Frequently Asked Questions

Most Asked Questions

Please see the Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) pages for full details.

Please see the How to apply page for full details.  

Applicants are urged to make only one application to a U of T research-stream CS program (MSc, PhD, PhD U):

• Domestic students with equivalency to a U of T honours bachelor’s degree in a closely-related field should apply to the MSc.

• International students with equivalency to a U of T honours bachelor’s degree in a closely-related field should apply to the Direct-Entry PhD (PhD U).

• Domestic and International students with a qualifying Masters in a closely –related field should apply to the PhD.

• Applicants with a Master’s in a field which is not closely related, should apply according to their qualifying bachelor’s degree to either the MSc for domestic applicants or the Direct-Entry PhD (PhD U) for international applicants

Note on international applications to the MSc in Computer Science: Due to funding regulations, international applicants with equivalency to a U of T honours bachelor’s degree in a closely related field should apply to the Direct-Entry PhD (PhD U). International applicants are not considered for the MSc in Computer Science. Completed applications to this program will not be considered for alternate programs and the application fee will not be refunded.

In all cases, the admissions committee reserves the right to make an alternative offer of admission than the program to which an applicant applies.

Visit the Student Life guide on writing a statement of purpose or the University of Toronto’s advice on writing an effective admission letter for tips on writing a statement of purpose.

Your statement of purpose should be no more than two pages in length. It should discuss your career goals, why you want to do research, the areas of research that interest you, your skills or qualifications, and any original research that you have done, including the results, their importance, your role in the research, and your role in writing any publications arising from this research. If you have specific research plans, outline them here. Be concise and use specific examples rather than vague general statements.

Include the names of any faculty members whom you are particularly interested in working with.

We offer a funding package to all of our full-time research-stream students composed of a research assistantship and teaching assistantships. Please see our Funding, Tuition Fees, and Awards page for details.

Tuition is covered by the Department for full-time admitted domestic and international students. Cost of living will vary for each student but can generally be covered with program funding. Please visit the Student Life page for further information on the costs of living in Toronto.

GRE scores are optional to include in our applications, but it is strongly recommended that applicants who completed their degree(s) outside of Canada include the scores. If you already have or are pursuing a degree from a Canadian university, you may choose to ignore this recommendation. 

Students who have completed their admitting degree outside of Canada in a language other than English will need to submit English Language Proficiency (ELP) scores. Commonly accepted tests are Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 

For TOEFL, our required score is 93 overall with a minimum score of 22 on both the Writing and Speaking sections. 

For IELTS (Academic), our required score is 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 for each component.

More information regarding English language proficiency requirements and approved tests can be found on the School of Graduate Studies website.

Unfortunately, our office cannot provide any personalized assessment. Graduate admission evaluation is performed by an admissions committee, and the committee reviews applicants within the context of all other applications in a given admission cycle. All admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are based on a composite of information that may include previous academic performance, comments from referees, relevant professional activities, proposed research statements, correspondence between research interests and available faculty expertise, and standardized test scores (if applicable). 

Yes, all components of your application will be considered. For applicants with experience in the field, it is not the amount of time spent in the field that counts, but the significance of your contribution and impact on the profession that must be presented as part of the application. Where an applicant has, for example, published relevant papers, technical reports, or patents professionally, the applicant may then be considered for non-standard admission if they can demonstrate that they have achieved qualifications at least equivalent to the stated admission requirements. 

No. During our application review, faculty supervisors make acceptances based on the applicant's statement of purpose. You will be able to select up to 8 faculty with whom you are interested in working. You are also strongly encouraged to name the faculty member(s) you are eager to work with in your statement of purpose.

Program Information 

The MSc and MScAC programs have a similar structure: students in both programs must pass four graduate half-courses as part of the degree. 

The programs differ in the following ways: MScAC students must complete an additional two half-courses in Communication for Computer Scientists and Entrepreneurship, and an eight-month internship. MSc students must carry out research culminating in a major research paper. 

