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Why should I do Graduate Studies in Computer Science?

Graduate studies means continuing your studies beyond the B.Sc. degree to a master's or doctorate degree. There are several reasons for doing this:
  • to specialize in a particular area in which you're interested in working
  • to prepare for advanced Computer Science jobs, which require more knowledge than the basic BSc gives
  • to prepare for careers in research and development. Most graduate programmes of study give an apprenticeship in research methods as well as education in a particular field.
  • to prepare for a university career. A PhD is a pre-requisite to a career as a professor.
  • to work on your own major project. Many students enjoy graduate work because it gives them the opportunity to focus on a project which is all their own - a very satisfying experience, and one that cannot always be had in industry.
  • to gain some experience in teaching through working as a teaching assistant.

What's it like?
Requirements
Funding
How to start

Research in the School of Information Technology and Engineering


What's the life of a grad. student like?

Very different from being an undergrad. There are few courses, and most of your work is thesis research, which can include software design, programming, proving theoretical results, interdisciplinary study and literature review. Many students attend conferences and present papers on their work, and some research projects involve work in industry or government. Your thesis work will be guided by your supervising professor, who plays a major role in mentoring your studies and research, and will usually (but not always) originate the topic of your thesis. You have much more independence than an undergraduate. You can also start any time - most programmes will admit students in the Fall, Winter or even Summer semesters.


What are the requirements?

We offer two graduate degrees:
Master of Computer Science (MCS) and PhD in Computer Science.
Minimum requirement for admission to the MCS program is a BSc(Honours) in Computer Science or equivalent with a 75 per cent (B+) or higher average. All candidates must demonstrate fluency in either English or French.
Minimum requirement for admission to the PhD program is a master's degree in Computer Science (with thesis or equivalent in terms of scholarly publications) with at least a "B+" (75-79%) average. Students who are currently registered in the master's program may, in exceptional cases, be permitted to transfer into the PhD program if they have completed all course requirements with at least a "B+" (75-79%) average and demonstrate significant promise for advanced research.

  • Master of Computer Science (MCS)
    • thesis option
      This is a research-based master's degree, whose main component is the research project and thesis. Students in this option must take five three-credit courses or equivalent, fulfil the graduate seminar requirement, and complete a thesis. Each candidate submitting a thesis will be required to defend it orally. This degree typically takes about 2 years to complete.
    • non-thesis option
      This is a course-based master's degree consisting of 8 three-credit courses, the intensive graduate project course and the graduate seminar requirement. It is intended primarily for people who want to strengthen their knowledge in a particular area, but are not interested in research. You cannot get into a PhD program with a non-thesis option MCS.

  • Doctorate (PhD) in Computer Science
    This is again a research-based degree, and is based on a minimum of 3 three-credit courses, at least 2 public seminars, a comprehensive exam, a thesis proposal, plus a major research thesis. It is the gateway to senior research positions in industry and government as well as to university careers. It takes typically 4 years to complete.

How can I pay for it?

Most graduate students have some degree of financial support, so you won't necessarily be adding to the mountain of debt you've piled up doing your undergraduate degree. There are a number of means of financing:
  • Scholarships

    The main graduate scholarships are:
    Applications for all these must be submitted in early October, and the scholarships are awarded late March.

  • Teaching assistantships

    Most MCS and PhD students get TA's. These involve up to 10 hours work per week assisting a professor in a course by demonstrating labs, leading tutorials, and grading. A 10 hour per week TA for one semester pays $4,000.

  • Research assistantships

    These are paid from the research funds of the supervising professor, and the amount depends on the professor and project.


Do I need to have a brilliant original idea to be accepted?

No - professors usually have a variety of research topics for which they are looking for students, and all that you need is to decide what area or topic you're interested in. Most graduate students get started in their research this way. If you do have an original topic that you want to work on, you will have to find a professor willing to supervise it, and you will probably need funding from a scholarship, because most professors' funds are earmarked for specific projects of their own.


OK - I'm interested - how do I start?

Start by deciding what areas interest you and find out who is working in that area. Use the Web to find out what professors are working on, then contact professors with whom you might want to work to see if they're accepting new students. If possible, visit the professor(s) you're interested in and talk to their graduate students. Then you can fill out the necessary application forms. It's best to have an agreement with a specific professor before you apply - if you don't, your file will typically circulate among professors in the department in search of a supervisor and you may not be accepted as quickly.


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