Because of its dynamic and quickly expanding sector, computer technology has become vital to the global economy. Overseas students are increasingly interested in studying computer technology in Canada.
There are three types of master's degrees in computer science in Canada: MSc, MACS, and M.Eng. Students can complete their degree in a full-time program in 1.5- 2 years.
Students who wish to pursue a Master of Computer Science in Canada can earn CAD 40,000 - CAD 100,000 or even more after completing the degree.
The tuition fee for a Master of Computer Science in Canada for overseas students ranges from CAD 15,000 to CAD 65,000.
Some Common areas of specialization for students who pursue this degree are:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Bioinformatics
- Symbolic Computation and Computer Algebra
- Graphics on Computers
- Cryptography, Security, and Privacy
- Networking and Systems
Here, you will be able to learn everything a student needs to know about pursuing a Master of Computer Science in Canada.
Why study Master of Computer Science in Canada?
Benefits of studying Master of Computer Science in Canada:
- Canadian degrees are internationally recognized
- Canadian colleges represent diversity, and Canada provides a secure living and study environment
- Canadian institutions provide a range of programs in the discipline of computer science
- Canada pays much attention to constantly shifting industrial requirements by providing students with a robust theoretical foundation to help them comprehend the courses better.
- Computer Science is merged with other disciplines, such as Mathematics, Statistics, Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences, to improve real-world applications.
- Graduates can obtain a post-study work permit for 1-3 years
- Living costs are lower than in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia
Top Universities for Master of Computer Science (CS) in Canada
Recent economies rely on data and software. As a result, graduates in Computer Science hold high value in the global job market.
Because Canada offers recognized degrees worldwide, a CS graduate from Canada can expect a successful career. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer science employment will expand by 13% by 2026.
Top Canadian institutions that offer Master of Computer Science Courses are as follows:
Canadian universities consistently rank at the top of worldwide rankings, given the quality of education and academic excellence they offer. Some of the top universities are listed below with QS world ranking.
According to the Year 2023 QS Ranking Data, universities below rank top in Canada.
Rank (QS 2023) |
University Name |
Program |
12 |
University of Toronto |
Masters in Applied Computing (1 year 4 months)/ Masters in Information (2 years)/ MSc Computer Science (3 years) |
21 |
University of British Columbia |
Master of Science in Computer Science (MSc) (1/2 years) |
22 |
University of Waterloo |
MMath in Computer Science/ MMath in Computer Science – Quantum Information/ (MSc) (1/2 years) |
34 |
McGill University |
MSc in Computer Science (MSc) (1/2 years) |
114 |
University of Alberta |
MSc of Science in Computer Engineering (1/2 years) |
151-200 |
Simon Fraser University |
SFU-ZJU Graduate Dual Degree Program (GDDP)/ Professional Master of Science in Computer Science |
139 |
Queen’s University |
MSc of Science in Computer Engineering (1/2 years) |
251-300 |
Concordia University |
Computer Science (MCompSc) 2 yearsmildai |
201-250 |
University of Ottawa |
Master of Computer Science (MCS) |
301-350 |
McMaster University |
Master of Science (M.Sc.) 2 years |
Bachelor of Computer Science in Canada
|
Master of Computer Science in Canada: Tuition Fees for international students
Top Canadian universities that offer a Master of Computer Science in Canada Courses with ranking and fees are as follows:
University |
Course Duration |
Tuition Fee |
University of Toronto |
1/2 Years |
CAD 68500 in total |
University of British Columbia |
1/2 Years |
CAD 23000 in total |
University of Waterloo |
1/2 Years |
CAD 18500 in total |
McGill University |
1/2 Years |
CAD 18600 in total |
University of Alberta |
1/2 Years |
CAD 24000 in total |
Simon Fraser University |
1/2 Years |
CAD 55202.25 in total |
Queen’s University |
1/2 Years |
CAD 31000 in total |
Concordia University |
1/2 Years |
CAD 42000 in total |
University of Ottawa |
1/2 Years |
CAD 54310 in total |
McMaster University |
1/2 Years |
CAD 41000 in total |
Master of Computer Science in Canada: Entry Requirement
The entry requirement for admission to the Master of computer science in Canada varies with the university. Below are some universities with their requirements:
Entry Requirements for international students in Master of Computer Science:
Queen’s University
- Graduation: There is no mention of a precise cutoff date
- An undergraduate degree with a specialization in Computing Science is required, and a minimum of Second class standing or A standing for overseas students
- Grades are valid based on the previous two years.
