Grad Students

 

Prospective and New Grad Students
Frequently Asked Questions

 

  1. To what address do I mail my application form?

  2. Can you provide me with a checklist of what I have to include in my application?

  3. What is the TOEFL score requirement?

  4. Do I have to take the GRE General or GRE Subject Test?

  5. What are the minimum requirements for admitting a prospective Computer Science MSc student?

  6. What are the minimum requirements for admitting a prospective Computer Science PhD student?

  7. I have a BSc in computer Science with a very high average. Can I apply directly for admission for PhD program without having a MSc degree?

  8. I have the minimum entrance requirements. Will I be admitted?

  9. What are the differences between various CS MSc degree options?

  10. After I get accepted in a CS MSc program, can I switch from one option to another?

  11. How many options are available within the PhD degree?

  12. Can you provide me with a short description of the admission process?

  13. Is there an admission process fee?

  14. Is there financial aid? How do I apply?

  15. Who is granted teaching and research assistantships?

  16. Do course-work MSc students have any chance to receive TA or RA from the Computer Science Department at UWO?

  17. I was told I'd be receiving an application package. Why haven't I gotten it yet?

  18. How can I find out the status of my application?

  19. Where should I send my statements, my transcripts, or any other materials?

  20. I am unsure if I have sufficient background to enter the MSc program. Who should I ask if I want my academic record evaluated?

  21. Can the Department assess my resume and marks without a full application?

Answers

  1. To what address do I mail my application form?

    Graduate Office
    Department of Computer Science
    Middlesex College
    The University of Western Ontario
    London, ON Canada N6A 5B7

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  2. Can you provide me with a checklist of what I have to include in my application?

    Please visit the Applications Procedures web page.

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  3. What is the TOEFL score requirement?

    If your mother tongue is not English and you have not attended a university or college in an English speaking country for the past two years, then you must take TOEFL and achieve a score of at least 580 (237 in case of computer-based TOEFL test, or 92 in case of Internet-based Testing), with a minimum score of 60 (25 in case of computer-based TOEFL exam, or 22 in case of Internet-based Testing) in section one.

    The TOEFL test date must be within two years of the first term of registration at The University of Western Ontario. You should arrange for the testing agency to send us an original copy of your TOEFL report. Permanent residents may be required to submit a TOEFL score.

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  4. Do I have to take the GRE General or GRE Subject Test?

    We do not require the GRE Subject test or GRE General. However, if you have NOT graduated from a Canadian or U.S. institution, you are encouraged to take the GRE General.

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  5. What are the minimum requirements for admitting a prospective Computer Science MSc student?

    Admission to a CS Master's program will normally require a four-year Honour's degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science from a recognized university, college or institute with an average of at least 70% (or the equivalent grade point average) as determined by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. However, meeting the minimum requirement does not guarantee admission.

    To receive full funding, a prospective student should have at least a 78% average.

    An applicant with an undergraduate degree in a different area should see the section on Entry into Master's Program for Students with a Prior Degree outside Computer Science

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  6. What are the minimum requirements for admitting a prospective Computer Science PhD student?

    Applicants for admission to the PhD program must possess a MSc degree in Computer Science from a recognized university, college or institute. At least a 70% average (or the equivalent grade point average) in the MSc program as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is required. However, meeting the minimum requirement does not guarantee admission.

    To receive full funding, a prospective student should have at least a 78% average.

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  7. I have a BSc in computer Science with a very high average. Can I apply directly for admission for PhD program without having a MSc degree?

    Yes you can. Exceptionally strong students who obtained only a BSc degree in Computer Science may be considered for the Computer Science five-year direct-entry PhD program.

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  8. I have the minimum entrance requirements. Will I be admitted?

    Unfortunately, there are so many applicants who meet our minimum requirements, and each year we must turn away many well-qualified students.

    For the most part, it is unrealistic to expect that you will be admitted with an average less than 78%.

    Please note that in the past two years, most of the accepted MSc students have over 82% and most of the accepted PhD students have over 85%.

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  9. What are the differences between various CS MSc degree options?

    A CS MSc degree at the University of Western Ontario has three different options, namely: thesis, project, and course-work. Each of these options have different degree requirements.

    Thesis
    A thesis involves a written thesis and the public oral presentation and defence of an original contribution to a particular research area.

