M.Sc. Admission Requirements
Computing Science Students
Apply Now
Learn how to apply.
Your undergraduate program should be similar to our B.Sc. Specialization in Computing Science program.
After you are admitted to our graduate program, you may have to take some of our undergraduate courses to complete background requirements. You will be advised about your background requirements prior to registration.
Admission to the M.Sc. program is highly competitive. Students admitted to the Graduate Program are classified as follows:
Candidate for the M.Sc. Degree (thesis based)
You hold a four-year B.Sc. degree in Computing Science (or equivalent).
Qualifying or Probationary Graduate Students
Your classification is based on whether you require considerable computer science undergraduate course work before commencing graduate study, or your academic record is difficult to assess.
We rarely admit students under this category. If you lack the background in computing science, we encourage you to complete an after-degree B.Sc. program in computing science before applying.
Students from Other Disciplines
Outstanding students from other disciplines are encouraged to follow the Department approved guidelines (PDF).
Minimum Application Requirements
Undergraduate Academic Record
- A four-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, is required.
- Normally three-year degrees do not meet the university requirements.
- You must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale, over the last 20 half courses to apply.
Letters of References
- Three letters of reference are required.
- Two of the referees should hold academic positions at an institution from which you graduated.
If you lost contact with your former professors, then please contact the Department for suggestions on how to complete this requirement.
GRE Requirement
- The GRE (general) is required if you have received a degree outside of Canada.
- Successful applicants obtain a minimum score of 700 on the quantitative and 4.0 on the analytical writing section.
TOEFL Requirement
You must have a degree from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta in which the language of instruction is English.
Otherwise you must take an English Language Test. There are four possibilities:
- TOEFL minimum score = 600 paper, 250 computer based, 100 internet with a minimum score of 20 per section;
- MELAB (minimum score = 87);
- IELTS (overall band score of 7, with a score of at least 5 on each test band)
- CAEL (overall minimum score of 60 with at least 60 on each subtest).
The Department of Computing Science reserves the right to require a demonstration of English language proficiency.
Looking for a Ph.D. program?
Learn about our Ph.D. in Computing Science.
