A Masters degree in Computer Science from a top foreign university has always been one of the most sought-after dreams for Indian students. There are many hot destinations for pursuing MS Computer Science. In the last few years, one country that clearly stands out, in terms of popularity among Indians, is Canada. In this post, we will look at the different key info on Masters (MS) in Computer Science in Canada – eligibility, costs, top universities, the application process, scholarships, and job prospects & salaries for international students.

Masters (MS) Computer Science in Canada

Hot Specializations, Eligibility, Costs, Top Universities, Scholarships, Application Process, Job Prospects & Salaries

Computer science & engineering graduates and software/IT professionals are always highly sought after anywhere in the world. Canada is no exception. It’s one of the hottest fields to study in Canada for jobs and immigration. IT professionals and software engineers have turned out to be among the top 10 most in-demand occupations in Canada in 2018.

Hot Specializations & Job Prospects after MS Computer Science in Canada

Canada’s tech industry boasts 488,000 IT professionals, who work in diverse fields ranging from project management to software development, to data analysis, to information security. In 2017, the number of jobs in the tech field grew by 11,500, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in Canada. In 2019, the scenario is not too different.

Though all sorts of developers are in high demand in Canada, so-called full-stack developers are the most wanted, according to Randstad. They are the ones who can handle both front-end programming — the consumer interface — and the back-end, the part that users never see and where data is stored or processed. Average wages in 2019, according to Randstad data, are between just under $85,000 and over $101,000.

The salaries for developers and researchers working on the blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and data science easily reaches $100,000 or more even for those fresh out of school (although, especially with AI, those working in the field often have graduate degrees or PhDs).

Another sub-domain that is quite booming at the moment is cybersecurity. Moreover, the competition for jobs within the cloud computing domain is also on the lower side.

Know more about the Job market Computer Science and IT degree holders. Now, we will move on to the top universities for Masters (MS) in Computer Science along with their key areas of specializations, eligibility, fees structures, scholarships, the application process, and deadlines.

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Best Universities for MS Computer Science in Canada

1. University of British Columbia (UBC)

The UBC Department of Computer Science, established in May 1968, is one of the top computer science departments in North America.

Available Specializations and Research Areas:

AI, Machine Learning, Human-Computer Interactions, Cloud Computing, Algorithms, Theoretical Computer Science, Software Engineering, Programming, Computer Systems, Intelligent Systems, and Robotics

Entry Requirements:

TOEFL 86 | IELTS 6.5

80 – 85% in Bachelors (especially in the last two years of your graduation)

GRE not required

Scholarships: Full MSc students will be supported at $6333.33 per term for their first two terms. After that, students writing an MSc thesis will be paid $7,333.33 per term after the first two terms, which amounts to $20,000 taxable stipend in the first year and $22,000 taxable stipend in the second year.

Fees: CAD $9,000 per year

UBC is a very competitive school to get in. The acceptance rate is 6 – 10% (last 3 years). Know more.

Need to Contact Potential Supervisor before Application: Yes

Fall Application Deadline: Dec 15

2. University of Waterloo

Established in 1957, the University of Waterloo has quickly positioned itself as a leader in transformational research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The CS curriculum at Waterloo is very “maths oriented”, a whole faculty is even dedicated to the field and this is why they call the program Master of Mathematics (MMath) in Computer Science.

Available specializations for research:

Algorithms and Complexity

Artificial Intelligence

Bioinformatics

Computer Algebra and Symbolic Computation

Computer Graphics

Cryptography, Security, and Privacy

Databases

Formal Methods

Health Informatics

Human-Computer Interaction

Information Retrieval

Machine Learning

Programming Languages

Quantum Computing

Scientific Computing

Software Engineering

Systems and Networking

Entry Requirements:

Minimum 78% (or CGPA 8.0 out of 10) in Computer Science or Engineering. Applicants for all degree programs are expected to have a formal background in the following areas of computer science:

Programming languages

Data structures

Operating systems

Algorithms

Computer organization (architecture)

GRE is mandatory | TOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.5

Need to Contact Potential Supervisor before Application: Mandatory

Fees: CAD $8,500 per year

Scholarships: All full-time students in the Masters (MMath) Computer Science programs are guaranteed a minimum level of funding ($12,000) while they are within their program time limits and in good academic standing.

