Overview

Please note that the deadlines for our graduate programs are much earlier than the McGill default deadlines. Please see Application Deadlines.

The McGill School of Computer Science offers Masters and Ph.D. programs. The Master of Science (M.Sc.) Thesis and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) are research-centric programs preparing students for research careers in academia or industry. The Master of Science (M.Sc.) Non-Thesis program is targeted at students looking for careers in applied research and development in industry.
In all programs, students will be exposed to cutting-edge computer science developments. The School’s Faculty conduct research in many different areas spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning and vision, through bioinformatics, systems research and CS Education, to software engineering, programming languages, and foundations of computer science.

Entry into our programs is very competitive and our programs’ standards reflect the School’s international reputation in Computer Science research. A strong background in Computer Science (at least of a comprehensive Minor in Computer Science at the undergraduate level) is a minimum requirement. The School offers an inclusive learning environment and welcomes students that bring different perspectives.

Which program should you apply to?

Master Programs:

If you are a McGill undergrad, then you can consider applying for the B.Sc. / M.Sc. fast track. More information on this program can be found at our B.Sc/M.Sc (Thesis) Track page.

Generally, if you are interested in a strong exposure to research, potentially continuing with a Ph.D, consider the M.Sc. Thesis program. In this case, we recommend students to contact potential supervisors ahead of time to see whether they are interested in taking on new thesis students. Note that professors who look for new students also contact students after the application deadline. To see how to interact with potential supervisors see our FAQ.

If you are interested in advancing your knowledge in Computer Science in order to find advanced positions in industry, consider the M.Sc. Non-Thesis program.

If you are interested in both programs, then we recommend to apply to both programs (note that applicants can indicate two programs in their application without extra fees). This can increase the chance of acceptance.
Note that these two programs will be evaluated by two different committees with only limited information exchange. If applying only to the non-thesis program, potential thesis supervisors will likely not see the application. Similarly, applications to the thesis program might not be taken into account when making offers for the non-thesis program.

Please be aware that switching programs after the start of studies might only be possible in some circumstances.

PhD Program:

If your final goal is (or may be) to obtain a Ph.D. then there are two possibilities.

  • If you have already completed a Masters degree, you should apply directly to the Ph.D. program.
  • If you do not hold a Masters degree, you should apply to M.Sc. thesis program initially, although you have the possibility of being admitted to the Ph.D. program directly if you have excellent academic records. Furthermore, students who are already in the M.Sc. thesis program at the School of Computer Science and have shown sufficient scholastic and research abilities will have the possibility of being fast-tracked to the Ph.D. program at the end of the first academic year, without having to complete the requirements of the Masters degree.

Information on graduate programs

Contact

For any specific questions, see contact information here.