Computer Science and Engineering

Bring your uniqueness, drive, and smarts to Cal-Bridge

Interested in pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field? Apply to Cal-Bridge!   

Join a cohort of scholars made up of students just like you who are all pursuing their dream of attaining a graduate-level education and making unique contributions in science.  

Here are the eligibility requirements:  

• Be currently enrolled in a CSU or currently enrolled in a participating community college and expecting to transfer to a CSU in the coming Fall. Acceptance to Cal-Bridge is contingent upon acceptance and enrollment to a participating CSU by the Fall of the Cal-Bridge application year
• Be majoring in computer science or computer engineering
• Have an expected graduation date in the 2024-2025 academic year
• Demonstrate academic ability or potential
• Be motivated to attend graduate school to study computer science, computer engineering, or related fields at a participating UC or another institution (however, please note that only Cal-Bridge scholars who matriculate to a graduate program at a participating UC will receive financial aid for graduate study; see "Participating Schools" below for a complete list)

In order to complete your application, students should prepare the following information and supporting documents:

• Academic information, such as your major, GPA, etc.
• Undergraduate transcripts from ALL institutions. Unofficial transcripts are ok, make sure they are not password protected. 
• A graduation plan demonstrating that you can graduate with your BA/BS in the 2024-2025 academic year. The plan should be uploaded using the fillable PDF supplied here . **Transfer students only: you will not be required to provide this form by the application deadline; however, we encourage you to begin working on it now. Plans not initially submitted with the application will be requested during the selection process.
• Contact information of two (2) faculty members who will provide recommendation letters.
  • The application will allow you to request these letters prior to completion of the applications. Follow instructions in the application to send recommendation letter requests. 
  • Recommenders will then be sent an email allowing them to upload their recommendation letters themselves. 
• Three short essays (250-500 words each)
• Financial aid awards are dependent on filing a FAFSA form prior to each academic year. We strongly recommend filing your FAFSA for the coming academic year before the Cal-Bridge application deadline or as soon as possible thereafter. Financial scholarships* cannot be determined, nor awarded without the FASFA submitted in a timely manner.   

Cal-Bridge scholars* attending a CSU will be given scholarship support for up to their last two years of attendance at their home institution, to the extent allowed by their demonstrated financial need as determined by the financial aid office at their home institution. 

*Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to receive financial aid, but non-citizens selected to be Cal-Bridge scholars may receive all the other benefits of the program. In addition, sometimes private donations make it possible to give financial aid to non-citizens, and all eligible students are encouraged to apply.