Full-time master’s students are eligible for Teaching Assistantships (TA) for up to 6 units of TA over the 2-year program timeline.

Know more about funding, scholarships for female applicants, and other financial aid awards.

Fall Application Deadline: Dec 15

3. University of Toronto

UoT offers both MS Computer Science and MS in Applied Computing.

The MSc Applied Computing program is a 16-month applied research program. The program begins with eight months of advanced graduate research courses focusing on computer science or data science, studying with Canada’s leading researchers. This is followed by an 8-month research internship at a firm where you will apply research results to real-world problems.

Program Fees: CAD $34,000

Need to Contact Potential Supervisor before Application: Yes

The MS Computer Science program

Specializations: programming languages and methodology, software engineering, operating systems, compilers, distributed computation, networks, numerical analysis and scientific computing, financial computation, data structures, algorithm design and analysis, computational complexity, cryptography, combinatorics, graph theory, artificial intelligence, neural networks, knowledge representation, computational linguistics, computer vision, robotics, database systems, graphics, animation, interactive computing, and human-computer interaction. Read more about the MSc Computer Science program at UoT.

Need to Contact Potential Supervisor before Application: Yes

Entry Requirements for both MSc and MScAC:

78 – 80% in the final year and overall 70 – 75 in aggregate.

GRE optional | TOEFL 90 or IELTS 7.0

Program Fees: CAD $57,000

Scholarships: The University of Toronto provides financial support for students admitted to MSc and MASc programs. Know more about financing and scholarships for international students at the University of Toronto.

Fall Application Deadline: Dec 16

Need help on how to approach potential supervisors for MS applications?

4. McGill University

The School of Computer Science is one of the leading teaching and research centers for computer science in Canada. The MSc Computer Science program at McGill includes both coursework and research.

In the basic M.Sc. programs, students must choose between the thesis option, and the non-thesis option, which requires a project.

The thesis M.Sc. program includes options in bioinformatics and in Computational Science and Engineering.

Students are normally funded by their adviser’s research grants; in the case of scholarship students, this typically takes the form of a ‘top-up’ to the scholarship.

Research in the School covers a broad range of areas, including:

Theory : algorithms, combinatorial optimization, computational geometry, cryptography, graph theory, logic and computation, programming languages, quantum computing, theory of computation, and scientific computing;

: algorithms, combinatorial optimization, computational geometry, cryptography, graph theory, logic and computation, programming languages, quantum computing, theory of computation, and scientific computing; Systems : compilers, computer games, distributed systems, embedded and real-time systems, modelling and simulations, networks, and software engineering;

: compilers, computer games, distributed systems, embedded and real-time systems, modelling and simulations, networks, and software engineering; Applications: bioinformatics, machine learning, robotics, computer animation, graphics, and vision.

Excellent Masters Students who intend to pursue doctoral studies can apply to be “fast-tracked” to the Ph.D. program, after having completed two terms of course work in the master’s program (normally 6 regular courses). Read more.

Fees: CAD $8,400 per term

Need to Contact Potential Supervisor before Application: Not mandatory.

The school does not assign supervisors. Students are given one year from the time they first register to find a supervisor.

Entry Requirements:

GRE mandatory for international students (who didn’t complete Bachelors in Canada) | Minimum 162 in Quants

TOEFL 100 or 6.5/7.0 in IELTS

78 – 85% in Bachelors

Know more about the admissions and application process here.

Fall Application Deadline: Mar 1

Scholarship Deadlines: January 1 for applicants who wish to be considered for scholarship awards

Read 2021 Deadlines for MS in Canada.

5. McMaster University

The Master’s programs at McGill emphasize industry-relevant academic research and development. The Master’s degree may be earned either with a thesis option or with a coursework-and-project option to be determined when an offer of admission is made.

There are two routes which a candidate for the Master’s degree can take:

Coursework and thesis programs: M.A.Sc. and M.Sc. in Computational Science and Engineering. Coursework and project-based programs: M.Eng. and M.Sc. in Computational Science and Engineering.

