Masters in Computer Science at McMaster University is a 2-year PG course designed for students with a bachelor’s in CS or equivalent. It is an on-campus, thesis-based program available with both full-time and part-time options. Master of Computer Science at McMaster University ranks 8^th according to Maclean’s in Canada.

Likes:

• Strong reputation for Computer Science program- The Computer Science Department at McMaster University has partnered with General Motors for research on model-based software engineering methods to automate the management of safety cases in automotive systems.
• Research opportunities with renowned faculty- Some of the research areas that the department focuses on include: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Networks and Distributed Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering, Computer Systems, Computer Graphics and Vision, Algorithms and Complexity, Theoretical Computer Science, Health Informatics
• Prof. Christopher Kumar Anand who heads the department has various papers published under game theory.
  Check: Theories published by Prof. Christopher Kumar Anand
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology- McMaster University campus is sprawled over 300 Acres. It has facilities for athletics, a dedicated library, a fully functional data centre, and even a Nuclear Reactor, one of the first university-based research reactors.
• Diverse Student Body and Community- McMaster has over 300+ clubs on academic, cultural, recreational, and spiritual interests.

Also see: McMaster Indian Association’s Facebook page

Dislikes:

• The competitive job market for Computer Science graduates- As per projections, for every new job created in the tech market, 1.07 job seekers will enter the labour market.
• The weather at McMaster University could be better- Hamilton, Ontario, has four distinct seasons, with cold winters and warm summers. The winters can go as low as -14 degree celsius. Adding to it the city faced a severe fire in ‘97 at a plastic factory housing 400 tonnes of PVC, releasing hazardous gases in the air that still affects many localities in Wellington Street, 5 Km away from the Mcmaster Campus. The current PM 2.5 index stays in the range of 57-59.

The program focuses on advancing knowledge in computational theory and practice through intensive computing research problems that involve scientific theory and engineering practice. The specialization courses available with MSc Computer Science at McMaster are Computer Systems and Software Quality, Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, Scientific Computing and Optimization, Security, Privacy, and Data Analytics, Theory and Methodologies of Computation. 

To get into the course you will need an IELTS score (92 or other ELP scores), a bachelor's (Hons.) degree in a cognate course (77-79%), 2 LORs, and a statement of interest. The course begins in September, however, international applications must be sent in by March 30.

Post completion of an MSc in Computer Science from McMaster University, applicants can expect to earn as much as 106,000 CAD a year on investment as low as 11,000 CAD a year. Job opportunities after MSc Computer Science are Database Administrator, Computer Systems Analyst, etc. 

In this program, students will deepen and focus their knowledge, develop the ability to work independently by conducting original research, and also develop their professional skills. The research advances state-of-the-art computer software and hardware design, theoretical foundations of computing, and systems development.

Students enrolled in MSc programs are eligible to complete a co-op work term after completing 8 or 12 months of studies and the student-faculty ratio of this program is 20:1. The students have to complete 4 courses and write and defend a thesis that presents the results of an individual research project. 

McMaster’s Department of Computing and Software advances the field of computing through education and research and provides World-class athletic facilities to the students.