M.Sc. (Computer Science, thesis)
The Thesis route is the default program for research-oriented applicants and is meant for students interested in working on a research project under the supervision of a thesis supervisor (a faculty member of the Department). Students in the thesis route are selected on the basis of academic excellence and can only be admitted after they have secured funding from a thesis supervisor, a government agency (such as NSERC), another academic institution on their home country, or a Canadian company, but not through personal or family funds.
The thesis Master’s program in Computer Science is a two- to three-year program intended for students who wish to further develop their knowledge in Computer Science by doing research in a field of Computer Science that is of common interest between the student and the supervisor, such as Computational Theory, Algorithms, Virtual Reality, Data Science, or Human-computer Interaction. Students in this program are expected to have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, or a similar degree in a related field, such as computer engineering, information technology (IT), and other computing-related sciences.
The program requires the completion of 5 courses, including a course in Research Methods in Computer Science (COMP690A/B), and allows for up to two CS-related electives, which are all selected in agreement with the thesis supervisor. The program distinguishes itself from the non-thesis options by providing a stronger focus on research. Graduates of this program are ideally positioned to continue towards a Ph.D. in Computer Science, but the majority of graduates integrates into the IT workforce in Canada and abroad. This program does not have special fees on top of tuition, and there is no co-op/work term component, or supervisory funding. However, applicants in this route will become eligible for Teaching Assistantships, programs such as GradSWEP, applied research scholarship opportunities (such as MITACS), and will be able to work in or outside of Memorial University within the limits of their study permit.