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Master of Science (MSc)

The MSc program is designed to deepen students' knowledge of computer science and to introduce them to conducting independent, original research in the field under the guidance of a faculty member.

Program Overview

Program requirements: 

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete 2.0 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs) in computer science. The courses must satisfy a breadth requirement to ensure a broad and well-balanced knowledge of computer science.

  • A major research project (CSC4000Y) demonstrating the student's ability to do independent work in organizing existing concepts and in suggesting and developing new approaches to solving problems in a research area. The standard for this paper is that it could reasonably be submitted for peer-reviewed publication.



Program Length: 4 academic sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: Fall / Winter / Summer / Fall) 
Guaranteed Funding Period: 17 months



Research Areas

Faculty members of the Department of Computer Science offer supervision in a wide range of topics in computer science.



Supervisor 

All MSc students are assigned a supervisor or research group based on the research interests indicated in their application. Supervisors advise on course and research topic selection and provide continuing help during the student’s research. 

 

Funding, Awards, and Tuition

We offer a funding package to all of our full-time MSc students. The package is composed of a research assistantship and teaching assistantships. This provides funding for the costs of living and for the cost of tuition. Applicants are automatically considered for entrance awards and are encouraged to apply for external awards for which they are eligible. 

Visit our Funding, Tuition Fees, and Awards page for more information.

 

Admission Requirements

Applications are evaluated in their totality: grades, statement of purpose, letters of reference, and any supplementary information submitted are all taken into account.
Admission decisions are made in the context of all other applications in the same admission cycle. For this reason, the graduate office and individual faculty cannot respond to requests for evaluation of applications in isolation. Admission to our graduate programs is very competitive and meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission: only 5–10% of applicants receive an offer of admission. 



Non-Canadian Degree Equivalencies 

For information on degree equivalencies, please use the School of Graduate Studies’ International Credentials Equivalencies Tool.

We do not require a third-party credential evaluation assessment, such as WES. 



Applicants without a prior degree in Computer Science 

It is possible to gain admission to our graduate programs with an undergraduate degree in a field other than computer science. All successful applicants, however, must have a background in basic university-level mathematics and sufficient experience in computer science. Specifically, we look for: 

  • second-year courses in calculus, linear algebra, and probability; 

  • a third- or fourth-year course in algorithm design and analysis; and 

  • a third- or fourth-year course in computer systems, e.g., operating systems, database systems, computer architecture, or computer networks. 



GRE Test Scores 

Applicants who do not have a Canadian university degree are encouraged, but not required, to submit scores from the GRE General Test. 

GRE institution code: 0982 
U of T computer science code: 0402



International Applicants

International applicants considering applying to graduate programs in Computer Science are strongly encouraged to apply to either the Master of Science in Applied Computing or the Direct-Entry PhD Program.

International applicants are not considered for the MSc in Computer Science.



Application Process

Applications may be made for September entry each year.

Applications for Fall 2025 are closed. Applications for Fall 2026 will open in October 2025.

Learn more about the application process.



Peer-matching program for applicants from underrepresented groups

The Toronto Graduate Application Assistance Program (GAAP) is a student-run, volunteer-led program that provides feedback on application materials to applicants from underrepresented groups applying to our thesis-based programs. 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.



Questions? 

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page to get answers to common questions. For questions not answered in the FAQ page, contact the Graduate Office by email at gradapplications.cs@utoronto.ca.