The Davis Centre building (DC) on Waterloo's main campus
Pursue research and expand your learning with the PhD in Computer Science.
In this program, you'll work with a supervisor to develop a thesis and conduct meaningful research that expands the scope of your graduate work, preparing you to enter a career in academia, research or private industry.
You'll also gain industry experience for in-demand careers with the option to apply to transfer to the PhD in Computer Science – Internship program after completing at least one academic term.
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
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The Cheriton School of Computer Science 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.
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Learn from internationally acclaimed researchers
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Access research-intensive lab spaces
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Opportunities to publish your work and present at top conferences
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Own your work. Waterloo’s intellectual property (IP) policy means that everything you create is yours to keep
Research areas
- 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
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: Doctoral, Research
Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis
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)
There's a lot of opportunities, so it’s important to do what you like and just be open to the possibilities.
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
- A Master's degree in Computer Science with a 78% average.
- Student with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science may apply for admission directly to the PhD program. Successful applicants will have an outstanding academic record, breadth of knowledge in computer science, and strong letters of recommendation.
- PhD applicants may be admitted into the Master of Mathematics (MMath) program. Like all MMath students, they will have the option to transfer into the PhD program before completing the master's thesis if their performance warrants.
Degree requirements
- Review the degree requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree
- Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace to see recent submissions from the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science graduate students
Application materials
- Resume
- Supplementary information form (SIF)
- The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol and your experience in that field. Review the application documents web page for more information about this requirement
- If a statement or letter is required by your program, review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion
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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
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Visit the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program
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Review living costs and housing
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Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students