Expected completion time for full-time registered students: Coursework-and-project (16 months), Thesis (24 months).

Admission Requirements:

Minimum 77% in the last two years of undergraduate study for MSc and MASc degrees with thesis

in the last two years of undergraduate study for MSc and MASc degrees with thesis Minimum 73% in the last two years of undergraduate study for MSc and MASc degrees with thesis

in the last two years of undergraduate study for MSc and MASc degrees with thesis Need to Contact Potential Supervisor before Application: Mandatory

Mandatory TOEFL 92 or IELTS 6.5

McMaster also needs certified hard copies apart from soft copies (online application). So, do keep that in mind.

Fees: CAD $18,000 per year

Scholarships: Masters thesis-based students are offered financial aid packages of $18,000 to $19,000 per year for two years.

Fall Application Deadline: Feb 1

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6. Queen’s University

It’s a school that might not receive too much attention for its computer science program. But, the Masters in Computer Science program at Queen’s is a top-notch program along with tremendous career prospects.

It’s a great school if you are interested in pursuing research in the fields of artificial intelligence, analytics, and bioinformatics.

Entry Requirements:

Minimum 75% in Bachelors and applicants must have solid knowledge in Calculus, linear algebra. Statistics, logic and discrete mathematics, advanced data structures, computer systems, automata theory, algorithm design and analysis, programming languages, and software engineering.

Queen’s University offers the options for Research-based, Project-based, and Course-based Masters programs.

As per the University website, applicants are encouraged to contact potential supervisors as soon as possible after submitting an application. However, we would strongly recommend contacting the potential supervisors before submitting the applications.

Fees: CAD $15,000 per year.

Learn more about scholarships and financial assistance.

Know more about the MS Computer Science Program at Queen’s University.

Other Top Universities for MS Computer Science in Canada

These are the universities where the competition is comparatively lesser than the above 6 universities. However, these universities are still quite competitive and have got acceptance rates around 15 – 30%.

The MSc Computer Science at Ontario is a broad-based program that covers concepts from engineering, science, and business, with the aim of producing high-quality software professionals. This is a research-based program where students complete a thesis and required course work. It takes approximately 24 months to complete this degree, based on full-time status; students normally start in September.

Specializations:

Digital Media

Information Science

Network and IT Security

Software Design

Entry Requirement: 73 – 76% aggregate and 78 – 80% in the final two years.

Specializations:

Algorithms and Complexity

Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Systems including HCI

Software Engineering and Data Science

Parallel and Distributed Systems

Information Systems Security and Applied Cryptography

Bioinformatics and Biomedical Computing

Applicants who have a general (3-year) bachelor’s degree, or who otherwise lack the required undergraduate preparation, may be admitted to a qualifying-year program. Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar for regulations governing the qualifying year. Know more.

The University of Alberta has earned the reputation of being one of the best universities in Canada based on our strengths in teaching, research, services, and athletics. Alberta offers both thesis-based and coursework-based Masters programs in Computer Science.

An outstanding student admitted may be eligible to upgrade their status to the Ph.D. program without completing the M.Sc. However, this will happen only if the student is interested to go directly to the Ph.D, the student’s performance during the first year of the M.Sc. program lends sufficient and tangible evidence of their superb ability in courses and in research and there is strong support from at least two faculty members in the Department.

When applying, M.Sc. thesis students are required to select a research area and name up to 3 professors as potential supervisors. Browse through our research areas and faculty members to find a professor whose research is of interest to you. By choosing a name, you will be directing the professor’s attention to your application. You are not required to contact this professor before you apply.

Alberta is a great place if you are interested in pursuing research in the fields of Machine Learning and Multimedia. Top 5% of applicants will also receive full funding.

You must have 70 – 75% in your Bachelors. Read more about the application process and admissions at the University of Alberta.

University of Manitoba (program links below)

MS Computer Science (Thesis)

MS Computer Science (Coursework)

Pre-Master’s Program in Computer Science

University of Windsor (program links below)

MSc Computer Science (Research-Based)

MSc Applied Computing (Course-Based)

Dalhousie University (program links below)

Masters (Research-based) in Computer Science

Master of Applied Computer Science

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Sources: University Websites, McLean’s, and Canada Study News.