Graduate Admission FAQs

Learn about applying to our graduate programs:

• MSc in Computer Science
• PhD in Computer Science
• MEng in Applied Data Science

January entry – apply by June 15 
May entry – apply by October 15 
September entry – apply by December 15 

The visa application process may cause delays if you are an international student. Apply early so you don’t miss your desired entry point. 

You should apply and upload all required documents well in advance of the application deadlines.

Find English proficiency requirements for UVic graduate programs.

We will also accept:

• copies of transcripts from an institution in a designated English-speaking country, including 3 years of continuing attendance prior to the entry point. 
• official documentation provided by the issuing institution indicating that the language of instruction is English. This could be a letter or a statement on the transcript. A statement on the official university website is also sufficient proof. 

GRE is recommended but not mandatory. However, you can submit your score if you have one. A high GRE score may improve your chance of acceptance. 

We require English-language proficiency test scores for applicants whose first language is not English. Official test score reports must be sent directly to the University of Victoria by the testing agency.  

You can apply before getting your English-language proficiency test results. The results will be required by the time your file has been evaluated and forwarded to us for consideration.  

The Graduate Admissions and Records office will evaluate your application. If it meets UVic’s minimum standards, they will forward the application to our department.

Our faculty members review each application. If a faculty member has available time, space and funding, they may consider offering admission.

All graduate students must have a supervisor. The main factor in admission decisions is whether the faculty member can accept new students. It's also important that there’s a match in research interests and background. 

We get many qualified applications each year. However, space, funding and supervisor availability limit how many we can accept. 

Faculty will choose applicants based on their research needs, funding and available space. There’s no need to contact a potential supervisor. They may not respond due to high request volumes. 

Most professors will interview prospective applicants only after the Graduate Admissions Office has assessed the full application. 

It’s a good idea to mention if you can support your own studies or have a scholarship. Faculty members have limited funding for research assistantships. They may take on more students if no support is needed.

View your application to Graduate Studies like a job application. Your resume should highlight your strengths and experience. Summarize your GPA as it relates to computer science and math courses. Briefly explain what your goals are and why you prefer certain areas of research, including stating your flexibility and focus. 

A good application would contain: 

• post-secondary transcripts (see submission of documents) 
• a statement of intent that includes a brief explanation of your career goals and areas of research interest 
• a current resume (2-3 pages) 
• 2 assessment reports from academic or professional references 
• any additional documentation which is relevant to your application 

Consider including the following in your statement of intent. 

1. What research areas are you most interested in and why?
2. Why would you like to attend UVic? 
3. What is your background? Do you bring experience from areas outside computer science? 
4. Are you already in contact with any faculty members here? 
5. What are your career plans? 

Most students in this program have an undergraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or mathematics with an emphasis on computer science. 

A student who does not have one of these degrees may be admitted to the program but normally will be required to complete additional makeup courses. In doing so, the student must obtain a grade of at least B (5.0/9.0) in each makeup course, and an average B+ (6.0/9.0) overall in the makeup courses. See policies for applicants who meet the Faculty admission requirements but are lacking course background in the current Graduate Academic Calendar.

At UVic, you can also combine more than one field of study in an individual interdisciplinary (INTD) degree. Many of our research programs involve a variety of other disciplines, including psychology, geography, visual arts, music, biology and biochemistry.

We prefer references from professors or other academic authorities who are familiar with your academic work. Letters of reference may, however, be supplied instead of assessments.

Find information on checking the status of your UVic application.

New graduate students are eligible to register after they have received a conditional or full offer of admission. You can’t register with a provisional offer. 

Learn how to register for courses.

Yes, you can apply before your undergraduate degree has been granted. You must finish your degree before the entry point you are applying to. 

Graduate Admissions and Records requires an in-progress transcript. You may be provisionally accepted to our program, with full acceptance only after any outstanding documentation is received and reviewed. 

For international students, you may need to apply for your student visa several months before the program starts.

Students may apply to the university as non-degree students if they are a visiting student and have any of the following forms:

• Graduate Visiting Research Student (GVRS)
• Letter of Permission (LOP)
• Western Dean's Agreement (WDA),
• Canadian University Graduate Transfer Agreement (CUGTA)

See: Visiting students.

Applicants must meet the same entrance requirements and follow the same application procedure as degree-seeking applicants.

Note that fees may be waived (if, for example, you are instead paying them to your home institution under the WDA or CUGTA) or they may be considerably higher than regular graduate student fees. 

Learn about tuition fees and other costs.

Yes, there are many sources of financial support for graduate study, including:

• fellowships and scholarships
• employment-based research and teaching assistantships
• academic research assistantship (ARA) from your supervisor

Yes, faculty members' contacts are listed in the directory.

Learn about research areas in the department.