Waterloo's computer science and mathematics programs rise again

Seven subjects at the University of Waterloo rank among the top 100 universities in the world, according to results published today.

The rankings, published today by UK firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), put Waterloo 24th in the world for its work in Computer Science and in Mathematics – second amongst Canadian universities in both subjects. It’s the fourth consecutive year that Computer Science has risen in the international classification and the third year that Mathematics has risen.

Waterloo is ranked in the top 100 for Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Environmental Sciences and Statistics and Operational Research.

“I am very pleased that these rankings show the breadth of excellence in teaching and research that exists here,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. “We strive to achieve a level of academic and research excellence to meet our goal of becoming one of the world's most innovative universities."

QS ranks close to 700 universities worldwide in 30 disciplines. Waterloo is listed amongst the top 200 universities globally for 19 of the 30 subjects evaluated – with improved rankings in four subject areas.

“The University of Waterloo's Faculty of Mathematics has the largest concentration of mathematical and computer science talent in the world,” said Ian Goulden, dean of mathematics. “We attract outstanding students and faculty members from around the world and I am delighted that their hard work is reflected in these results.”

In 2013:

• Waterloo mathematician, Jim Geelen, was among a team of researchers who solved Rota’s Conjecture, a problem first posed more than 40 years ago and
• Maïté Dupuis of the Department of Applied Mathematics was awarded a prestigious NSERC Banting fellowship to focus on the Quantum-Nano nexus, which is one of the University’s top current research priorities.
• Mathematician Chris Bauch found that applying mathematical models to what people are talking about on Facebook and Twittercould help scientists to better understand how contagious diseases spread, and how people react to outbreaks.

Waterloo also ranked 200 for English Language and Literature, Philosophy, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Chemistry, Materials Science, Earth and Marine Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, Accounting & Finance, Politics and Sociology.

Waterloo’s David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science brings together over 75 faculty, 40 staff and 2000 students at undergraduate and graduate levels.  The School was founded in 1967, and has grown to become the largest academic computer science research centre in Canada.