There are many universities in Canada offering undergraduate degrees in software engineering, but there are only a few that offer a master’s degree. Statistically, there are seven universities that have a masters in software engineering in Canada.
All seven are highly regarded universities with a global reputation. Many of them offer two options: Students can pursue the masters in software engineering degree either as
- Research-based degree: Master of Applied Science (MASc)
- Project-based degree: Master of Engineering (MEng)
The duration of the program is 1-2 years, except for Simon Fraser University’s joint degree, which takes 3 years to complete along with a co-op program. The co-op program option is also available at the University of Regina for its project-based degree.
Overview: Masters in Software Engineering in Canada
| Number of universities | 7 |
| Duration | 1-2 years |
| Degree type | MASc, MEng |
| Minimum eligibility | A 4-year bachelor’s degree in software engineering or equivalent |
| Entrance exam | 8,000-59,000 CAD |
Top Universities for Masters in Software Engineering in Canada
| University Name | QS Ranking 2023 | THE Ranking 2023 |
| University of British Columbia | 47 | 40 |
| McMaster University | 152 | 85 |
| Simon Fraser University | 328 | 251-300 |
| Concordia University | 551-560 | 601-800 |
| University of Regina | 1001-1200 | 601-800 |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | 751-800 | 601-800 |
| Ontario Tech University | – | 601-800 |
Cost of Studying Masters in Software Engineering in Canada
The annual tuition fee to pursue a master’s in software engineering in Canada falls as low as 8,000 CAD and goes as high as 59,000 CAD. The highest fee, i.e., 58,000 CAD per year, is charged by the prestigious University of British Columbia. The lowest fee is charged by the University of Regina, i.e., 8,000 CAD per year. Students must note that tuition fee does not cover additional changes like ancillary fees and living costs. International students are also allowed to work part-time in the country to budget their cost of studying.
| University Name | Program Name | Type | Annual Tuition Fees (CAD) |
| McMaster University | Master of Applied Science – Software Engineering
M.A.Sc. |
Thesis-based | 17,094 |
| Master of Engineering – Computing and Software
M.Eng. |
Project-based | 34,089 | |
| Simon Fraser University (in collaboration with Zhejiang University, China) | MSc in Computing Science SFU/Master of Software Engineering Zhejiang University | Dual degree program | 34,203 |
| Concordia University | Software Engineering (MASc) | Thesis-based | 23,650 |
| Software Engineering (MEng) | Project-based | 32,931 | |
| University of Regina | Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Software Systems Engineering | Thesis-based | 21,419 |
| Master of Engineering (MEng) in Software Systems Engineering | Project-based | 8,964 | |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | Software Engineering
MASc |
Project-based | 9,666 |
| Ontario Tech University | Software Engineering (MASc) | Thesis-based | To be determined |
| Software Engineering (MEng) | Project-based | To be determined | |
| University of British Columbia | Master of Engineering Leadership in Dependable Software Systems (MEL), | – | 58,803 |
Course Duration and Application Deadlines
| University Name | Program Name | Duration in Years | Application Deadlines 2023-24 |
| McMaster University | Master of Applied Science – Software Engineering
M.A.Sc. |
2 | March 30th |
| Master of Engineering – Computing and Software
M.Eng. |
2 | March 30th | |
| Simon Fraser University | MSc in Computing Science SFU/Master of Software Engineering Zhejiang University | 3 with a co-op program | January 29 |
| Concordia University | Software Engineering (MASc) | 2 | June 1 (fall), October 1 (winter), February 1 (summer) |
| Software Engineering (MEng) | 2 | June 1 (fall), October 1 (winter), February 1 (summer) | |
| University of Regina | Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Software Systems Engineering | 2 | July 31 (winter) and January 31 (fall) |
| Master of Engineering (MEng) in Software Systems Engineering | 2 with Co-op | July 31 (winter) and January 31 (fall) | |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | Software Engineering
MASc |
2 | Fall |
| Ontario Tech University | Software Engineering (MASc) | 2 | July 12 and November 14 |
| Software Engineering (MEng) | 2 | July 12 and November 14 | |
| University of British Columbia | Master of Engineering Leadership in Dependable Software Systems (MEL) | 1 | Currently not accepting applications |
Academic Requirements
Students wishing to pursue a master’s in software engineering in Canada can submit their applications online via university websites. It is always advisable to submit to more than one university ahead of time. Missing deadlines can crush your dream of studying in Canada, as Canadian universities follow strict admission rules. Here are some general admission requirements for a master’s in software engineering in Canada.
