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Computing Science Graduate Program Overview

General Information

Simon Fraser University serves more than 32,000 students. The university is located on top of Burnaby Mountain, just east of Vancouver and commands magnificant views of Vancouver and the surrounding lower mainland area. This area of British Columbia is unique in Canada and is known for its mild climate, varied recreational opportunities and highly diverse population. SFU is located within metropolitan Vancouver, offering a cosmopolitan flavour and diversity of experiences.

The Spirit of Community

Intellectual and academic freedom, joined with an open and inclusive community, are the foundations of this university. We are a university where risks can be taken and bold initiatives embraced; where our spirit challenges the impossible.

For a number of years SFU has topped the Maclean's Magazine rankings of Canada's comprehensive universities.

We are seeking to attract outstanding candidates into our graduate program. The School of Computing Science offers a versatile and stimulating program of studies and research in some of the most dynamic areas of computer technology. Our standard of quality is among the most competitive, and we provide an excellent work environment along with a dynamic and research-conducive atmosphere.

Currently tuition for all graduate students (domestic and international) in our school is $4696.80 per annum. Tuition increases may occur in future semesters.

At present, there are about 220 registered graduate students in our program (approximately one third of students pursue a Ph.D.).

Research Strength

Our school covers a broad spectrum of research activities and areas. Graduate students are actively engaged with faculty in Research Programs. The School's research has gained a reputation of excellence worldwide, with ongoing collaborations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The program has also maintained strong research ties with many industries and several government agencies.

We also carry out research in affiliation with the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences and the National Network of Centres of Excellence. Our graduate students are also eligible for paid internships at a rate of approximately $10,000 per semester through the BC Industrial Internship Program.

The strength and expertise of our research lies in the following major areas:

  • Algorithms and Complexity Theory
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Databases, Data Mining and Computational Biology
  • Graphics, Multimedia, Vision and Medical Image Analysis
  • Networks and Systems
  • Programming Languages and Software Engineering

Visit the Computing Science website for details and a list of Faculty members involved in each research area. 

Teaching Offerings

The list of research areas give an idea of the focus of our graduate curriculum. However, as outlined in the Graduate Curriculum, our degree program aims at a broad education across various topics of computer science. Besides the information in the Graduate Curriculum, which outlines our Breadth Requirements, you can also consult the current (and previous) course web pages for a sense of our teaching standards.

Helpful Links

There is a variety of information available for you to check out.

  • Visit the Computing Science website for complete information on its Graduate Program, including academic programs, admissions, financial information and research areas.
  • See the list of contacts at Computing Science for all of our B.C. campuses.
  • Our Graduate Curriculum has plenty of detailed information on how to obtain a Ph.D. or M.Sc. degree in our program.
  • Please consult individual Faculty pages for finding information on specific research interests. The various active Research Labs will also provide you with information on many research projects that a variety of faculty and Graduate Students are involved in. Don't hesistate to send email to individual faculty or (perhaps better) to the research labs to find out details about undergoing research projects.
  • Check out the current course offerings in order to get an idea of the type of courses offered by our faculty.
  • The Simon Fraser University Dean of Graduate Studies website provides information on the Graduate Experience at SFU in general and contains many valueable resources.
  • Please do not hesitate to send us email or contact one of us directly!