The Natural Language Processing program offers a unique Master of Science degree
Taught intensively over 15-18 months in state-of-the-art facilities in Santa Clara, in the heart of Silicon Valley, our master’s degree program is the product of close collaboration between our distinguished academic team and industry leaders. Our faculty team and Industry Advisory Board are made up of leading scientists and practitioners in the information processing and NLP fields, and our students benefit in a variety of ways from this industry collaboration.
The NLP MS Application Process: A Primer
Applying to the NLP MS Program at UCSC
We’re delighted that you’re interested in applying to UCSC’s unique professional master’s program in natural language processing. The NLP MS program is intended for students who have a considerable background in computer science, and we are looking for multifaceted individuals who ideally have experience with programming, computer science, probability, statistics, and linguistics. We review applications holistically and we have students in the NLP MS program with different undergraduate degrees who are successful in the program.
Below please see a list of recommended courses and requirements that will help you be successful in our program. In your application, you can explain any gaps between your background and the admission guidelines below.
Applicants wishing to study a broader range of computer science topics in a graduate program may wish to consider the MS in Computer Science and Engineering degree program. The program cost varies with the selected curriculum plan. Please check the Registrar’s website for the most recent tuition and fee information.
Want to learn more? Connect with our Support Team
There are many ways to get support with your application. The NLP Support Team is ready to assist with any questions you may have about the program, our industry-informed curriculum, and applying to UCSC.
Visit our Contact page to connect with our NLP Support Team today. You can also email the NLP Program Team directly at nlp@ucsc.edu.
Admission Requirements
- A B.A. or B.S. in Computer Science or equivalent
- An overall GPA of 3.0 or better on the 4.0 GPA scale or the equivalent
- Excellent programming skills either through academic coursework and/or significant professional experience
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable)
- Minimum TOEFL score of 89
- Minimum IELTS score of 7.0
Essential courses to highlight in your application
- A class in Discrete Math (the equivalent of UCSC’s CSE 16: Applied Discrete Mathematics)
- An advanced class in Data Structures and Algorithms (the equivalent of UCSC’s CSE 101: Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms)
- At least one class in Probability and Statistics with a grade of B or better (the equivalent of UCSC’s CSE 107: Probability and Statistics for Engineers or STAT 131: Introduction to Probability Theory)
Desirable (but not required) additional courses
- A class in NLP or Linguistics (the equivalent of UCSC’s CSE 143: Introduction to Natural Language Processing)
- A class in Machine Learning (the equivalent of UCSC’s CSE 142: Machine Learning)
- A class in Formal Languages and Automata Theory (the equivalent of UCSC’s CSE 103: Computational Models)
Application Timeline
Applications for all UCSC graduate programs open each year on October 1st. Visit our NLP Admissions page to review essential admission requirements and tips for applying to the NLP MS program.
Once the NLP MS application opens, visit UCSC’s Graduate Application Page to begin applying.
View the NLP Program’s current application deadline on the UC Santa Cruz Graduate Admissions website.
Required application materials
Application support & FAQs
Application fee
- Domestic: $135
- International: $155
- If you are currently enrolled in a UCSC undergraduate or graduate program or have an undergraduate or graduate degree from a UCSC program, you may request an application fee waiver directly from the NLP Program.
- Review the Graduate Admissions website for information about fee waivers and exemptions.
Application fee waiver request form (optional)
- Criteria: If you are currently enrolled in a UCSC undergraduate or graduate program or have an undergraduate or graduate degree from a UCSC program, you may request an application fee exemption directly from the NLP Program. Please be aware that there are a limited number of fee waivers available.
- Before you submit your application: Please fill out Application Fee Waiver Request Form for NLP MS 2023-2024 with your application details and be sure to include a brief statement regarding your financial need for the application fee exemption. To ensure sufficient time to process your fee waiver request, your fee exemption request must be received at least 2 weeks before the application deadline (Application Deadline: Feb 1st, Fee Waiver Deadline: January 18th 5PM PT).
- After you apply for the fee waiver:
- To be eligible for a fee waiver, you must submit the fee waiver request form by January 18th at 5 PM PT, and you must submit your complete application to the NLP program by February 1st at 11:59PM PT. Incomplete submissions for either of these requirements will disqualify you from being considered for a fee waiver.
