PhD in Cognitive and Information Sciences at University of California, Merced

International students can study the Cognitive and Information Sciences at University of California, Merced at its main campus in Merced , United States of America. This PhD degree is available as a Full Time program delivered on campus in English. The program has a duration of 4 years and is offered at the university's main campus. Students can apply for the next intake starting on August 16, 2026.

About PhD in Cognitive and Information Sciences

The Cognitive and Information Sciences (CIS) graduate program offers its master's and doctoral students interdisciplinary training in cognitive science with an emphasis on computation, technology, and applications. This emphasis distinguishes us from other Cognitive Science graduate programs. We view intelligent behaviors not just as emerging solely from neural processes, but from interactions between brain, body, and environment. Thus, intelligent behaviors may also emerge from group and social interactions situated in their economic and technological milieu. The word "information" in CIS denotes our multi-scale perspective on cognition, and our emphasis on computational approaches to understanding intelligent behavior.

Our award-winning faculty specialize in a variety of areas that intersect at this nexus, including computational modeling, complex systems theory, distributed cognition, categorization, psycholinguistics, cognitive linguistics, visual perception, cognitive engineering, service science, artificial intelligence, reasoning, computer vision, philosophy of mind, cognitive neuroscience, and bioinformatics. The M.S. program builds on on our well-established Ph.D. program, which has propelled students to successful data and cognitive science careers in academia as well as with companies such as Netflix, Accenture, Kaiser, Facebook, Cisco, and Salesforce. The average annual salary for data scientists in the United States is approximately $121,000, and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that market demand for individuals trained in computer and information science research techniques is projected to grow 16 percent from 2018 to 2028, a rapid rate relative to other skill sets. With computational, technological, and application-oriented skills in these areas, students who graduate from the M.S. or Ph.D. programs will have career opportunities in both academia and industry.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Cognitive and Information Sciences at University of California, Merced

Entry Requirements

International applicants should hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. The Graduate Admissions Office will determine the equivalence based on the academic record submitted by the applicant. All academic records must show dates of enrollment, courses taken, class rank (if applicable), description of grading scale used, and degree awarded or expected date of conferral.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Fee Information

Application Fee 150

How to Apply

Online Application and Fee: Submit the online admission application. After you have completed the application, make the application fee payment using the online payment system. NOTE: If you applied for a fee waiver, please finalize and submit your application in order for your fee waiver request to be reviewed (do not make a payment at this time)
Transcripts: For the initial reiew process, upload a scanned copy of all college level course work. If recommended for admissions, official transcripts will be required. Official transcripts must be in sealed envelopes issued by the institution(s) you have attended. All academic records submitted to our office become the property of the University, and cannot be return.
GRE scores: The GRE requirement is up to the individual graduate program. Please visit our Application Requirements Page and review your program's requirements under the "Indivdidual Program Requirements" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit your verified GRE scores if your program requires the test score. The GRE institution code for UC Merced is 4129. The GMAT institution code for UC Merced is Z9H-CF.
Letters of Recommendations: Three letters of recommendation are required for graduate admissions. Preferably from professors or instructors in the proposed field of study.
TOEFL/ IELTS (International applicants only): Please select institution code 4129 to have your official score sent to UC Merced. Please visit our International Applicants Information page for more information.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Submit by March 2 to meet priority processing. This form may be filled out online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. UC Merced's federal code is 041271.
Statement of Purpose and Personal History

Send required documents to:

UC Merced
Graduate Division
5200 North Lake Road, SSB 230
Merced, CA 95343

PhD in Cognitive and Information Sciences at University of California, Merced

University of California, Merced

United States of America, Merced