    Project
    A project normally involves the use of known techniques and concepts in the solution of a well-defined problem. A project report and public oral presentation are required.

    Course-Work
    Students must complete eight graduate courses as specified below. Please note that this option is not a normal route for entry into the PhD Program.

    For more details about this issue, please visit the Master of Science Degree Requirements web page.

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  10. After I get accepted in a CS MSc program, can I switch from one option to an other?

    Normally, you can switch from a course-work MSc program to a project or a thesis MSc program, if you find a supervisor who agrees to supervise you--only if the C.S. Deptartment has funding (G.T.A.) positions available.

    You may also switch from a project MSc program to a thesis MSc program, subject to the approval from your supervisor--only if the C.S. Deptartment has funding (G.T.A.) positions available.

    However, you cannot switch from a thesis MSc program to a project or course-work MSc program. Also, you cannot switch from a project MSc program to a course-work MSc program.

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  11. How many options are available within the PhD degree?

    There is only one option, being the thesis option, i.e., there is NO course-work PhD, or project PhD.

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  12. Can you provide me with a short description of the admission process?

    An initial filtering of applications is done by the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate Chair. Applications are automatically filtered out if the marks are too low, or there is insufficient CS background, or the TOEFL scores are too low.

    If an application is not filtered out, then the application is distributed to at least three members of the Graduate Executive Committee (GEC).

    If the decision of the GEC is positive and you have applied for the thesis or project option, final admission depends on identifying a faculty member willing to supervise and financially support the candidate and approval by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

    If the decision of the GEC is positive and you have applied for the course-work option, final admission depends on the number of spots reserved for course-work students and approval by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

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  13. Is there an admission process fee?

    The Department of Computer Science at the University of Western Ontario requires an admission process fee (application fee) for graduate studies.

    Starting from May 1, 2003, this fee was set to be $65.00 Canadian dollars on both all MSc and PhD new graduate applications.

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  14. Is there financial aid? How do I apply?

    Yes, financial aid is available for graduate students. You can find more details on this by looking at the Scholarships and Awards web page.

    You do not have to make a special application for financial aid. The application package asks if you require financial aid.

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  15. Who is granted teaching and research assistantships ?

    All accepted thesis and project MSc full-time students are entitled to get teaching and research assistantships during the first 3 terms only, subject to satisfactory progress in their program. Graduate students can serve as TA in the fall and winter terms, but not in the summer term.

    PhD full-time students will also be granted TA and RA support. Yet, they are entitled to 4 years of support, subject to satisfactory progress in their program. In some cases, a PhD full-time student can get TA and RA support during the fifth year of his/her program. Yet, fifth year support is not guaranteed.

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  16. Do course-work MSc students have any chance to receive TA or RA from the Computer Science Department at UWO?

    Due to the limited resources that we have, the department will not be able to financially support any course-work MSc student.

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  17. I was told I'd be receiving an application package. Why haven't I gotten it yet?

    It takes some time to assemble the package and to get it mailed out. Often these mailings are done twice a month. Also, if you have applied very early, it could be that we have not yet prepared to send out the application packages. If it has been more than one month since you were told you would receive the application materials, contact janice@csd.uwo.ca

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  18. How can I find out the status of my application?

    We prefer that you do not send e-mail or phone us to ask about the status of your application. We receive many applications. It is time-consuming to go through these applications and if we respond to everyone asking about the status, then this just slows us down.

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  19. Where should I send my statements, my transcripts, or any other materials?

    All materials are sent to the Computer Science Graduate Secretary. Do not send materials to the Graduate Chair, to individual faculty members, or to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. They may get lost. The proper address for materials is:

    Graduate Office
    Department of Computer Science
    Middlesex College
    The University of Western Ontario
    London, ON Canada N6A 5B7

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  20. I am unsure if I have sufficient background to enter the MSc program. Who should I ask if I want my academic record evaluated?

    You should contact either the undergraduate chair, Mike Katchabaw (katchab <at> csd.uwo.ca) or Cheryl McGrath (cheryl <at> csd.uwo.ca).

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  21. Can the Department assess my resume and marks without a full application?

    Many people will send their resume and marks and ask that they get an assessment if they can be accepted into the graduate program. We would prefer that you do not do this. It is quite time consuming.

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