Why U.Va. Computer Science

Our excellent students work with highly motivated faculty on current and important problems. They receive great mentorship and individual attention, due in part to a smaller student/faculty ratio than other leading schools. Our department takes pride in its uniquely collegial culture of collaboration and cooperation, treating our graduate students as colleagues and partners in research. Our students enjoy the benefits of a very strong and focused research program. According to the US News and World Report, the Engineering School's research budget per Ph.D. student surpasses leading schools such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, UIUC, and CMU. This strength reflects our focus on leading-edge experimental systems and applied research. While our admission is selective to maintain excellence, it is our policy to guarantee funding to all accepted graduate students.

We have a commitment to excellence in instruction, with a world-class undergraduate curriculum that has been adopted by many departments around the country. We are re-designing our graduate curriculum to meet the needs of today's students, with reduced course loads, more seminars, small classes to enable serious faculty/student interaction, a strong focus on building complex systems, and immediate involvement in research.

Who We Are

We have a diverse yet close-knit student body, serious about work but able to have fun. Faculty, staff, and students interact socially both inside and outside the department. The computer science lounge and various department-sponsored activities -- such as the weekly Tea Time and the Computer Science picnic -- complement student-run activities -- such as the weekly Happy Hour -- to foster a uniquely friendly and collegial atmosphere. Our students are motivated and nurtured for excellence, and leave our program in high demand by industry. Our senior faculty provide extraordinary contacts, and we have had superb success recruiting excellent junior faculty. In an era of extraordinarily competitive markets for top talent, the best young faculty in the nation are choosing Virginia; something's going on here!

Our department celebrated its 25th anniversary in fall 2010 with a University and community wide event held in the Rotunda.

Where We Are

The University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, voted the best place to live in the U.S. in 1998 by Money Magazine. Built by Thomas Jefferson, the University enjoys a unique historical significance in the nation. Its picturesque surroundings, overlooking the Blue Ridge mountains, are rich with history, natural beauty, and recreation opportunities. These include hiking, biking, canoeing, horseback riding, and many others. A mid-sized college town, Charlottesville combines the amenities of larger cities with student campus lifestyle and the charm and safety of smaller towns.

For more information on visiting, go to our contact us page.

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