- TOEFL: 88/120, with 24 points in writing, 22 points in speaking, 22 points in reading, and 20 points in listening
- PTE: Overall Marks 60/90
- IELTS: 6.5/9, with no band less than 6.0
Concordia University
- Qualification required: Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field with a high standing, such as engineering, science, or mathematics
English requirements:
- TOEFL: 85 with at least a 20 in each of the four components, PTE: 57 or higher and no part less than 53
- IELTS: 6.5 overall score band
University of Ottawa
- Have a bachelor's degree in computer science with honours (or similar), with a minimum grade point average of B (70 %)
- Students must complete two OCICS master's courses (taken during their Bachelor's program in Computer Science or Software Engineering) with a 70% (B) or above mark.
- Have an A- (80%) or higher entrance average.
- You should have a thesis supervisor.
English language requirements:
- TOEFL: 100 with at least a 30 in each of the four components,
- PTE: 65 or higher and no part less than 60
- IELTS: 7 overall score band
McMaster University
- Honors a bachelor's degree or its equivalent
- MASc and MSc programs: Minimum grade point average of B+, based on a full-year equivalent of final year courses (3rd/4th level) relevant to the program
- For the M.Eng. program: B- minimum average based on a full-year equivalent of final year (3rd/4th level) relevant to the program courses
English language requirements:
- IELTS: 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening); results are valid for two years.
- TOEFL/IBT: 86 overall, with a minimum of 20 in each of the four components (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening); valid for two years
- PTE: Overall score of 60, with a minimum of 60 in Writing and Speaking; valid for two years.: Overall score of 60, with a minimum of 60 in Writing and Speaking; valid for two years
University of Toronto
- Bachelor's degree requirements: A relevant undergraduate degree in computer science or a related area, such as engineering, mathematics, or statistics, is necessary.
- In the final year of study, a grade of at least B+ (U of T 77–79 per cent or 3.3/4.0) is required
- TOEFL: I scored 93/12022 on the writing and speaking portions.
- PTE Marks - 7/9 in IELTS A minimum of 6.5 for each component
University of British Columbia
- Graduation: 65% Applicants must hold a degree that is academically comparable to a UBC four-year Bachelor's degree in computer science with a First Class/Division 1 grade point average (65 %)
- Excellent (8 on a 10-point scale) or Applicants with a Bachelor's or higher degree in a comparable discipline (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Electrical Engineering, etc.) plus appropriate computer science coursework are likely to achieve this criterion
- Students must have a recognized undergraduate degree with at least 76 % (B+ grade)
English Language requirements:
- TOEFL: 100/120, 22 in reading, hearing, and writing and 21 in speaking
- IELTS: 7/9 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component
University of Waterloo
- Graduation requirements: Graduation with Distinction A bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering (or an equivalent degree) with at least a 78 percent grade point average is required
- Three references, at least two of which should be scholarly
English Language requirements:
- TOEFL: 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS: 7.5 (writing 7.0, speech 7.0) IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)
McGill University
- CGPA at graduation: 3.2/0 Bachelor's degree (four years), 3-year Bachelor's degrees from NAAC-accredited colleges, 2-year Master's degrees awarded after completing a 3-year bachelor's degree Bachelor's degrees from institutions with NAAC ratings lower than "A" or comparable
- Outstanding academic achievement: The minimal Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is 3.0 out of 4.0, or a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the previous two years of full-time studies. Admission to some departments, however, requires a greater CGPA
English Language requirements:
- TOEFL: 86/120, with at least 20 in each of the four component scores
- IELTS: 6.5/9 overall
- GRE: There is no precise cutoff for the GRE; all applicants must take the test
University of Alberta
