Frequently Asked Questions
For Graduate Student Applications, Admissions and the Programs
About Applications
What is the application fee?
$ 150 CDN
When will you start accepting applications?
For students applying for the fall term of a given year, the application web site https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html will open for applications starting October 1, of the preceding year. For example, if you are applying for admission to the program for September 2025, the application submission site will open October 1, 2024.
For PhD students applying for a start in January of a given year, the application web site will open March 1 of the preceding year. For example, if a student wishes to apply for admission in January of 2025, then the web site for applications https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html would open March 1, 2024.
What is the deadline for applications from domestic students?
Masters students start programs in the fall (September) of a given year. For domestic students applying to any of the MSc programs, students must submit complete applications by July 30 of the year of the fall they wish to start. For example, a student wishing to start in September, 2025, the student must have submitted a completed application by July 30, 2025, but we recommend applying long before this date.
For domestic students applying for the PhD program, their applications must be submitted by July 30 of the year of the fall they wish to start, or by December 1 , for starting in January of the next year.
What is the deadline for applications from international students?
Masters students start programs in the fall (September) of a given year. For international students applying to any of the MSc programs, students must submit complete applications by February 15 of the year of the fall they wish to start. For example, a student wishing to start in September, 2025, the student must have submitted a completed application by February 15, 2025.
For international students applying for the PhD program, their applications must be submitted by February 15 of the year of the fall they wish to start, or by October 1, for starting in January of the next year.
Do I need to have a supervisor before I apply for the MSc Thesis or MSc Project programs?
You do not need to have identified a supervisor before you apply. Faculty are notified of completed applications and can review any of the completed applications. You are welcome to contact a faculty member as a potential supervisor after you have applied so that they can look for your application.
Do I need to have a supervisor before I apply for the MSc Coursework program?
Coursework students do not have a supervisor.
Can I apply if I have not completed my bachelor degree and therefore do not have final transcripts yet?
You can submit the most recent version of your transcripts with your application and can be accepted before you complete your current degree. You will have to eventually submit your final original transcripts if you are accepted into the program.
Can I be exempted from submitting an English language test score if my education has been taught in English?
Applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL, IELTS or test of English proficiency requirement if they have at least two full-time years of post-secondary education in an English speaking institution which is located in a country whose primary language is English
The list of eligible countries is as follows: Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Eswatini, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
About Admissions
What are the minimum requirements for admission?The minimum requirements for Admission to the PhD program are:
- An MSc in Computer Science or related discipline;
- A minimum of 75% (or GPA of 3:00/4:00 ) in their MSc program;
- Minimum proficiency level in a accepted test of English Language (see below)
The minimum requirements for Admission to the MSc programs are:
- An Honours BSc in Computer Science or related discipline;
- A minimum of 75% (GPA of 3:00/4:00) in their BSc program;
- Minimum proficiency level in a accepted test of English Language (see below)
The minimum proficiency levels for an accepted test of English Language are:
- TOEFL: A score of at least 92 with a minimum score of 20 in each section.
- IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each section.
The minimum requirements are just that – the minimums. Generally, there are many students that apply that have the minimum requirements and students that are accepted usually far exceed the minimum requirements.
Can I use professional references if academic references are not available?
Yes you can use a manager/department head from your place of employment if academic references are not available.
Faculty are notified of completed applications every couple of weeks starting in January of the year in which they would accept students. For example, students applying for admission in September 2025, faculty could begin reviewing applications in January 2025; when they begin their actual reviews is up to them.
Faculty can begin reviewing student applications at that time and usually review applications on an ongoing basis. Acceptance is strictly up to the individual faculty member. When a faculty member has decided to accept a student, the Graduate Program Assistant is notified and an offer of admission is prepared and sent to the student. We urge faculty members to select their students by April 30 th for admission in the fall (September) of the same year. Occasionally it takes a bit longer depending on the number of applications received and the schedules of the faculty members. Sometime after April 30th, students will be notified that they have not been accepted.
When will Coursework applications be reviewed?Coursework applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Executive Committee on an ongoing basis. Final decisions will also be made on an ongoing basis but normally not until March or April of the year of the program start (September).
About the Programs
What is the duration of a typical course based Program?
A course-based program can be completed in 4 terms.
Are there any internships or co-op opportunities available during graduate studies?
The Department of Computer Science does not offer any internships or co-ops associated with the PhD or Masters programs. Many faculty do work with industry on research projects and as part of those projects there is funding from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) or MITACS ( https://www.mitacs.ca/) for funding internships and co-ops for graduate students. More generally, the University’s Student Experience Centre ( http://studentexperience.uwo.ca/leadershiplearning/) does offer career development and does have opportunities for graduate students to engage in internships and co-ops but these are not part of the programs in Computer Science. The Student Experience Center will work with the student, their supervisors and Departments on whether such opportunities fit with the student’s program.
Are course-based Masters students eligible for Teaching Assistant opportunities?
If there is a need for extra TA’s during a certain term, course-based students will be given the opportunity if they should want it.
After the completion of the MS CS program are we eligible for a postgraduate study permit? If yes how many years?
According to the Government of Canada website, you will receive a work permit for up to the same length of time as your study program, however we have students who do receive a 3 year work permit.
Is it possible to covert a course-based master program to a research project or thesis option?
If you are able to secure a supervisor from our department after you begin your program, there is a possibility of switching to the thesis program if the Graduate Executive Committee agrees.
Is there a Masters program in Data Analytics?
There is Masters of Data Analytics Program which is offered by the Faculty of Science; it is a Professional Program that has its own admission process; see https://www.uwo.ca/mda/ .
What is the difference between an MSc Computer Science in “Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Computer-based Games” field of research and the MSc in Computer with the Collaborative Specialization in Artificial Intelligence (CSAI)?
The “fields of research” represent areas of interest for certain faculty members in our Department. A student can express interest in a particular “field” for those students interested in the MSc (Thesis) and MSc (Project) programs; this can help faculty look at applications of students with interests in a particular field. The “field of research” is not relevant to students choosing to do a Course-based MSc; they can take courses across any number of areas.
The CSAI is a collection of courses that a student can take regardless of their particular “field of research”. The courses provide a student with a set of courses dealing with aspects of Artificial Intelligence but their individual research can be any area. Their thesis or project must have some element of Artificial Intelligence within it in order to qualify for the CSAI. The length of the program is typically the same as the regular MSc Thesis or MSc Project, though may be longer depending on the nature of the thesis or project that the student is working on. For more information visit: Vector Institute Program page
