Thank you for your interest in our Computer Science Graduate programs.

The Computer Science Department at Memorial University offers the following degrees

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
• Master of Science (M.Sc.)

For information on specific admission requirements and programs at the Masters' level, please go to: https://www.mun.ca/computerscience/grad/masters.php

For information on admission requirements at the PhD level, please go to: https://www.mun.ca/computerscience/grad/doctoral.php

To be admitted in the thesis programs, you must find a supervisor. Due to the very large number of applications, you must find a supervisor yourself. To do this, you can look into the CS directory. The list of faculty members is here:

https://www.mun.ca/computerscience/people/

When you click on each person, you will find their research interests.
For your convenience, this other page summarizes their research interests too:
https://www.mun.ca/computerscience/research/
If they match with yours, you can try contacting them, and ask them if they are willing to take you as a graduate student. The decision on whether they are willing to take you depends on the Professor who decides to supervise you, and on whether they have the funds to support your program of studies.

Usually, if a faculty member decides to be your supervisor, you are granted admission into the thesis stream in one or two weeks after the application deadline. Only a handful of thesis supervisors with their own funding can offer funding to admit students. This makes it hard to get admission to the thesis-based stream, unless you have your own funding, which could be a government or institutional grant.

When funding is offered in CS, the usual amounts are those shown here:
https://www.mun.ca/become/graduate/programs/computer.php

We only recommend you to apply for the thesis-based routes if you have secured a supervisor by the time you file your application. If you have not secured a funding supervisor by the application submission deadline, or you are interested in the going through the thesis route with your own funds, we recommend you to apply to our course-based Masters and follow the path explained in the next section.

Self-Funded Applicants

Self-funded students receiving formal institutional or governmental funding from their home countries can apply directly to the thesis-based programs.

There is no direct path for applicants interested in entering in the thesis-based Masters program as a privately self-funded student. The path for applicants interested in the thesis-based Masters program as a self-funded student, is to apply for admission to the course-based Masters, complete the first two semesters in that route, achieve a good average (75% or higher) in the first 4 courses taken in the program, and secure a thesis supervisor who is willing to endorse the switch to the thesis-based route.

Course-based route applicants, including programs with special fees,  do not need to find a supervisor.  However, they must count with their own funding (be self-funded). All applicants must submit their transcripts and CV at the time of admission for consideration.

Fees 

If you are wondering about fees, fees are discussed between you and SGS (email gradapply@mun.ca). There are two or three payment plans currently. Those are available under the following link:
https://www.mun.ca/finance/fees/tuition_fees/grad.php

Application Procedure

You would need to apply to our program online, and directly to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). For details see here. Please follow their website, and email gradapply@mun.ca if you have questions regarding the application process.

Master program applicants must identify the correct program on their application. Thesis-based applicants are required to submit two or more letters of reference from an academic supervisor (academic reference), such as a thesis-supervisor or a university professor who has taught the student. Course-based route applicants are required to submit at least one reference from an academic supervisor (academic reference), whereas the second reference can be either academic or industrial (a former employer, referring to work in the IT sector). All applicants are required to include their Curriculum Vitae (CV)

When filling your application online, in the section Statement of Interest, part e) Indicate your sub-specialty area, you can select from the areas listed here. You can opt for a maximum of 3 areas. Supervisors may choose students based on their research preferences. 

Admission Deadlines

If you are applying between May 2nd and December 1st of any given year, admissions are open for the Fall term of the next year, whereas if you are applying between December 2nd and May 1st, admissions are open for the Winter term of the next year

https://www.mun.ca/become/graduate/apply/app_deadlines.php

Admission to the Ph.D. and M.Sc. (thesis-based routes) programs is usually granted for the Fall term mainly (to start in September). The review of applications by the Graduate Studies Comittee begins after the submission deadline (there is no preference for applications made much before the deadline); those applicantions that are deemed acceptable are then displayed for viewing by potential supervisors. Complete applications (including transcripts, reference letters, etc.) should reach the School of Graduate Studies by the 1st of December (Fall intake) to guarantee consideration. Incomplete applications are usually deferred to the next intake deadline. In exceptional circumstances (e.g., application endorsed by a prospective supervisor), a decision can be made outside the specified time period and admission granted for the Winter or Spring terms. In all cases, as admission decisions are contingent on a faculy member deciding to supervise an applicant, thesis-based applicants are strongly encouranged to contact potential supervisors sharing their research interests even before an application has been made.  Truly exceptional students with a completed Bachelor degree (but not a M.Sc. degree) have the option of fast-tracking into the Ph.D. program. Such students must apply to our thesis based M.Sc. program. After demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Department their ability to pursue research at the Doctoral level, they may be transferred into the Ph.D. program (after a minimum of 12 months) without completing the Masters degree. If you are interested in this option, please indicate your preference to your potential supervisor.

Admission to the M.Sc. (course-based route) program is granted for the Fall (starting in September) or Winter (starting in January) terms only . Master programs with special fees only have a single intake each year (Fall intake)  The review of applications begins after the submission deadline.  Complete applications (including transcripts, reference letters, etc.) should reach the School of Graduate Studies by the 1st of December (Fall intake) or the 1st of May (Winter intake) to guarantee consideration.

Notification Deadlines

In Computer Science, thesis-based applicants are notified of admission shortly after they have found a funding supervisor. Thus, it is recommended that thesis-route applicants attempt to secure a supervisor as early as possible. In most cases, only professors who have funding or open positions will respond to thesis-based applicants.

Due to the large volume of applications, CS applications take a bit longer to be processed. The notification deadline for the course-based and thesis-based applicants who have not secured a supervisor is about 4 months and two weeks after the application deadline.

The admission decision is communicated to applicants in writing by the School of Graduate Studies by the notification deadlines and the department does not provide information about the status of the application before that. Typically, applicants will be notified about the admission decision shorthly after the 15th of April (Fall intake notification deadline) or the 15th of September (Winter intake notification deadline).

If you have further questions about the Computer Science admissions requirements, please email cs-gradapply (at) mun (dot) ca. 

If you have questions about how to file an admission through the SGS website, including how to submit documents such as proof of English proficiency, letters of reference, transcripts, payments and fees, please email Memorial's School of Graduate Studies using  gradapply (at) mun (dot) ca.

GRE

Submitting the GRE is not required at all. However, outstanding GRE results are like a letter of recommendation. Although the GRE is not a requirement, Computer Science applicants who have GRE results at hand are encouraged to submit their results to make their application stronger.

English Proficiency

All graduate applicants need to present proof of English proficiency. Fortunately, there are many ways to demonstrate your English proficiency.

The information you need to submit is shown here, under "Proof of English proficiency":
https://www.mun.ca/become/graduate/apply/ 

And the regulations are in article 4.1.5 of the Calendar:
https://www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=GRAD-0015 

Where we may accept applications with the minimum English program requirements, please note that we give preference to applicants who submit IELTS or TOEFL results, and who meet the higher English proficiency requirements noted under under "Proof of English proficiency (Grad Proof of English Proficiency)". If you are submitting from overseas, and your transcript or degree confirmation do not explicitly say that the language of instruction at your University is English, an official letter from the Registrar's Office of your University must be provided explicitly stating the degree awarded and that the medium of instruction was exclusively English.

Regulations

The actual differences between the masters programs are found here, in the regulations of the University Calendar:
https://www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=GRAD-0263

The actual regulations for the PhD program are found under this link:

https://www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=GRAD-0362