With no GRE, no English test requirement, and full funding, this is one of the most accessible PhD routes for Nigerians aiming to study and travel at the same time without much financial stress to specialize in Artificial Intelligence + Systems abroad.
The department of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder has opened PhD positions in Machine Learning + Systems (MLSys) for Fall 2026. Led by Mark Zhao a former PhD student in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, and now an Assistance Professor of Computer Science at the Colorado Boulder, he develops full-stack systems for scalable, efficient, and secure ML, from distributed/operating systems to databases, hardware, and security at the ML boundary.
The Boulder AI & Systems Infrastructure Lab (BASIL) group is currently working on Computer System for Machine Learning, and are welcoming graduates and collaborators who have a hunch for building things. The students aside having deep interest in Machine Learning Applications should have a strong foundation in computer systems (e.g operating systems, database, computer architecture, networking, etc.)
Program Highlights
- Degree: PhD in Computer Science (MLSys focus)
- Start term: Fall 2026
- Deadline: December 15, 2025 (10:00 p.m. MST)
- Funding: Fully funded ( tuition, mandatory fees, 91% health insurance & monthly stipends)
Research Areas
- Machine learning data infrastructure
- Resource-efficient LLM training and inference
- Serving frameworks for compound AI systems
- Hardware support for secure machine learning pipelines
How to Apply
- - Visit their official page https://www.colorado.edu/cs/admissions/graduate-admissions
- - Click on graduate applicant
- - Create an account for a first time user or login with gmail/facebook
- - Start new application
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- GPA: Minimum 3.0/4.0 (competitive applicants)
- Strong foundation in math & CS
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcript (after admission)
- 3 recommendation letters
- GRE & English tests not needed (if you're from Nigeria)
- Application fee: $60 (domestic) | $80 (international students)
FAQs
Do I need the GRE: No. The CS department does not require or use GRE scores in graduate admissions.
I’m from Nigeria, do I need TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo: No, Nigeria is on CU Boulder’s English-exempt list, so an English test is typically not required for admission. (Note: separate speaking-score rules apply only if you want to be a TA and are submitting language scores.) University of Colorado Boulder
Are PhD students funded? What does that cover: Yes. Admitted CS PhD students receive tuition and mandatory fees coverage, 91% health-insurance subsidy, and a stipend via TA/RA.
What GPA and background do I need?: Minimum 3.0/4.0; competitive PhD applicants are often around 3.5+. Strong math and systems/CS fundamentals are expected; the program welcomes interdisciplinary backgrounds and lists concrete prerequisite areas.
Which professors are specifically recruiting for ML + Systems: Check the Fall 2026 recruiting page, for MLSys, BASIL (Mark Zhao) is explicitly listed, with a focus on systems for SOTA ML. New groups may be added as the cycle progresses.