Forms
Computer Science Graduate Forms
There's a form for that...
Over the course of your graduate study, you will complete many forms.
The department of Computer Science, The Graduate School, and The Registrar's Office maintain and process various student forms.
Most forms that require department level signatures and will be process through the CS Graduate Form Submission Portal and then forwarded to the Graduate School for final processing. The CS Graduate Programs Office aims to process all forms within 4-7 business days.
How to Submit a Form
Please use CS Graduate Form Submission Portal to submit your form to your respective graduate coordinator. Emailed forms will not be accepted.
Change of Degree Level
- Use this form to switch between MS and PhD programs and to switch between MS and MEng programs.
Confidentiality Waiver Form
- An optional form authorizing the CS Graduate Programs Office to grant access to specific faculty members using this form in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
Course Justification Form
- Use this form to allow coursework 5 years or older to be revalidated so they can be used on a plan of study.
Credit Transfer Request Form (doc) (PDF)
- Use this form to allow courses taken elsewhere to count toward a Virginia Tech plan of study.
- For further information on transfer credit, please see our Mechanics and Procedures page and our FAQ page.
Project and Report Request Form (PDF)
- Use this form to register for CS 5904: Project and Report in a given semester. The form should be submitted prior to the last day of the first week of classes.
Student Resignation/Withdrawal Form
- Use this form to withdraw from all courses in a given semester. This form should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Thesis Option Change Request
- Use this form to switch between thesis and non-thesis options.
MEng Plan of Study
- Use this form to list the courses to be taken to fulfill your MEng degree requirements.
- Submit your Plan of Study one semester prior to graduation after you have finalized your last semester's course registration. Your Plan of Study must match all of the coursework you have taken as a MEng student.
MS/PhD Plan of Study Worksheet
- Use this form to list the courses to be taken to fulfill your MS or PhD degree requirements and also identify your advisory committee. An instruction sheet is provided for your convenience.
- MS students should submit prior to the end of their second semester in the program.
- PhD students should submit prior to the end of their third semester in the program.
- Your Plan of Study must match all of the coursework you have taken as a M.S. or Ph.D. student. If you need to change something on your Plan of Study after it has been approved, please submit a "Request for Plan of Study Changes"
Request for Plan of Study Changes
- Use this form to make changes to the courses listed in your plan of study.
- Submit this form after an approved plan of study is on file and prior to applying for your degree.
Change of Commitee/Advisor Form
- Use this form to make changes to committee members, advisor(s), or composition of advisory committee.
- Submit prior to the submission of Request to Admit Candidate to the Final Exam form (see below).
Non-Virginia Tech Committee Member Form (F/S use only)
- This form is to only be completed by your Graduate Coordinator.
- To propose a non-VT professor/researcher to serve on your advisory committee, please send the most recent CV/professional website to your Graduate Coordinator who will then submit the credentials for approval to the Graduate School.
- This should be completed prior to the submission of the plan of study worksheet.
Application for Degree or Certificate Conferral Request
- Use this form to declare your intent to graduate in a given semester.
- The deadline is typically 1 month after the first day of classes, but submit as early as possible in the semester you intend to graduate.
- Submit this form to the Graduate School using their Forms Submission Portal.
- Note that the degree cannot be awarded without this form even if you have completed all requirements.
Request to Admit Candidate to the Preliminary Exam
- PhD students should use this form to schedule their PhD preliminary exam.
- This form shoudl be submitted two weeks prior to the desired exam date.
Request to Admit Candidate to the Final Exam
- MS and PhD students should use this form to schedule their final exam.
- Submit this form at least two weeks prior to the desired exam date.
- NOTE: PhD students who wish to participate in Commencement (i.e., "walk"), should schedule their final exam one month before the last day of classes. You can schedule your final exam after this date, but there is no guarantee to participate in Commencement. Your advisor could make a request to the Graduate School for an exception and these are considered on an individual basis.
Start of Semester Defense Exception (SSDE) Form
- MS and PhD students should use this form to allow them to register as a defense-only student in a given semester.
- This is typically used by students who intended to graduate the previous semester, but were unable to do so (typically they only need to complete their final exam or defense).
- Students who use this form are registered as a defense-only student in the current semester and registered for one credit.
- Students must defend by a stipulated deadline (usually within 2 weeks from the beginning of the semester).
- This form should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the desired exam date along with the Request to Admit Candidate to the Final Exam form.
Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Approval Form
- Use this form to register your thesis/dissertation with the ETD repository.
- This process needs to be completed 2 weeks after successfully completing the final exam.