If you wish to produce original research, you should consider applying to the Master of Science (MSc) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. MSc students are more likely to pursue a PhD and a career in academia or corporate research labs. 

If you wish to apply current research in real-world situations, you should consider applying to the Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) program. Most MScAC students plan to work in an applied research role within industry after they graduate; however, the MScAC program requirements are rigorous enough that graduates of the program can also pursue PhD studies.

Applications to the MSc or MScAC are not interchangeable; applicants must apply to the program for which they seek admission.

Graduate studies are offered only on an in-person "attending" basis. There is no distance education version of computer science graduate programs. Some courses are offered remotely.

Yes, it is possible to take additional time to complete the program. However, funding is guaranteed only while you are within the funding period. Students also must remain in good academic standing in the program as outlined in the department’s graduate handbook and as governed by the School of Graduate Studies’ regulations.

Yes. Students who successfully complete the MSc, including meeting the usual admission requirements for the PhD, and who have their supervisor’s support (along with grad chair approval), will normally transition into the PhD program after 17 months. Students who will be finishing their MSc in the department will be contacted by the graduate office about the specific application process for the completion of the MSc and the transition to the PhD. Students who successfully complete the MSc but who do not wish to enter the PhD program will convocate with the MSc.

Applying to the Program 

Yes, you can. You will be assigned an applicant number and password when you start the online application on the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) admissions website. If you plan to apply to both programs, you can add a second application from the payment section of the online application. You will need to provide separate supporting documentation, including referees and application fees for each program. As the two programs cater to different interests, your statements of purpose should be tailored to each program.

This is possible in certain very limited circumstances. The eligibility of transfer credits can be assessed by the department only after admission. Only graduate courses not counted towards another degree will be considered.

Initially, applicants need upload only an unofficial copy of their documents. Applicants who receive an offer must then arrange for official transcripts to be sent to the University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science, directly from the issuing institution. Either paper or electronic transcripts are acceptable as long as they are official.

Many applicants are currently enrolled in coursework at the application deadline. Admission decisions are made conditional upon receipt of final transcripts which should then show: 

• Completion of all requirements of the admitting degree with a grade point average that satisfies School of Graduate Studies minimum admission standards. 

• Degree conferral, including the degree conferral date. 

Note: If you are a previous University of Toronto student you will not be required to purchase official transcripts.

Many applicants are currently enrolled in coursework or completing other degree requirements at the application deadline. Admission decisions are made conditional upon receipt of final transcripts which should then show:

• Completion of all requirements of the admitting degree with a grade point average that satisfies School of Graduate Studies minimum admission standards.

• Degree conferral, including the degree conferral date.

Note: If you are a current or previous University of Toronto student you will not be required to purchase or submit official U of T transcripts as we will have access to them. However, we will require official transcripts from any other institution where you have registered.

Reference letters should indicate the ability of the applicant to do graduate-level research, including the applicant’s aptitude for time management and organization.

Reference letters should address previous research an applicant has done, what the applicant’s contribution was, and whether the applicant’s research has been presented at conferences or in journals, or whether the research has be accepted to a conference/journal. Please detail which conference or journals.

The reference letter should also discuss the applicant’s communication skills, both oral and written. Leadership and/or community engagement, including any teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or other relevant positions should be included.

At least two of your three referees should be able to speak to your ability to conduct independent research at the graduate level. Referees with extensive research or academic experience are preferred. 

It varies from year to year. On average, the department receives 4,000 applications across all three programs (MSc, MScAC, and PhD), with each program issuing approximately 100 offers. 

No. Our department offers only one intake per year, for Fall (September) admission. 

Yes. You may re-apply in subsequent years, keeping in mind the validity period of GRE and English proficiency test scores. It is also a good idea to keep your statement of purpose and references relevant and up to date. The application fee is required for every application. 

