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I have questions before I submit my application
I have just submitted my application
I am an international student and have questions about admission requirements
I have questions before I submit my application
What are the academic requirements?
Applicants for all degree programs are expected to have a formal background in the following areas of computer science:
- Programming languages
- Data structures
- Operating systems
- Algorithms
- Computer organization (architecture)
Applicants lacking in the formal background in CS may be required to take remedial courses, in addition to the regular program requirements, or be admitted as a probationary or transitional student.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
Applicants do not need to have a supervisor before applying. If an offer were to be made, a supervisor would be assigned at that time.
How do I choose my referees and how many are required?
Three letters of reference are required for both master's and doctoral applications to the School of Computer Science (completed electronically by your referees). References must be related to your academic abilities. References should be able to give us a sense of an applicant's research potential or how successful someone will be in graduate school. At least two of your letters should be from academic sources. All letters should be from former or current instructors or supervisors but not from colleagues.
- References from family members, friends, students, former classmates and/or teaching assistants are not accepted.
- Valid institutional or organizational email addresses are preferred. Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc. are not encouraged.
- The University of Waterloo may use your reference form when considering you for institutional, provincial and federal awards/scholarships.
- All reference letters are verified for authenticity. If evidence of misrepresentation or fraudulent or falsified documentation is found, the penalty is severe. The University of Waterloo reserves the right to revoke any offer of admission and/or financial support. The University of Waterloo may also disclose evidence of any misrepresentation or fraudulent or falsified documentation to all Canadian universities, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and law enforcement personnel where appropriate.
Please also see the reference requirements page for more information.
When is the deadline for my application documents?
All application documents are due by the application deadline date for that term. It is advisable to apply to OUAC at least two weeks prior to the application deadline date, as it will take time to receive your Waterloo ID number (two to three business days) and for your referees to submit their forms.
When is the application deadlines?
Deadlines for MMath and PhD Only
| Term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | December 1 |
| Winter | June 1 |
| Spring | October 1 |
Deadline for MDSAI Only
| Term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | January 15 |
Deadline for MMath in DS
| Term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | December 15 |
When is the application deadline for international students?
The application deadlines remain the same for domestic and international students. See “When is the application deadlines” or specific dates.
Do I need to submit official transcripts at the point of application?
All post-secondary institutions attended must be declared on the application and transcripts submitted for each. Unofficial copies of actual transcripts may be submitted and uploaded at the point of application. They must clearly show your name, the institution and the degree.
Can I apply or submit application documents past the application deadline?
There is a small window of flexibility if one or two items are uploaded a little past the deadline (i.e., not usually more than 2 weeks). However, if you have not taken your English language test before the application deadline and cannot submit a score close to the application deadline, you may wish to apply for a later term. Once the application deadline is reached, applications that are complete move forward for review and the decision process begins for a limited number of spaces.
What is the Accelerated Master's program?
The Accelerated Master's Program in Computer Science is intended to shorten the time required to obtain a Master's when compared to the usual route for graduate studies. The accelerated admission streamlines the process by allowing a student in a University of Waterloo Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) program to complete two graduate courses during their 4A/4B terms that will count towards the Master of Mathematics (MMath) degree. This is particularly useful for those students who have taken extra courses during their first three years of study, either during their school or work terms.
How do I apply to the Accelerated Master's program?
In order to apply for Accelerated Master’s program, please follow the steps listed below before you apply. Please submit your outline to your Graduate Coordinator for your Proposed Research including a Project Title, Background and Purpose as well as Methodology Approach. Please also list the two grad courses you wish to take in 4A/4B.
- Confirm that you have completed your undergraduate course requirements by speaking with your undergrad advisor.
- Arrange for a supervisor by contacting our faculty members. You can select a supervisor by reviewing the Research Areas that you are interested in.
- Choose two grad courses to take in your 4A and 4B terms
- Prepare an outline of your proposed research. Submit to your supervisor for approval and sent to your Graduate Coordinator once approved (by email is appropriate)
Please note that by completing the Accelerated Master’s program you are not guaranteed admission to the MMath program without going through the application/admission process after completing your undergraduate degree.
