A master’s (MS) in computer science in Canada can be pursued as a thesis-based program or a project- or course-based program. But the majority of Canadian universities offer the program as a thesis-based course that focuses on research and involves few taught classes. A project-based master’s in computer science is more professional, and structured, and comes with an option of a co-op program. It focuses more on the application of knowledge. Both kinds of programs usually last 2-3 years. In Canada, they are offered typically as Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Mathematics (MMath) programs.
Unlike most master’s programs, the Canadian universities mentioned in this article for the MS in computer science in Canada do not require the GRE for admission. Admission is based on merit. Keep on reading to learn more about MS in computer science programs in Canada.
Overview: Master’s (MS) in Computer Science in Canada
Degree type | Postgraduate (MSc, MMath) |
Category | Thesis or project-based |
Duration | 2-3 years |
Minimum admission criteria | Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field |
Annual tuition fees in CAD | 8,000-38,000 |
University Ranking for Computer Science in Canada
University Name | US News Ranking 2023, Computer Science | THE Ranking 2023, Computer Science |
University of Toronto | 27 | 22 |
University of Waterloo | 51 | 43 |
University of British Columbia | 56 | 47 |
Simon Fraser University | 166 | 101-125 |
York University | 319 | 176-200 |
University of Calgary | 342 | 401-500 |
McMaster University | 348 | 301-400 |
Western University | 401 | 301-400 |
University of Manitoba | 514 | – |
University of Guelph | 552 | 251-300 |
Best Universities to Study Master’s in Computer Science in Canada
University Name | Program Name and Duration | Program Type |
University of Toronto | Master of Science in Computer Science, 3 years | Thesis-based |
University of Waterloo | Master of Mathematics (MMath) in Computer Science, 2 years | Thesis-based |
Master of Mathematics (MMath) in Computer Science – Co-operative Program | Thesis-based | |
Master of Mathematics (MMath) in Computer Science – Quantum Information | Thesis-based | |
University of British Columbia | Master of Science in Computer Science (MSc), 2 years | Thesis-based |
Simon Fraser University | Computer Science (Master of Science), 2 years | Project-based |
York University | MSc (Computer Science) | Thesis or project-based |
University of Calgary | Computer Science
Master of Science (MSc) |
Thesis-based |
McMaster University | Computer Science (MSc), 2 years | Thesis-based |
Western University | Computer Science
Master of Science (MSc), 2 years |
Thesis and project-based |
University of Manitoba* | Computer Science (MSc), 2 years | Thesis-based |
University of Guelph | MSc in Computer Science, 2 years | Thesis-based |
Wilfrid Laurier University | Computer Science (MCS), 20 months | Fully online mode |
*Offers a 1-year pre-masters for students with undergraduate course deficiencies to fulfill the admission requirements.
Cost to Study Computer Science Master’s in Canada
The annual tuition fee to pursue a master’s degree in computer science in Canada starts at 8,000 CAD. It can go up to 38,000 CAD per year for some top-ranked universities like the University of Toronto. But generally, the tuition fees fall in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 CAD for the majority of Canadian universities. The following table contains annual tuition fees in CAD for a few of the top-ranked and most popular universities in Canada offering an MS in computer science. This fee does not include ancillary and supplementary fees that can cost an extra 500 CAD per term.
University Name | Annual Tuition Fee (CAD) |
University of Toronto | 38,580 |
University of Waterloo | 15,392 |
University of British Columbia | 9,500 |
Simon Fraser University | 21,926 |
York University | 13,108 |
University of Calgary | 8,242 |
McMaster University | 11,396 |
Western University | 15,604 |
University of Manitoba | 13,185 |
University of Guelph | 15,810 |
Together with tuition and other charges, annual living expenses must also be incurred by international students. A student’s annual living expenses in Canada range between 15,000 and 20,000 CAD. International students can work part-time jobs in Canada to fund their studies.
Master’s (MS) in Computer Science in Canada: Academic Requirements
Four-year degree in computer science: Admission to a master’s degree in computer science in Canada requires a four-year-long degree program in computer science or a related field with a minor in computer science. The degree program must be from an accredited university.
Minimum required GPA: The minimum score of 75%, or “B”, or a GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 is required for admission to a Canadian master’s degree program in computer science.
English proficiency test: International students whose first language is not English are asked to submit an English proficiency test. The scores of the following tests are most commonly accepted by Canadian universities
- IELTS Academic with a minimum score of 6.5
- TOEFL (internet-based) with a minimum score of 90-92
- TOEFL (paper-based) with a minimum score of 577
- Duolingo with a minimum score of 115-130
Academic references: A minimum of two academic references are needed for admission.
Entrance tests: The GRE is not required nor is a part of the admission requirements for MS in computer science programs of the universities mentioned above.
Master’s (MS) in Computer Science in Canada: Scholarships
Canadian universities offer a multitude of scholarships and bursaries to international students pursuing a master’s in computer science. Here is a list of a few of them.
University of Toronto | Apple Scholars in AI/ML, Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award, |
University of Waterloo | University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship |
University of British Columbia | Outstanding International Student Award, |
Simon Fraser University | Indigenous Community Engagement Award |
York University | Computer Science & Engineering Outstanding Thesis & Dissertation Prize, Computer Science, Computer Security & Information Technology Scholarship |
University of Calgary | Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarships program, International Graduate Tuition Award, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) |
McMaster University | McMaster Graduate General Bursary, The Myra Baillie Academic Grant, The Robert John Morris Graduate Studies Bursary, The Stelco Graduate Bursaries |
Western University | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) |
University of Manitoba | G. Clarence Elliott Fellowship, University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF), Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships |
University of Guelph | Indigenous Graduate Scholarship |
Career Advice
In terms of employment opportunities, there is nothing that can beat the Canadian labor market. As per Job Bank Canada, the field of computer science and software engineering is expected to grow and create 27,500 new jobs by 2028. This makes it worth pursuing a master’s in computer science in Canada. Graduates of the field are expected to contribute to the state-of-the-art in software, cloud computing, robotics, advertising, e-commerce, electronic trading, entertainment games, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, etc. The degree also prepares students for a doctoral degree program in computer science, which revolves around in-depth research in the discipline.
Conclusion
Canada has become a paradise for international students pursuing master’s degrees in computer science. The reason for this is that many Fortune 500 corporations in Canada provide practically guaranteed job prospects for computer science graduates. Plus, international students can easily apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, which enables them to get an open work permit in Canada post-grad. Furthermore, the country is ranked third in the US News Quality of Life index.
A master’s (MS) in computer science in Canada lasts for 2-3 years and is offered mostly as an MSc degree. However, there are some universities that do offer this course as an MMath degree. When there are ample options out there, choosing the best university for your MS in computer science in Canada can be quite challenging and time-consuming. Thus, Gyanberry has come up with a tool called Gyanberry that can do it all for you, from searching for the best universities and sending out applications to searching for accommodation within your budget. Kindly book a video call with our experts to learn more about our services.