How to Apply

Please note, applications received after the deadline stated below may not be considered for the term applied for. Any applications received by the deadline must be complete to be considered, which means that all components of the application must be received by the deadline, including but not limited to unofficial transcripts, reference letters, language test scores for international students, etc. 

We are currently considering applications for September 2025. May 2025 applicants will be offered entry for September 2025 instead. All May 2025 deferral requests will be admitted for September 2025.

• At a minimum, applicants must have a GPA) of at least 3.0 in technical courses and a four-year undergraduate degree.
• Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our second-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum. If applying from a non-CS background, qualifying year courses may be necessary.
• Applicants who have been away from academia for a few years should demonstrate industry experience that has maintained or improved their technical skills.
• Please note: 
  • MACS applicants are required to complete an admissions interview
  • If you are invited to an admissions interview and do not respond to a scheduling request within 1 month, your application can be closed.

• Applicants must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) among their technical courses and a four-year undergraduate degree in computer science or a related technical discipline. Applicants with a GPA at or below 3.4 generally need a connection with a faculty member or need relevant industry experience for their application to succeed.
• Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

• Applicants can have an undergraduate degree or graduate degree in a diverse range of disciplines including computer science, business, law, health, or other related programs. We will also consider a combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Courses in introductory programming are recommended but not required.
• Please note: The MDI program has a single annual intake starting in September. Please follow the application deadlines for September.

• Applicants must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) in a master's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
• Applicants should provide evidence of research experience, such as publications and thesis summaries.
• Applicants will only be admitted with the support of a supervisor. We encourage applicants to identify and connect with faculty members before applying to the program.
• Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

A PhD, Post Bachelor is reserved for outstanding graduates of a four-year program with demonstrated research experience and/or excellent research potential.

• Students must have a strong Grade Point Average (GPA) in Computer Science or a related technical discipline. 
• Applicants should provide evidence of research experience, such as publications and thesis summaries.
• Applicants will only be admitted with the support of a supervisor. We encourage applicants to identify and connect with faculty members before applying to the program.
• Applicants are expected to have a knowledge base equivalent to our third-year core computer science undergraduate curriculum.

We recommended that you first type the required information into a text file and copy and paste into the online application form.

• Supporting documents include:
  • 2 reference letters:
    • Academic references: You must enter the university email address of your academic referee in your online application. Once your application has been submitted, your academic referee will receive an email within one week requesting that they submit their reference letter online. If your referees are unable to submit through that system, we can accept letters through graduate@cs.dal.ca. These letters must come from their institutional or company email address and be written on official letterhead. Ensure your referees provide your Banner ID in the email subject line.
    • Non-academic references: All non-academic referees must submit their reference letters in PDF format to graduate@cs.dal.ca. These letters must come from their institutional or company email address and be written on official letterhead. Ensure your referees provide you Banner ID in the email subject line. 
    • For more details see Reference Letters on the FGS website.
  • Application fee of $115

Complete the form in the Faculty of Computer Science GradApp System:

• You will receive an email (5-7 business days) after you apply and pay your application fee with a username and password to log on to our GradApp System to submit your supporting documents.
•  The supporting documents include:
  • Your curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Your research proposal (MCS and PhD programs) or statement of intent (MACS and MDI)
  • Your worksheet of computer science course equivalents (waived for MDI applicants – please upload a blank document to move our application forward)
  • Your English test report, for international students
  • Your unofficial transcript for each post-secondary institution that you have attended
• Your application will not be reviewed until all your documents are uploaded in our GradApp System
• Applications that remain incomplete for more than 2 months can be closed. Applications that have the applicant’s supporting documents but not their reference letters are considered incomplete.

Electronic copies of additional supporting material are accepted as follows:

Official transcripts:

• Please review the information on when and how to submit official transcripts on the FGS webpage.
• Hard copies are not required.
• Official transcripts from Dalhousie are not required.

Official English Proficiency test score (for international students):

• Your unofficial IELTS and TOEFL score can be uploaded as part of your document upload. We can confirm directly with IELTS and TOEFL for verification purposes. The applicant must ask their testing centre to make their results available to Dalhousie University. Students will not be able to register for classes until their scores are verified. If a different English Language Score provider is used, the testing center can email the results to graduate@cs.dal.ca.

If your application has been rejected during the current admission cycle, you may want to consider taking a year to improve your application before reapplying.

• Select International GPA Equivalencies (*Applications from top 30 Chinese universties will use Dalhousie's GPA conversion)
• Permanent Residents of Canada - Must show proof of residency. International fees will be charged if proof is not provided.
• International Student & Exchange Services