University of Alberta Scholarship for undergraduate, graduate and PhD for all applicants across the world Apply Now

 

Graduate Application Process: Step by Step

Applying to a UAlberta graduate program involves three basic steps.

You should begin the process as early as a year before you wish to begin your program of study.

Step 1: Choose Your Graduate Program

View the Graduate Programs page to search for program information.

Step 2: Review Graduate Admissions Requirements and Contact the Department

The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) has general admissions requirements for all applicants. Visit the department's website to review your program's specific requirements and contact the department if you have any questions. (Note: You can access the department’s website via the program page hosted on this site; each page provides preliminary information and a link to the department site, located at the bottom of the page under “Contact.”) This step is critical because requirements and deadlines vary by program.

If you are applying for a thesis-based program, please note that some programs require you to identify a potential supervisor before applying.

For information regarding FGSR's general admission requirements please refer to the Canadian Admissions Protocol or International Admissions Protocol.

Refer to the Office of the Registrar if you intend to apply for the following undergraduate programs:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Juris Doctor (JD)
  
  

Step 3: Prepare and Apply Online

Ensure that you have at least an hour to complete the online application. We recommend using the latest version of these browsers for the Graduate Application: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari.

The application requires digital copies (PDF - view instructions) of official documents. The documents are considered "unofficial" and will be used for the initial evaluation of the application.

Supporting documents may include the following:

• Application Requirements for Academic Documents (transcripts, degree certificates, marksheets)
• English Language Proficiency scores such as IELTS, Pearson, TOEFL, etc. (if applicable)
• Additional requirements might include:
  • CV, statement of intent, writing samples
  • GRE, GMAT, other test scores
  • References:
  • Will require the name of referees, title and email addresses.
  • An email with a secure link will only be sent to your referees after you submit and pay for your application.
  • Reference letters need to be in PDF and must be on your referees institution's or company's official letterhead or it will not be accepted.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that references and all required documents are received by the application deadline or the application will not be considered for admission.

A $100 CAD non-refundable applications fee is required. Payments can be made using a valid credit card only, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card. The application fee is waived for those whose citizenship, mailing address and their home address is from one of the following countries.

Our Application form requires the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. We recommend clearing your browser cache before initiating our application form.

Apply Now

important note: Application deadlines and other content on this page may be subject to updates. For current deadlines and updated versions of all information on this page, be sure to contact the department/program or access their website (see below).

Scholarships and Awards

General

The Computing Science Department offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in major areas of study, including Advanced Man-Machine Interfaces, Algorithmics, Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics, Communication Networks, Computer Games, Computer Graphics, Computer Vision and Multimedia Communications, Database Systems, Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Robotics, Software Engineering, Software Systems and Statistical Machine Learning.

The offered MSc programs are: a standard MSc in Computing Science, an MSc in Computing Science with specialization in Statistical Machine Learning and an MSc in Computing Science with specialization in Multimedia. The standard MSc in Computing Science is offered as a thesis-based program, as well as course-based program; the MSc in Computing Science with specialization in Statistical Machine Learning is offered as a thesis-based program; the MSc in Computing Science with specialization in Multimedia is offered as a course-based program.

The offered PhD programs are: a standard PhD in Computing Science and a program leading to a PhD in Computing Science with specialization in Statistical Machine Learning.

Further information may be obtained from the Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Computing Science.

Entrance

For all programs EXCEPT the MSc (course-based) with a specialization in Multimedia:

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Applicants for the MSc degree in Computing Science should have a four-year undergraduate degree or the equivalent from a recognized university, with adequate background in computing science and mathematics.

There is no direct admission to the MSc with a specialization in Statistical Machine Learning. Applicants wishing to pursue this program should apply to the thesis-based MSc; they may apply to transfer to the SML program after one or two terms of study provided a supervisor is found.

Applicants for the PhD in Computing Science must have an MSc degree in Computing Science or a related field.

Exceptionally qualified applicants having the equivalent of a First-Class Honors BSc degree may be admitted directly to the PhD program.

MSc candidates who perform especially well in their first session (eight months) of studies, may apply to change program category into the PhD program after two terms of study.

All applicants must have an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last ★60 of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.

Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement). Any one of the following is acceptable:

• a minimum TOEFL score of 100 with a minimum score of 21 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based), or equivalent
• a minimum of 6.0 on each band on the IELTS with an overall minimum score of 7.0,
• a minimum overall score of 70 on the CAEL with at least 60 on each subtest
• a minimum overall score of 68 on the PTE.

In addition, the Department of Computing Science reserves the right to require a demonstration of English language proficiency.

Applicants must also submit three letters of reference and a CV.

Applicants to a thesis-based MSc are required to select a research area and name up to three professors as potential supervisors.

Applicants to a PhD are required to submit a statement of purpose, the abstract of their MSc thesis, and the names of up to three professors as potential supervisors. PhD students will only be admitted if a professor agrees to be their supervisor.

A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional but highly recommended for non-Canadian applicants, as well as Canadian applicants with a degree from a non-Canadian university. The GRE is also recommended for students with backgrounds unrelated to Computing Science. The examinations should be written early enough so that scores will be available by the application deadline.

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