Admission requirements for the School of Computer Science (SoCS) programs can be found below.
Please note, we do not pre-evaluate any documents, and must receive all the required documentation before your application can be assessed. If you need further assistance, please contact our Graduate Program Assistant [1].
We strongly encourage all applicants to get in touch with prospective Graduate Faculty Advisors [2] BEFORE applying to our thesis-based MSc and PhD programs. Finding a graduate faculty research advisor is mandatory for admission and is the responsibility of the applicant. You can review SoCS faculty Areas of Research [3] to assist you in finding a suitable SoCS research advisor.
How to Apply
Please apply online at Applying to Guelph. [5]
Application Deadlines
Available spaces in our programs fill quickly, so it is in your best interest to submit your application and all required supporting documentation early.
MSc and PhD
Our application deadline dates for each semester of enrollment for domestic and international* applicants are as follows:
- Winter 2024: October 1, 2023
- Spring 2024: February 1, 2024
- Fall 2024: June 1, 2024
*We strongly encourage International applicants to apply a minimum of 9 months in advance of the semester's start date to ensure study permits can be processed in time for admission. Please see the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS) Recommendations for International Applicants [6] for suggested application timeline.
Application processing times may vary and take approximately two to three months for decision.
Master of Cybersecurity and Threat Intelligence (MCTI)
Full-time and part-time admission to the MCTI program is available in the Fall and Winter semesters only. Our application deadline dates for each semester are as follows:*.
Applications for Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 Open!
Fall 2023:
- International students: CLOSED
-
Domestic students: July 1, 2023
Winter 2024:
-
International students: August 1, 2023
- Domestic students: October 1, 2023
*We strongly encourage International applicants to apply a minimum of 9 months in advance of the semester's start date to ensure study permits can be processed in time for admission. Please see the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS) Recommendations for International Applicants [6] for suggested application timeline.
Please ensure you have all required application documentation submitted by the specified deadline, or your application will be considered incomplete.
Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements of both the University and the School of Computer Science (SoCS). For admission to the course-based Master of Cybersecurity & Threat Intelligence (MCTI) [7] program, entrants require the following:
- Four-year honors degree in computer science: Admission to the MCTI program requires a four-year honours degree in computer science or computer engineering (or related discipline), or a four-year honours degree in another discipline with a minor in computer science or computer engineering (or related discipline).
Entrants who have a four-year honours degree in another discipline and a minor (or equivalent) in computer science must have taken a minimum of 10 computer science-related courses. [8]Applicants with an honours degree in an unrelated discipline who possess proven skills and working experience in cybersecurity may be considered.
- Relevant experience: Applicants must also have relevant experience or background knowledge of Data Communication and Networking and Computer Programming.
- Minimum B average: Applicants are required to have a minimum average of 75% (B) during the previous two years of full-time university study for an accredited university undergraduate degree. For information on international degree admission requirements, please see: International Credential Evaluation [9] and select country. Admission average is calculated using the last 2 years of university-level study.
- English proficiency test: An English proficiency test [10] will be required for any applicant whose first language is not English. English Waivers will NOT be accepted.*
Please note: As this is a course-based program, a research advisor is NOT required for admission.
Availability is required to attend in-person classes during business hours, after-hours, weekends and off-campus. Use of personal laptop is also required, as per the MCTI Program Laptop Specifications. [11]
In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Requirements, the School of Computer Science (SoCS) requires all of the documentation noted on the application page [5] including:
- Academic Transcripts [12]
- A current resume or CV
- Statement of Interest detailing what you are looking to achieve with a graduate degree and what your interests are from a course or project perspective.
- Two Academic References [12]
- A test of English proficiency [13] is required of all applicants whose first language is not English. English Waivers will NOT be accepted. *
*Please note, the English test may not be more than two years old at the time of admission. The proof of English proficiency requirement may be waived ONLY in exceptional circumstances. Applicants may be eligible for an English Waiver who have conferred a degree in a country where English is the native language AND in an accredited university where English is the language of instruction (e.g. Canada, UK, USA, Australia, etc.). Graduate Admissions Committee approval is required.
- The GRE is NOT a requirement for admission
For more information regarding requirements and supporting documentation, please visit the MCTI Graduate Calendar. [14]
Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements of both the University and the School of Computer Science (SoCS). For admission to the thesis-based MSc in Computer Science [15] program, entrants require the following:
- Four-year honors degree in computer science: Admission to the MSc in Computer Science requires a four-year honours degree in computer science, or a four-year honours degree in another discipline with a minor in computer science. Entrants who have a four-year honours degree in another discipline and a minor (or equivalent) in computer science must have taken a minimum of 10 computer science-related courses. [8]
- Minimum B average: Applicants are required to have a minimum average of 75% (B) during the previous two years of full-time university study for an accredited university undergraduate degree. For information on international degree admission requirements, please see: International Credential Evaluation [9] and select country. Admission average is calculated using the last 2 years of university-level study.
