All new to Cornell first year Information Science Ph.D. students are allowed a reimbursement for up to $1,500 USD toward the purchase of a laptop computer. This is a one-time reimbursement and cannot be used towards any other expenses. Students are eligible to request a reimbursement only after they have matriculated, registered and enrolled in classes, which is typically at the end of August. Students have up to one year from the response deadline of April 15 to purchase a laptop computer and request a reimbursement. After this date the reimbursement offer is voided.

If the computer equipment total is less than $1,500 you will not be given the balance, and for equipment that is more than $1,500 you will be responsible for the amount over the $1,500 cap. All equipment must be purchased at one time, and the receipt(s) submitted all together. Receipts must be in English and if the item(s) are purchased using foreign currency, please convert the amount to US currency.  

For reference, our students in the past have received a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (1.4GHz quadcore Intel Core i5 processor; 256GB SSD storage). This is just a suggestion on the type of laptop you may want to consider purchasing. Students should consult with their advisors if they have doubts on what specifications will be needed to support their research. We expect students to use this money to purchase equipment such as the items listed below:

  • Laptop computer
  • Desktop computer
  • iPad Pro
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Web Cam
  • Monitor for a computer
  • External Hard Drive
  • Noise Canceling Headphones

Items that we will not reimburse for are listed below, but this is not limited to this list. 
Again, please contact us if you are unsure before purchasing anything. 

  • Parts to build your own computer
  • Warranties
  • Service
  • Replacement of a stolen or broken piece of technology
  • Service contracts (e.g., AppleCare)

A receipt with the total cost of the approved equipment and the laptop policy form need to be submitted to Seamus Buxton, skb84@cornell.edu, and the receipt(s) must be in English.

Note:  Students who are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Cornell and are admitted through the Change of Program petition process are not eligible for this reimbursement.  Students should work with their advisor for any equipment purchases that are needed. 

If you are interested in applying, and have questions not answered above, please contact

us at:  is-phd@cornell.edu.