Bachelor’s degree: Students who wish to pursue a master’s in software engineering must hold a 4-year undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or B+ in computer science, or another discipline such as engineering, science, and mathematics with very high standing. The degree must be from an accredited university.
Official transcripts and degree completion certificates: Universities initially ask students to submit only copies of their transcripts and certificates. Once students are offered a seat, they are required to submit official/notarized transcripts and certificates.
Statement of interest: The statement of intent helps the admissions committee decide on potential applicants. This document should ideally contain the reason for choosing a master’s in software engineering, how an applicant’s interests align with the chosen program, and their ability to work collaboratively.
Resume: Students should also submit a copy of their updated resume containing information about their education and work experience (if any).
English proficiency: International students whose first language is non-English must provide proof of English proficiency. Canadian universities accept scores of numerous English proficiency tests, but the most commonly accepted ones are TOEFL and IELTS (academic).
- TOEFL (paper-based) 550-560
- TOEFL (computer-based test) 213
- TOEFL (internet-based) 83-90
- IELTS 5.5-6.5
Academic references: Universities also ask students to submit two academic references from professors or instructors who are familiar with a student’s academic performance.
Although it appears to be simple to fill out and submit an application online, it is not. Universities desire students to submit a plethora of documents, which can be overwhelming. Gyanberry has developed Gyanberry, an application platform that handles everything from selecting the right university to arranging for housing. Sit back and relax, and let our counselors handle everything for you.
Scholarships for Masters in Software Engineering in Canada
| University Name | Scholarships |
| McMaster University | Ontario Graduate Fellowships (OGF) is a merit-based scholarship awarded to master’s and doctoral students with an A or above (12,000 CAD for 1 year) |
| The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and The Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) is a merit-based scholarship awarded to master’s and doctoral students with an A or above average score | |
| Ontario Graduate Scholarship for International Students is awarded to nominated overseas students | |
| Simon Fraser University | – |
| Concordia University | Concordia International Tuition Award of Excellence: An entrance scholarship worth 44,893 CAD |
| Concordia Merit Scholarship: An entrance scholarship valued at 10,000 CAD | |
| University of Regina | FGSR – UR Scholars Entrance Scholarship and FGSR – Graduate Scholarship Base Fund are awarded to fully-qualified students (>80% academic performance) pursuing a thesis-based master’s programs |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | In-program scholarships for MASc. programs are awarded to the top two ranked students in each MASc. program after the first 2 or 3 semesters. It is valued at 2,000 and 1,500 CAD, respectively |
| Ontario Tech University | Mothersill Family Graduate Scholarship award of 1,750 CAD is given to eligible students pursuing graduate studies |
Career Prospects: Masters in Software Engineering in Canada
Software engineers have excellent career options, thanks to today’s tech-enabled world! Being home to big tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Apple, SAP, Accenture, Infosys, etc., the opportunities for software graduates in Canada are truly countless. Software graduates can work in software development, engineering, consulting, and more for these companies. Besides, financial, healthcare, manufacturing, media, and government institutions also hire software engineers and developers. In short, anything that runs on software and requires designing, development, maintenance, testing, and evaluation requires software engineers.
Masters in software engineering is best for the more advanced roles in the field of software engineering. It prepares students to be better leaders, coders, and project/senior managers and thus increases their salary prospects. Here is a list of job roles that a masters degree in software engineering is suitable for
- Software engineer
- Applications developer
- Cyber security analyst
- Information systems manager
- IT consultant
- Web developer
- Web designer
- Game developer
- Multimedia programmer
As per Statista Analytics 2022, there are over 21 percent of software engineers with a master’s degree worldwide, and this number is going up day by day. In Canada, software engineers get paid a salary of 88,310 on average (Indeed, Canada).
Conclusion
Software engineers get paid handsomely everywhere, which explains their high demand globally. There was a time when a bachelor’s in software engineering was enough, but employers now expect students to get a master’s in the field. So, if you are considering getting your master’s in software engineering, Canada is one of the best places to do so. The duration of a master’s in software engineering in Canada is 1-2 years. You can pursue it as a thesis-based or project-based degree, depending on your choice. The best thing about a Canadian master’s in software engineering is that students do not have to submit GRE scores, and admission is mostly based on academic merit. Plus, you get scholarships, some of which are even fully funded!