- Faculty research advisor: Each MSc candidate will conduct thesis research by working closely with a chosen School of Computer Science (SoCS) faculty research advisor [2]. We strongly encourage all applicants to get in touch with prospective Graduate Faculty Advisors [2] prior to applying, as finding a SoCS research advisor is mandatory for admission into the MSc.CS program.
Finding a suitable MSc research advisor is the responsibility of the applicant. You can review SoCS faculty Areas of Research [3] to assist you in finding a suitable faculty advisor. Please also review Tips for Finding a Research Advisor [16] to assist you in communicating effectively with SoCS faculty.
- English proficiency test: An English proficiency test [10] will be required for any applicant whose first language is not English.*
In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Requirements, the School of Computer Science (SoCS) requires all of the documentation noted on the application page [5] including:
- Academic Transcripts [12]
- A current resume or CV
- Statement of Interest that lists specific computing science topics (3-5) that you wish to research and explains why these topics are of particular interest to you. This document will help us direct your application to the appropriate professor(s). Please refer to the faculty research areas [3]for specific topics. The Statement of Interest should be a maximum of one page in length.
- Two Academic References [12]
- A test of English proficiency [13] is required of all applicants whose first language is not English*
*Please note, the English test may not be more than two years old at the time of admission. The proof of English proficiency requirement may be waived in exceptional circumstances. For example, applicants may be eligible for an English Waiver who have conferred a degree in a country where English is the native language AND in an accredited university where English is the language of instruction (e.g. Canada, UK, USA, Australia, etc.). School of Computer Science Graduate Admissions Committee approval is required.
- The GRE is NOT a requirement for admission
For more information regarding requirements and supporting documentation, please visit the MSc Graduate Calendar [17].
Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements of both the University and the School of Computer Science (SoCS). For admission to the thesis-based PhD in Computer Science [18] program, entrants require the following:
- Thesis-based master's degree in computer science: Admission to the PhD program requires a recognized master’s degree in computer science (or a closely related discipline) that includes a thesis or a major independent project. Successful applicants will also demonstrate good research potential, an ability to critically evaluate experimental or theoretical results and strong communication skills. Evidence for these may be provided by scholarly publications during and/or immediately following their master's degree.
- Minimum B average: Applicants are required to have a minimum average of 75% ('B') during the previous two years of full-time university study for an accredited university graduate degree. For information on international degree admission requirements, please see: International Credential Evaluation [9] and select country. Admission average is calculated using the last 2 years of university-level study.
- Faculty research advisor: Each PhD candidate will conduct thesis research by working closely with a chosen School of Computer Science (SoCS) faculty research advisor [2], required to supervise their PhD research. We strongly encourage all applicants to get in touch with prospective Graduate Faculty Advisors [2] prior to applying, as finding a SoCS research advisor is mandatory for admission into the PhD.CS program.
You can review SoCS faculty Areas of Research [3] to assist you in finding a suitable SoCS graduate faculty research advisor. Please also review Tips for Finding a Research Advisor [4] to assist you in communicating effectively with our SoCS faculty.
- English proficiency test: An English proficiency test [10] will be required for any applicant whose first language is not English.*
In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Requirements, the School of Computer Science (SOCS) requires all of the documentation noted on the application page [5] including:
- Academic Transcripts [12]
- A current resume or CV (including publications)
- A Statement of Interest (maximum 1500 words); the applicant:
- Should describe the general area of research in which they are interested
- May also describe a specific research problem in the area and their initial ideas on how to approach it
- Should summarize the related research and refer to publications where appropriate
- Three Academic References [12]
- A test of English proficiency is required of all applicants whose first language is not English. The English language requirements for the PhD program are higher than other programs. Required scores are shown below:
- TOEFL [19] (and TOEFL Special Home Edition [20]): 100, speaking and writing 25, at least 21 in each category
- IELTS [21] (and Computer-delivered IELTS [22]): 7.0, at least 6.5 for each component
- Pearson Test of English Academic [23] (PTE-A): 60, a minimum score of 60 must be achieved in each individual component.
- Canadian Academic English Language Test [24] (CAEL): 70, writing and speaking 70, no score lower than 60
- University of Guelph English Language Certificate at the Advanced Level [25]
*Please note, the English test may not be more than two years old at the time of admission. The proof of English proficiency requirement may be waived in exceptional circumstances. For example, applicants may be eligible for an English Waiver who have conferred a degree in a country where English is the native language AND in an accredited university where English is the language of instruction (e.g. Canada, UK, USA, Australia, etc.). School of Computer Science (SoCS) Graduate Admissions Committee approval is required.
6. The GRE is NOT a requirement for admission
For more information regarding requirements and supporting documentation, please visit the PhD in Computer Science Graduate Calendar [26].
Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements of both the University and the School of Computer Science (SoCS). For admission to the thesis-based PhD in Computational Sciences [27] program, entrants require the following:
- Thesis-based master's degree: Admission to the PhD program normally requires a recognized thesis-based master’s degree. Applicants possessing a recognized course-based master's degree may be considered if the applicant demonstrates an outstanding academic record and research accomplishments through publications in scholarly journals and/or conferences.
- Minimum B average: Applicants are required to have a minimum average of 75% ('B') during the previous two years of full-time university study for an accredited university graduate degree. For information on international degree admission requirements, please see: International Credential Evaluation [9] and select country. Admission average is calculated using the last 2 years of university-level study.
- Two faculty research advisors: Each PhD candidate will conduct thesis research by working closely with two chosen faculty research advisors [2], a School of Computer Science (SoCS) advisor and an Application Discipline (AD) co-advisor, who will share equal responsibility in supervising the candidate's research. At least one of the advisors must be regular graduate faculty member at the University of Guelph. A chosen SoCS advisor and AD co-advisor must be established PRIOR to applying to the PhD.CSCI program, and must be included in the application Statement of Interest.
You can review SoCS faculty Areas of Research [3] to assist you in finding a suitable SoCS faculty research advisor. Please also review Tips for Finding a Research Advisor [4] to assist you in communicating effectively with our SoCS faculty.
- English proficiency test: An English proficiency test [10] will be required for any applicant whose first language is not English.*
In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Requirements, the School of Computer Science (SOCS) requires all of the documentation noted on the application page [5] including:
- Academic Transcripts [12]
- A current resume or CV (including publications)
- A Statement of Interest (maximum 1500 words):
- The applicant must identify their potential advisors (School of Computer Science advisor and Application Discipline advisor) and explain their choice
- They should describe the general area of research in which they are interested
- The area must be at the crossroads between computer science and another discipline (the “application discipline”) in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, etc.
- They may also describe a specific research problem in the area and their initial ideas on how to approach it
- They should clearly explain the importance and interdisciplinary nature of the area or problem
- They should summarize the related research and refer to publications where appropriate
- As an appendix (not included in the 1500-word limit):
- An applicant without a master’s or bachelor’s degree in computer science should highlight their computational knowledge and experience (e.g., computer science courses taken; use of Matlab, Mathematica, R, Maple, Weka)
- An applicant without a master’s or bachelor’s degree in the application discipline should highlight their knowledge and experience in that discipline
- The applicant should list any other reasons why they consider themselves a strong applicant
- Three Academic References [12]
- A test of English proficiency is required of all applicants whose first language is not English. The English language requirements for the PhD program are higher than other programs. Required scores are shown below:
- TOEFL [19] (and TOEFL Special Home Edition [20]): 100, speaking and writing 25, at least 21 in each category
- IELTS [21] (and Computer-delivered IELTS [22]): 7.0, at least 6.5 for each component
- Pearson Test of English Academic [23] (PTE-A): 60, a minimum score of 60 must be achieved in each individual component.
- Canadian Academic English Language Test [24] (CAEL): 70, writing and speaking 70, no score lower than 60
- University of Guelph English Language Certificate at the Advanced Level [25]
*Please note, the English test may not be more than two years old at the time of admission. The proof of English proficiency requirement may be waived in exceptional circumstances. For example, applicants may be eligible for an English Waiver who have conferred a degree in a country where English is the native language AND in an accredited university where English is the language of instruction (e.g. Canada, UK, USA, Australia, etc.). School of Computer Science Graduate Admissions Committee approval is required.
6. The GRE is NOT a requirement for admission
For more information regarding requirements and supporting documentation, please visit the PhD Graduate Calendar [28].
- Information for International Applicants [6]
- Applying for a Study Permit [29]
- International Student Experience: [30] A hub for support and advice for international students. International students and applicants are encouraged to visit this helpful resource.
- International Student Funding: The following opportunities for funding may be available to international students:
- Graduate Teaching Assistantships: [31] International Masters or PhD applicants may be eligible to receive up to two teaching assistant positions per year of study.
- Graduate Research Assistantships: [31] International Masters or PhD applicants may receive funding for collaborating with faculty supervisor(s) in current research projects.
- International Doctoral Tuition Scholarship (IDTS) [32]: International PhD applicants may be eligible to receive this scholarship upon entry to the PhD.CSCI program [27].
- PhD applicants who have obtained a Masters degree from a university outside of Canada are encouraged to supply GRE scores [33].
- GRE scores are not a requirement for MSc or PhD admissions.
- This can be GRE General and/or GRE Subject in CS.
- The test may not be more than two years old.
- For GRE our institution code is 0892 and SoCS's code is 0402
Please note, we will not be able to pre-evaluate any documents, and must receive all the required documentation before your application can be evaluated. If you need further assistance, please contact our Graduate Program Assistant [34].