Computer Science - Master of Math (MMath)

Rear entrance of the Davis Centre building

The Davis Centre building (DC) on Waterloo's main campus

Pursue an in-demand career in computer science with the Master of Mathematics in Computer Science program.

Advance your knowledge in areas like machine learning and cloud computing or pursue your preferred area of research with a supervisor. You’ll be prepared to conduct further research at the PhD level or pursue a career in industry.

The MMath in Computer Science is offered through the Cheriton School of Computer Science, which has been ranked number one nationally four years in a row based on program and research reputation according to the Maclean’s 2024 university rankings. Waterloo and the Cheriton School are among the top 25 universities internationally for computer science according to the 2023, 2022 and 2021 Quacquarelli Symonds worldwide university subject rankings, and attract exceptional students from all over the world. 

Program highlights

  • Learn from internationally acclaimed researchers.
  • Access research-intensive lab spaces.
  • Opportunities to publish your work and present at top conferences.
  • Own your work. Waterloo's intellectual property (IP) policy means that everything you create is yours to keep.

Research fields

  • Algorithms and Complexity
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Bioinformatics
  • Computer Algebra and Symbolic Computation
  • Computer Graphics
  • Cryptography, Security and Privacy
  • Databases
  • Formal Methods
  • Health Informatics
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Information Retrieval
  • Machine Learning
  • Programming Languages
  • Quantum Computing
  • Scientific Computing
  • Software Engineering
  • Systems and Networking

Research project opportunities for this program

Financial technology, or Fintech, is a new trend that revolutionized the financial industry. Automated trading programs have become the new standard. Many of the financial activities that have been traditionally done based on human skills and experience have recently been replaced or will be replaced by computer systems. In fact, banks and investment companies are hiring more staff with strong computing skills than ever. Fintech is a broad subject and this research project is going to focus on quantitative analytics, and in particular on developing efficient and effective models for applications in finance.

Our lab's research explores the intersection of computer graphics, computational physics, and geometry processing. We develop mathematical and algorithmic foundations for simulating complex physical phenomena, such as liquids, gases, and rigid or deformable materials, with efficiency, high fidelity, and robustness. By advancing computational methods for partial differential equations and dynamic surface evolution, we aim to make physically based animation both accurate and visually compelling.

We investigate a broad range of topics including multi-physics fluid-solid interactions, free-surface and multiphase flows, non-Newtonian and viscoelastic materials, and aspects of geometric representations, such as reconstruction of implicit surfaces (e.g., signed distance fields) and mesh-based topology tracking for dynamic surfaces. Our work bridges theory and practical application, often influencing research and production tools used in visual effects, animation, and interactive media. We strive to build well-grounded simulation methods that integrate physics, mathematics, and computation to push the boundaries of realism and control in the virtual worlds of the future.

Program overview

Department/School: David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science  
Faculty: Faculty of Mathematics
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Master's, Research
Length of program: 24 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis*, Master's Research Paper

*Please note: Admission is only available to the thesis option.

Application deadlines

  • December 1 (for admission in September of the following year)
  • June 1 (for admission in January of the following year)
  • October 1 (for admission in May of the following year)
Cheryl Lao

Cheryl is conducting an exciting master’s project that combines human–computer interaction studies with computer graphics research. Her work, which is both technically ambitious and visionary, targets fundamental challenges for the future technology of virtual reality and spatial augmented reality interfaces.

Cheryl Lao, Computer Science, Masters

Supervisors

  • Review the finding a supervisor resources.
  • It is not required to find a supervisor before applying. However, students are advised to establish contact with potential supervisors before applying.

Admission requirements

  • An honours bachelor degree in computer science or engineering (or equivalent degree) with at least a 78% standing.

Degree requirements

Application materials

  • Resume
  • Statement of interest
    • A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to, uploaded as a supporting document in the online application. Review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion.
  • Transcript(s)

  • References
    • Three references are required; at least two academic.
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
    • TOEFL 93 (writing 22, speaking 22), IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.0, speaking 6.5)

Tuition and fees