Graduate Admission

Thesis-Based Master’s

The minimum requirements for admittance to the Master’s program are an undergraduate degree with a major in Computing Science or equivalent, and a high upper-second class standing.

In addition to academic performance, a combination of factors is taken into consideration in assessing the eligibility of a candidate for admission into graduate programs. One such important factor is the availability of a faculty member competent and willing to supervise the academic program of studies and research of the candidate; a candidate will not be admitted to the program under any circumstance unless such a faculty member exists. Other factors include the performance of the candidate and the assessment provided by his/her referees as a measure of the likelihood that the candidate can successfully complete the course of studies and research.

Candidates with high academic standing but insufficient academic background in Computer Science may be admitted with preparatory co-requisites as follows:

• MAT 200 (Introduction to Discrete Mathematics). This co-requisite will be waived for students with a natural science, engineering, or mathematics background. The course may also be waived by an equivalent course appearing on the student’s transcript at the Bachelor’s level or above. On-line courses will not waive MAT 200.
• CS 454 (Complements in Data Structures and Algorithms). This course will be waived for students with a computing background. For all the other backgrounds the course will be waived if courses on Algorithms as well as Advanced Programming appears on the student’s transcript at the Bachelor’s level or above. The Advanced Programming requirement may be replaced by a combination of basic programming courses and industrial experience in programming. Industrial experience alone cannot waive the Advanced Programming requirement. On-line courses or personal programming projects will not waive CS 454.

These co-requisites must be taken at the first opportunity and must be passed in the first attempt. Failure to do so may result in the candidate being required to withdraw from the program. Note that any preparatory co-requisites are in addition to the degree requirements and will result in additional tuition and a longer residence in the program.

Applying to the Thesis-Based Stream

A pre-application is compulsory for all the candidates to the thesis-based stream. These candidates must then apply formally through the Bishop’s University application system.

Course-Based Master’s

The minimum requirements for admittance to this stream are an undergraduate BSc degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent, with a standing no lower than our 70% (B) in your undergraduate degree.

We also accept under the same conditions students with a BSc in related fields such as Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Engineering, or rigorously structured Data Science programs, with CS 454 added as preparatory co-requisite (also see below).

Candidates with a less technical background such as a Bachelor’s in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Earth/Environmental Science, Finance, Economics, Econometrics, Business Analytics/IS, Quantitative Psychology/Neuroscience, etc. may be admitted provided that their undergraduate academic standing is no less than our 75% (B+). In this case MAT 200 and CS 454 will be assigned as preparatory co-requisites (see below). We reserve the right to decline admission to candidates whose background we judge to be too far to be bridged by our preparatory co-requisites.

Candidates with insufficient academic background in Computer Science may be admitted with preparatory co-requisites. The preparatory co-requisites include the following courses:

• MAT 200 (Introduction to Discrete Mathematics). This co-requisite will be waived for students with a natural science, engineering, or mathematics background. The course may also be waived by an equivalent course appearing on the student’s transcript at the Bachelor’s level or above. On-line courses will not waive MAT 200.
• CS 454 (Complements in Data Structures and Algorithms). This course will be waived for students with a computing background. For all the other backgrounds the course will be waived if courses on Algorithms as well as Advanced Programming appears on the student’s transcript at the Bachelor’s level or above. The Advanced Programming requirement may be replaced by a combination of basic programming courses and industrial experience in programming. Industrial experience alone cannot waive the Advanced Programming requirement. On-line courses or personal programming projects will not waive CS 454.

These courses must be taken at the first opportunity and must be passed in the first attempt. Failure to do so may result in the candidate being required to withdraw from the program.

Any preparatory co-requisites are in addition to the degree requirements and will result in additional tuition and a longer residence in the program.

Applying to the Course-Based Stream

Candidates to the course-based stream should apply directly through the Bishop’s University application system. No pre-application is needed for this stream.

English proficiency

Proof of proficiency in English, such as your TOEFL score is required unless English is your first language or you have attended at least one year of university in an English language institution. We expect in principle a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (paper-based), 237 (computer-based), 90 (Internet-based), or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. We also take into consideration other standardized tests of English proficiency. You also have the option of attending one of our partner language schools.

Master’s Degree Requirements

Contact information (administrative)

Further inquiries should be directed to:

Graduate Coordinator
Dr. Stefan Bruda
msc-info@cs.ubishops.ca