- On the “Fee Waiver/Payment” page of the application, please choose “No” to the question, “Do you believe you will need assistance paying for your application processing fee?” Then select “Yes” to “Has the program you are applying to agreed to pay for the application processing fee?” The page will tell you a credit card payment is required. Do not worry about this, and do not pay it; we will pay for it on your behalf. Please submit your application as soon as it is ready.
- After you have submitted your application, you will be directed to the status portal. There will be a pay fee link, do not pay this fee. You will not be refunded, and a reimbursement process is more involved and takes time to process.
- Processing Time: We will review your request within 5 business days and send you a confirmation email to inform you whether the fee waiver has been approved. If you haven’t received any updates after this period, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at nlp@ucsc.edu
GPA
- Minimum 3.0 on 4.0 scale or equivalent.
Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts are accepted for application purposes but official transcripts may be required if admitted to the program.
Letters of recommendation
- 3 letters required from professors and professional contacts who may best speak to your abilities and academic potential in your chosen field of study.
TOEFL or IELTS (if applicable)
- TOEFL: minimum score of 89
- IELTS: minimum overall score of 7.0
Personal history statement
- Recommended length is a concise 1-3 pages, single-spaced.
- UCSC is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. In the essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree.
- Include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.
Statement of purpose
- Recommended length is a concise 2-4 pages, single-spaced.
- Please describe your plans for graduate study or research and for your future occupation or profession.
- Include any information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and qualifications for graduate study at UCSC.
CV
- CV is required, preferably from a link to a personal web page containing CV.
Statement of financial need (optional)
- This optional Statement of Financial Need will help the NLP Program determine your eligibility for fellowship support for your graduate education at UC Santa Cruz. Submitting a Statement of Financial Need does not guarantee funding.
- The Statement of Financial Need should not exceed one page and should fully explain, in your own words, your need for financial assistance.
- Please also address personal resources and other fellowships or grant opportunities that you will pursue to help cover your graduate education expenses.
- Master’s students in Baskin School of Engineering programs are typically self-supported. While a small number of partial fellowships may be extended to eligible NLP students each year, the NLP program encourages students to seek external support for covering graduate education expenses.
NOTE: GRE (no minimum) – The GRE requirement has been waived for Fall 2024 admission consideration for NLP MS applications. You are welcome to submit your official scores, but please note the inclusion of your official GRE score will not be a deciding factor for admission.
Application support
- Check out the NLP FAQs page for support with general inquiries about the program and application process.
- Visit our Contact page to connect with our NLP Support Team or email the NLP Program Team directly at nlp@ucsc.edu.
- Visit the UCSC Graduate Admissions website to review application instructions, deadlines, test score requirements, and detailed guidance about applying to a UCSC graduate program.
- Additional guidance about applying to Baskin Engineering graduate programs can be found on Baskin’s Office of Graduate Student Affairs website.
Funding opportunities
MS students are typically self-supported. While a small number of partial fellowship packages are extended to eligible NLP students each year, the NLP Program encourages students to seek external support for covering graduate education expenses. Recipients of these fellowships are selected based on financial need and merit. We strongly recommend eligible applicants complete the optional Statement of Financial Need in the application to be considered for financial support. Instructions for completing this statement are available on the Graduate Admissions website.
Visit the NLP Financials page to review additional information about the estimated costs of attendance and financial support options.
Support for parents and families of prospective students
We know that going to graduate school can involve a significant investment of your time and personal resources. As you consider your options for graduate studies, you may also want to include your support network in your decision-making process. We’ve put together a guide for parents and family members to provide insight into life at UCSC, as well as the support and resources available to our graduate students. Please always feel welcome to contact our Support Team if you or your family members have any questions.
Join an NLP Virtual Information Session, or Watch a Pre-Recorded Session!
At our information sessions, we discuss the range of courses and support services we offer, as well as tips for applying to the program. We also prioritize time for a Q&A session during each event, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet NLP faculty and staff.
To attend an information session, please complete the session’s registration form. You’ll then be sent an individualized Zoom link you can use to access the information session. Please note that dates and times for upcoming sessions are subject to change.
You can also view a pre-recorded virtual information session on our YouTube page from January, 2025.