- Graduation rate: 60% A four-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, is necessary to apply to the Master's Program (M.Sc.). The undergraduate program should be comparable to the B.Sc Specialization in Computing Science curriculum. Typically, three-year degrees do not meet university admissions requirements
- To qualify, applicants must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale over the last 20 half-courses
- The student must demonstrate knowledge comparable to completing six undergraduate
Computing Science courses in the four areas listed below:
- Computer systems and architecture, software, and applications are examples of theory
English language requirements:
- TOEFL: 100/120, with a minimum score of 20 in each section
- Marks: 68/90 for PTE
- IELTS: 7/9, with a minimum of 5.5 in each test band
Simon Fraser University
- Graduation: CGPA - 3/4: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in computer science or a related discipline, with a CGPA of at least 3.00/4.33 (B) or the equivalent
- A minimum GPA of 3.33/4.33 on the last 60 credits of undergraduate courses will also satisfy the GPA requirements for admission to the program
Prerequisites:
- Programming skills in Java, Python, and C++ are required. Programming experience and the capacity to learn new languages are required. Students interested in computer graphics, computer vision, and other related fields may not require Java or C++ but rather Matlab
- Calculus, linear algebra, and advanced statistics are all required
- Data structures and algorithms, databases, and operating systems are all covered
- English language requirements:
- TOEFL: 93/120, with a minimum of 20 in each category.
- PTE: 65/90, with a minimum of 60 in all categories.
- IELTS: 7/9, with a minimum of 6.5 in each section.
Master of Computer Science in Canada: Scholarships
Almost six universities in Canada provide direct scholarships to international students seeking a Master's degree in computer science. The scholarship amount granted by universities offering an MS in Computer Science ranges from CAD 500 to CAD 23,000.
Some colleges require an additional application besides the admission application, while others automatically evaluate students for scholarships. The following are some of Canada's most popular university-specific scholarships for overseas students.
|
Scholarship with estimated costs for Master of Computer Science in Canada
University/ Awarding Institute |
Scholarship |
Amount Offered (Approx.) |
University of Calgary |
Entrance Scholarship |
13,55,290 |
University of Waterloo |
David R. Cheriton Graduate Scholarships |
5,89,260 |
University of Manitoba |
Graduate Fellowships |
8,25,100 |
University of Northern British Columbia |
Computer Science Entrance Award |
58,950 |
UBC |
International Major Entrance Scholarships |
Varies |
Pursuing a master’s degree might be too expensive, specifically in a country as expensive as Canada. Nevertheless, there are many scholarships for international students in Canada that help ease the financial burden.
Besides scholarships, international students are even offered various forms of financial assistance. Moreover, they can work part-time or apply for loans while studying in Canada.
Scope of Master of Computer Science in Canada
With a degree in Master of Computer Science in Canada, students can pursue various job paths ranging from developer to project manager.
Some of the Jobs available for Master of Computer Science graduates in Canada are:
- Android Developer
- AI Developer
- C++ Developer
- Computer Networks Architect
- Database Analyst
- Database Administrator
- Information Security Administrator
Job Title |
Range CAD /per year (Estimated *) |
Average salary CAD /per year |
Android Developer |
CAD 20,000 – 65,000 |
CAD 64,83,780 |
AI Developer |
CAD 30,000 -85,000 |
CAD 80,75,260 |
C++ Developer |
CAD 40 – 80,000 |
CAD 71,91,120 |
Computer Networks Architect |
CAD 24 – 70,000 |
CAD 67,19,180 |
Database Analyst |
CAD 17 – 73,000. |
CAD 71,32,180 |
Database Administrator |
CAD 22 – 75,000 |
CAD 73,06,790 |
Information Security Administrator |
CAD 35 – 87,000 |
CAD 80,13,900 |
Employers are hiring a Master of Computer Science in Canada
- Prominent corporations like Amazon Canada, CGI, Scotiabank, Sterling Turner, and others hire computer science postgraduates from various Canadian universities.
- The starting pay for computer science graduates in Montreal is 49,223 USD, while 103,750 USD in Vancouver. According to a recent poll conducted by Canadian institutions, computer science graduates are the highest-paid in the country.