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How to Apply

Admission requirementsÌý

To be considered for a graduate program within the Faculty of Computer Science, all applicants must have the equivalent of a four-year undergraduate university degree, a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, and meet the following program-specific admission requirements. Visit theÌýFaculty of Graduate StudiesÌý(FGS) for full details on admissions for graduate students at аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±.

The deadlines stated permit applicants to begin their studies on time, allowing sufficient time for processing both the academic application, and the subsequent study permit process if an international student.Ìý If the application is not complete by the deadline stated, we will process it for the next intake.

Master of Applied Computer Science (MACS)

Please note, applications received after the deadline stated below may not be considered for the term applied for. Any applications received by the deadline must be complete to be considered, which means that all components of the application must be received by the deadline, including but not limited to unofficial transcripts, reference letters, language test scores for international students, etc. 

  • At a minimum, applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in technical courses and a four-year undergraduate degree.
  • Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our second-year core computer science . If applying from a non-CS background, qualifying year courses may be necessary.
  • Applicants who have been away from academia for a few years should demonstrate industry experience that has maintained or improved their technical skills.
  • Please note
    • MACS applicants are required to complete an admissions interview
    • If you are invited to an admissions interview and do not respond to a scheduling request within 1 month, your application can be closed.

Master of Computer Science (MCS)

  • Applicants must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) among their technical courses and a four-year undergraduate degree in computer science or a related technical discipline. Applicants with a GPA at or below 3.4 generally need a connection with a faculty member or need relevant industry experience for their application to succeed.
  • Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

Master of Digital Innovation (MDI)

  • Applicants can have an undergraduate degree or graduate degree in a diverse range of disciplines including computer science, business, law, health, or other related programs. We will also consider a combination of education and relevant work experience.
  • Courses in introductory programming are recommended but not required.
  • Please note: The MDI program has a single annual intake starting in September. Please follow the application deadlines for September.

PhD in Computer Science

  • Applicants must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) in a master's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
  • Applicants should provide evidence of research experience, such as publications and thesis summaries.
  • Applicants will only be admitted with the support of a supervisor. We encourage applicants to identify and connect with faculty members before applying to the program.
  • Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

PhD in Computer Science, Post-Bachelor

A PhD, Post Bachelor is reserved for outstanding graduates of a four-year program with demonstrated research experience and/or excellent research potential.

  • Students must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) in Computer Science or a related technical discipline. 
  • Applicants should provide evidence of research experience, such as publications and thesis summaries.
  • Applicants will only be admitted with the support of a supervisor. We encourage applicants to identify and connect with faculty members before applying to the program.
  • Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

Master of Science in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBBI)

· Must have a four-year undergraduate degree

· A research proposal - We hope to gain insight into the research potential of the candidate through the research proposal. Notably, we are seeking to find out what kind of research interests the student; how they structure their thoughts; what curiosity, independence, or background they bring to bear; and whether there is a reasonable expectation of finding a fit with a supervisor within the faculty. The student is not bound to follow on the research proposal as their thesis. The curriculum vitae lets us assess non-academic aspects of the student that could offset perceived shortcomings of the application, such as poorer course performance or potential knowledge gaps on the transcripts.

· The applicant must have past research experience, typically an Honours degree but also potentially fulfilled through research internships or other experiences.

· The applicant must have an identified supervisor who is willing and able to fund them.

A key objective of the CBBI program is to allow students to work with supervisors in a discipline that is different from the prospective student’s degree. Minimum requirements must be met under all circumstances, but it is the responsibility of the prospective supervisor to decide on the student’s suitability. The funding requirement ensures that the supervisor has a significant stake in the student’s success.

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Application process

Applications are a three-stage process.

1. Submit your online Graduate Studies Application

We recommended that you first type the required information into a text file and copy and paste it into the online application form.

  • Supporting documents include:
    • 2 reference letters:
      • You must enter the university, college or comapny email address of your academic referee in your online application. Once your application has been submitted, your academic referee will receive an email within one week requesting that they submit their reference letter online. If your referees are unable to submit through that system, we can accept letters through graduate@cs.dal.ca. Please ensure that the letters meet at least two of the following three requirements:
      • The letter should be sent from a university/college or company email address.
      • The letter should be written on an official letterhead.
      • The letter should be signed by the referee.
        For more details see Reference Letters on the FGS website.
    • Application fee of $115

Additionally, kindly ask your referees to include your Banner ID in the subject line of the email.

2. Complete the application in the Faculty of Computer Science GradApp System

Complete the application in the :

  • You will receive an email (5-7 business days) after you apply and pay your application fee with a username and password to log on to the  to submit your supporting documents.
  •  The supporting documents include:
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • Research proposal (MCS, PhD and CBBI programs) or statement of intent (MACS and MDI)
    • Worksheet of computer science course equivalents (waived for MDI applicants – please upload a blank document to move our application forward)
    • English test report, for international students
    • Unofficial transcript for each post-secondary institution that you have attended (if there are transfer credits on any transcripts please include those with your application)
  • Your application will not be reviewed until all documents are uploaded in the 
  • Applications that remain incomplete for more than 2 months can be closed. Applications that have the applicant’s supporting documents but not their reference letters are considered incomplete.

 

3. Electronic copies of additional supporting materials

Electronic copies of additional supporting material are accepted as follows:

Official transcripts:

  • Please review the information on when and how to submit official transcripts on the FGS webpage.
  • Hard copies are not required by the Faculty of Computer Science. They are required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies within 90 days of your admission. 
  • Official transcripts from аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± are not required.

Official English Proficiency test score (for international students):

  • Your unofficial English test score can be uploaded as part of your document upload. We can confirm directly for verification purposes. The applicant must ask their testing centre to make their results available to аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±. Students will not be able to register for classes until their scores are verified. English Language Score providers can email the results to graduate.studies@dal.ca.

If your application has been rejected during the current admission cycle, you may consider taking a year to improve your application before reapplying.

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Application deadlines

Applications received by the deadline must be complete and include your unofficial transcript to be considered for the admission specified. By complete application packages, we mean all components of the application must be received by the deadline, including transcripts, reference let