During Orientation week, you have a session with Chief Academic Officer and Interim President, Prof. Blum, and Professor Shakhnarovich (Director of Graduate Studies), who will cover the PhD curriculum and advise on courses for your first academic quarter at TTIC. They will cover the program requirements for each stage of the program.
The Registrar, Chrissy Coleman, will go over registration, what constitutes “full-time status,” and how to get credit for University of Chicago courses you may take to supplment your learning goals.
Course registration for autumn quarter 2026 will begin Tuesday, September 22 of Orientation week.
First day of fall quarter will be Monday, September 28.
The full description of the PhD program, requirements and milestones, from day 1 to graduation.
2026-27 APG will be available in September
Policy guide for students.
2026-27 Handbook will be available in September
Research is the heart and soul of activity at the Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago. The institute has an energetic and determined team of professors, visiting professors, assistant professors, research assistant professors, adjoint professors, and post-docs encompassing many areas of research interests. Originating from many countries and backgrounds, each brings their own specialty to the Institute.
With distinguished professors and an environment that promotes learning and sharing, there are ample opportunities for collaborative research. Being on the campus of the University of Chicago, there is opportunity for close and cooperative research with not only the Computer Science Department, but with the departments of Mathematics, Statistics, and the Booth Graduate School of Business. There are also many guests and visitors who come to TTIC to give talks, participate in workshops, and share their research findings, all heightening the feeling of enthusiasm that pulses through the Institute.
The mission of TTIC includes “…achieving international impact through world-class research and education in fundamental computer science and information technology.” The research component of the mission is implemented through high quality research in high impact areas. Currently, there are active research programs in six areas: machine learning, algorithms and complexity, computer vision and computational photography, speech and language technologies, computational biology, and robotics. A key part of the strategy for achieving impact in all areas is to foster collaboration and communication between these areas.