Faculty of Computer Science

How to Apply

Ready to take the next step toward your graduate studies in computer science?

Whether you're interested in advancing your career, developing expertise in emerging technologies, or pursuing impactful research, our graduate programs can help you achieve your goals. This page outlines admission requirements, supporting documents, application steps, and important deadlines to guide you through the application process.

Admission requirements

To be considered for a graduate program with the Faculty of Computer Science, all applicants must have the equivalent of a four-year undergraduate university degree, a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, and meet program-specific admission requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) for full details on admissions for graduate students at Dalhousie University.

The deadlines stated permit applicants to begin their studies on time, allowing sufficient time for the university to process the academic application, as well as the government to process requests for study permits required by inernational students. If the application is completed after the deadline, it will continue to be processed but potentially with a change to the intake date.

Master of Applied Computer Science (MACS)

MACS Program

Please note, applications received after the deadline stated below may not be considered for the term applied for. Any applications received by the deadline must be complete to be considered, which means that all components of the application must be received by the deadline, including but not limited to unofficial transcripts, reference letters, language test scores for international students, etc.

At a minimum, applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in technical courses and a four-year undergraduate degree.
Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our second-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum. If applying from a non-CS background, qualifying year courses may be necessary.
Applicants who have been away from academia for a few years should demonstrate industry experience that has maintained or improved their technical skills.
Please note:
- MACS applicants are required to complete an admissions interview
- If you are invited to an admissions interview and do not respond to a scheduling request within 1 month, your application can be closed.

Master of Computer Science (MCS)

Master of Computer Science

Applicants must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) among their technical courses and a four-year undergraduate degree in computer science or a related technical discipline. Applicants with a GPA at or below 3.4 generally need a connection with a faculty member or need relevant industry experience for their application to succeed.

Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

Master of Digital Innovation (MDI)

Master of Digital Innovation

Applicants can have an undergraduate degree or graduate degree in a diverse range of disciplines including computer science, business, law, health, or other related programs. We will also consider a combination of education and relevant work experience.
Courses in introductory programming are recommended but not required.
Please note: The MDI program has a single annual intake starting in September. Please follow the application deadlines for September.

PhD in Computer Science

PhD Computer Science

Applicants must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) in a master's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
Applicants should provide evidence of research experience, such as publications and thesis summaries.
Applicants will only be admitted with the support of a supervisor. We encourage applicants to identify and connect with faculty members before applying to the program.
Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

PhD in Computer Science, Post-Bachelor

A PhD, Post Bachelor is reserved for outstanding graduates of a four-year program with demonstrated research experience and/or excellent research potential.

Students must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
Applicants should provide evidence of research experience, such as publications and thesis summaries.
Applicants will only be admitted with the support of a supervisor. We encourage applicants to identify and connect with faculty members before applying to the program.
Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

Master of Science in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBBI)

CBBI Program Requirements

· Must have a four-year undergraduate degree

· A research proposal - We hope to gain insight into the research potential of the candidate through the research proposal. Notably, we are seeking to find out what kind of research interests the student; how they structure their thoughts; what curiosity, independence, or background they bring to bear; and whether there is a reasonable expectation of finding a fit with a supervisor within the faculty. The student is not bound to follow on the research proposal as their thesis. The curriculum vitae lets us assess non-academic aspects of the student that could offset perceived shortcomings of the application, such as poorer course performance or potential knowledge gaps on the transcripts.

· The applicant must have past research experience, typically an Honours degree but also potentially fulfilled through research internships or other experiences.

· The applicant must have an identified supervisor who is willing and able to fund them.

A key objective of the CBBI program is to allow students to work with supervisors in a discipline that is different from the prospective student’s degree. Minimum requirements must be met under all circumstances, but it is the responsibility of the prospective supervisor to decide on the student’s suitability. The funding requirement ensures that the supervisor has a significant stake in the student’s success.

Application process

Step 1: Start Your Application

Complete the online Graduate Studies Application

Step 2: Upload Your Supporting Documents

Supporting documents are submitted online and include:

Unofficial transcripts for each post-secondary institution that you have attended (the unofficial transcript of any transfer credit grades must be uploaded also)
Proof of English language proficiency (international students)
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research proposal (required for MCS, PhD and CBBI programs)
Statement of intent (required for MACS and MDI)

Step 3: Arrange Reference Letters

2 reference letters:

You must enter the university, college or company email address of your academic referee in your online application. Once your application is submitted, they will receive instructions to upload their letter. We can accept letters offline via email graduate@cs.dal.ca. Kindly ask your referees to email and sign the letter.

Please ensure that the letters meet at least one of the following two requirements:

The letter should be sent from a university/college or company email address.
The letter should be written on an official letterhead.

For more details see Reference Letters on the FGS website.

Step 4: Pay Application Fee

Application fee of $115

If your application has been rejected during the current admission cycle, you may consider taking a year to improve your application before reapplying.

If you are a Dalhousie graduate please email graduate@cs.dal.ca once you have submitted your application.

Application deadlines

Applications received by the deadline must be complete and include your unofficial transcript to be considered for the admission specified. By complete application packages, we mean all components of the application must be received by the deadline, including transcripts, reference letters, language test scores for international students, etc.

Deadlines for applications from Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents	September admission	January admission	May admission
Master of Applied Computer Science	June 1	October 1	February 28
Master of Computer Science	June 1	October 1	N/A
PhD	June 1	October 1	February 28*
Master of Digital Innovation	June 1	N/A	N/A

Deadlines for international applications	September admission	January admission	May admission
Master of Applied Computer Science	April 1	August 1	January 15
Master of Computer Science	April 1	August 1	N/A
PhD	April 1	August 1	December 31*
Master of Digital Innovation	April 1	N/A	N/A

Important Notes

There is only September admission for the Master of Digital Innovation.
*Summer admissions to research-based graduate programs are by special arrangement only.
Admission for the Master of Applied Computer Science (MACS) for May is not offered for students required to take CSCI 5990. This course is offered in the Fall semester only.

Deferral Requests

The Faculty of Computer Science will consider only one deferral request per student.

Requests should be submitted to graduate@cs.dal.ca by:

Fall term (beginning September): deadline is August 18
Winter term (beginning January): deadline is December 18
Summer term (beginning May): deadline is April 18

Additional information for international students

Select International GPA Equivalencies (*Applications from top 30 Chinese universties will use Dalhousie's GPA conversion)
Permanent Residents of Canada - Must show proof of residency. International fees will be charged if proof is not provided.
International Student & Exchange Services

Not Sure Which Program is right for You?: Explore our graduate programs or connect with our Graduate Recruitment Team for personalized guidance before submitting your application. Questions? Our Graduate Recruitment Team is here to help. Email: cs.admissions@dal.ca

Dalhousie University