of your entire application package.

Yes, you are welcome to apply. You can expand on this in your essays when completing the application form.

Our programs are tailored for candidates with a strong background in computer science or engineering. Without it, it is unlikely that you would succeed.

If you want to pursue a career in IT or engineering, please take the time to acquire the necessary technical competencies and qualifications before applying.

No, you may only apply to one program. If you apply to multiple programs, we will ask you to choose which program you want to pursue.

We do not offer any part-time tracks. All of our programs are full-time and in-person. Working professionals should plan their schedules accordingly.

No. We only admit for the fall semester. Our students begin their programs in August for the Student Induction Program.

There is no application fee for CMU-Africa applications.

The cost of attendance is $16,000 for African students and $60,300 for international students. View more details on the estimated annual cost of living.

Applicants who have submitted the financial aid assessment form will be considered for financial aid. Please note that only admitted applicants of African nationality are eligible for financial aid.

Yes. A financial aid assessment form is available and can be completed after submission. Hence, applicants must complete a separate financial aid form after submitting their applications.

This form will be part of your checklist on the status page for your application. Please review all applicable timelines.

You will be notified when it's time to send your official transcript to the Admissions Office. Official transcripts will only be considered if they are sent directly from the University Registrar in a signed and sealed envelope. The Admissions Team will share the address with you at the beginning of the matriculation process.

• Only enrolled students can defer their enrollment for up to 1 year, and the deferral is non-renewable.
• To request a deferral, please complete the "change of plans" form, available (for enrolled applicants only) on the application status page. Your request will be reviewed, and if approved, you will receive an official confirmation email. An approved deferral will secure your place in the incoming class for the following fall.

• If you have not submitted your application yet, you may contact the Admissions Team at applyafrica@andrew.cmu.edu.
• If you have already submitted your application, you may contact the Admissions Team at africa-admissions@andrew.cmu.edu.