All requests to defer an offer of admission will be evaluated on an individual basis and require a substantive rationale.

Yes. We welcome both exchange students and visiting students to U of T in our department. Please see our ‘Visiting Students’ page to determine the status for which you qualify.

We can be reached by email at gradapplications.cs@utoronto.ca.

We regret that we cannot provide specific advice about your application or provide feedback on a refused application.

The Toronto Graduate Application Assistance Program (GAAP) is a student-run, volunteer-led program that provides feedback on application materials to MSc, PhD U, or PhD applicants from underrepresented groups. In this peer-matching program, prospective students will be matched with a current student (or recent graduate) who will provide feedback on the statement of purpose (SoP) and CV.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants who would like to apply for admission to a master's program and who do not meet the eligibility requirements may consider completing an upgrading year of study to become eligible for standard admission. Normally this would entail taking the equivalent of one full year of senior-level undergraduate courses (4–5 full courses or equivalent) with an average of at least B+. 

For applicants with experience in the field, it is not the amount of time spent in the field that counts, but the significance of your contribution and impact on the profession that must be presented as part of the application. Where an applicant has, for example, published relevant papers, technical reports, or patents professionally, the applicant may then be considered for non-standard admission if they can demonstrate that they have achieved qualifications at least equivalent to the stated admission requirements. 

Applications are considered in their totality, all components matter, and there is no specific minimum score for GREs; but while there are exceptions, successful applicants typically have GRE Quantitative scores of 167 or higher.

GRE scores are valid for five years from the date of being issued. 

No, GMAT scores will not be considered. 

Yes. We look at applications in their entirety. Where there is a strong academic rationale, an application that falls just short of the stated requirements may be considered on a case–by-case basis.

Scores more than two years old at the date of submission of the application cannot be verified and the applicant will be required to re-take an English-language proficiency test. In circumstances where scores expire shortly after the application deadline, applicants may receive a conditional offer, dependent on retaking the test prior to the start of the Fall session.

Typically, continuing studies courses are not offered as an undergraduate degree credit; hence they cannot be used to meet minimum requirements.

Graduate Funding

We ensure that all full-time MSc and PhD graduate students receive financial support to a basic level through a research assistantship and teaching assistantship stipends. This will cover costs of living and tuition.

Learn more about graduate funding.

In addition to the guaranteed funding offered to all of our students, there are numerous internal and external scholarships available.

Learn more about graduate scholarships.

International Applicants

The wait time for a study permit can vary significantly. Students who accept their offer of admission should apply for a study permit as soon as possible. Wait times may be lengthy, and, in some instances, a student may have to defer their offer of admission if a study permit does not arrive on time. To see the current average processing time, please consult Immigration Canada’s website.

All international students coming to Canada require a study permit. Details of how to apply for your study permit can be found on the Government of Canada website and the University of Toronto's Centre for International Experiences (CIE) website. 

After completing your program, you may become eligible for the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP), which will allow you to stay and gain further work experience in Canada, even if you do not have a job offer. The PGWPP will usually be issued for the length of the study program up to 3 years.

If you wish to stay in Canada and apply for permanent residency, there are also a number of other immigration programs for which you may be eligible.

Please visit the Center for International Experience’s page on PGWP to learn more.

Updates to citizenship or residency must be confirmed through the School of Graduate Studies, not the department. Once residency has been confirmed, SGS will initiate the change in student status. Permanent residents are considered to be domestic applicants. If your citizenship or residency changes from the time of application, please contact graduate.information@utoronto.ca.

Once you have been granted your study permit, your spouse or common-law partner may apply for a work permit. The work permit will be valid for the same period of time as your study permit, and no job offer is required in order to apply for this. More information on work permits for spouses and common-law partners can be found on the CIC website.

Living in Toronto 

The University of Toronto Student Life website contains information on the cost of living for graduate students. 

Students can choose from a variety of housing options both on and off campus. We encourage students to use the University of Toronto housing services.