The benefit of the Accelerated Master’s program is that you are taking 2 graduate-level courses ahead of time so that if you are later admitted to the MMath program you would have 2 out of the 4 coursework requirements completed.
I have just submitted my application
I need to make a change to my application, how do I do this?
Once your application has been submitted, it cannot be changed. Applicants will receive a warning regarding this before submitting. Please ensure your application materials are complete and correct before submitting.
My referee(s) did not receive an email or I need to change my referee.
Please contact gradapp@uwaterloo.ca and they will be able to assist you. Please include your full name and your University of Waterloo ID number (eight-digit number beginning with 20).
I am having difficulty with the Quest online application system.
Please contact gradapp@uwaterloo.ca for assistance. Please include your full name and your Waterloo ID number (eight-digit number beginning with 20) if available.
I have not received my Waterloo ID number.
It normally takes three (3) business days after applying to OUAC to receive your Waterloo ID number.
How can I check to see if all the application materials have been received?
Applicants can check for any outstanding application materials in the Quest system.
If unofficial English language scores have been uploaded, these requirements will show as complete in Quest. Unofficial scores issued by the institution are fine for the application reviewing process; however applicants should also arrange to have the official copies of these scores sent directly from the issuing institutions to the Graduate Studies Office in order to avoid any delay if an offer were to be made.
Due to the volume of applications, we cannot check individual files to confirm that the official copies have been received at the point of application. If an official score is missing at the point of offer, the applicant will be notified at that time.
When will I receive a decision on my application?
The reviewing process can take two to three months. Once a decision has been made, you will be notified via the Quest online system.
I am an international student and have questions about admission requirements
I am an international student. Do I need to submit a GRE?
The GRE requirement is being waived for future application cycles. You do not need to submit it in your application.
What is the TOEFL code for ETS?
The institution code is 0996. The department code for TOEFL is 01.
When are the English language scores due?
All required application materials should be submitted by the application due date posted on our admissions page
Can I update my TOEFL score after the application deadline?
Please submit only the score(s) you wish to have considered with your online application.
What are the required scores for the TOEFL and IELTS?
| Main accepted English language examinations | Required scores |
|---|---|
| Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) | 93 overall; 22 writing; 22 speaking |
| IELTS (academic) | 6.5 overall; 6.0 writing; 6.5 speaking |
See the Graduate Studies Calendar for other accepted English language examinations and their required scores. Note that Computer Science uses the alternative higher scores. More information can be found on our Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs page.
Do I have a chance with low ELP scores?
Every document submitted plays a role in the assessment of the application. Your overall profile would be considered.
If a student has a strong application package, but language scores are slightly below minimum requirement, sometimes conditional offers are made. These conditional offers require the applicant to complete one or two English language classes and achieve a certain mark in order to fulfill the condition. If a language test is very low, an applicant can be requested to take the test again. There is a certain level of English language that is required in order to complete a graduate program.
How can I be exempt from the English language requirements?
You are exempt from submitting an English language proficiency examination score if any one of the following conditions is true:
- You have completed three or more years of post-secondary education or completed a graduate degree at a North American institution or university.
- Within the last 24 months at the time of your application submission, you have completed three or more years of post-secondary education or completed a graduate degree at a university at which English was the primary language of instruction, as indicated on our ELP exemption list.
- You have been employed for at least three years in a position in which English was the language of business in a country listed on our ELP exemption list.
- Your country's official language is English and is listed as "all exempt" on our ELP exemption list.
I am a transfer student
Can I have credit for past courses?
Academic credit for graduate courses taken at another institution may be awarded provided that proof can be shown that the courses have not been used for credit toward a previous degree. Normally, at most one half of the required courses can be transferred from another institution. For transfer consideration, the student must submit their course descriptions and their official transcripts to the CS Graduate Office for review at the time of departmental recommendation for admission.
For more information see our credit transfer page.