Pursuing a Bachelor in Computer Science in Canada is undoubtedly the best option for international students. Canada is home to world's top and leading computer science universities across the world such as University of Toronto or University of Waterloo which has been ranked at 11th and 23rd in the QS World University Rankings for Computer Science. Computer Science is one of the most popular and highly demanded degrees in Canada that allows one to delve deeper into the field.
A BSc in Computer Science in Canada will prepare you as a change maker with big ideas about designing, implementing and evaluating the ways for people to interact with emerging computing technologies. Computer Science graduates in Canada have a constantly rising demand in every digital industry with well paid positions which results in the increment of its popularity in further. The average salary of a computer scientist ranges between 58,386 CAD that can go upto 131,006 CAD per year.
If you too are planning to study bachelor degree in computer science in Canadian universities, let us dive deeper into Bachelor in Canada for international students with details about the best universities, CS requirements in Canada, costs and career prospects.
Why Study Bachelor in Computer Science in Canada?
If you are looking for some strong reasons to study Computer Science after 12th in Canada, then let's look at the points worth considering.
- World Class Education: Computer Science universities in Canada have an excellent education system and provide the best quality of education to their international students. It is worthwhile to say that universities such as University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Calgary that provide computer science bachelor degrees in Canada have ranked as the best computer science universities in QS World Rankings.
- Research Opportunities: One of the advantages of studying in Canada is their internationally recognised research centre with opportunities to work in various research laboratories such as robotics, bioinformatics, and novel interface designing using numerous mathematics and nature from nature to solve computing problems and many more.
- Career Opportunities: The job opportunities in the information technology sectors are increasing, and become a popular choice for students nowadays. According to the Canadian ICT sector profile published in 2018, the IT sector of the country is experiencing a 4.6% job growth in the IT sector annually, employing over 6,52,000 workers in the Information Technology sector.
Now that we know the benefits of a bachelor of computer science in Canada, let us learn more about the types of bachelor computer science programs.
Types of Bachelor of Computer Science Program
A bachelor of computer science degree in Canadian universities are offered as a minor, major, specialist and co-op programs. The co-op and specialist program options are only available in a limited number of universities in Canada. Let's take a brief insights on the program
Major/Minor: The major and minor are the most chosen options among international students in Canada from a variety of computer science courses. A few of the popular majors are software engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, operating system, parallel programming etc.
Specialist: The specialist programs in computer science courses are offered under a range of disciplines from entrepreneurship, information systems etc. Some of the computer science universities provide students an opportunity to choose it as an additional course while some may offer it as a part of the curriculum.
Co-op Program: Students who are opting for a co-operative program will have to enrol into a compulsory internship in their second year and third year as a part of the subject. This can help them in getting work experience in the software industry.
Suggested: What is co-op education in Canada?
Bachelor in Computer Science in Canada: Course Structure
If you are among those students who are planning to pursue either BASc or BSc computer science in Canada after 12th, you must have a quick look at the course structure of Bachelor Computer Science courses in Canada
- Course Duration: The Bachelor Computer Science duration in Canada is 3 to 4 years just like any other bachelor degree. Canadian universities also offer Computer Science Bachelor programs with majors, specialists, and co-op which includes various additional courses and internships opportunities for students.
- Content: Bachelor Computer Science in Canada is a general engineering degree also termed as BSc in Computer Engineering. The course content covers topics such as analysis of algorithms, computer graphics, human computer interaction, databases concepts and usage, cryptography and cryptosystems, software engineering and many more.
- Alternative: You may also have the option to study an alternative course of Bachelor of Computer Science such as BEng in Computer Engineering, BEng in Software Engineering, BASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering etc.
Further, let us know about the universities in Canada for bachelors in Computer Science.
Top Universities in Canada for Bachelor in Computer Science
The top provinces for computer science studies for international students which are home to the world's top recognised university. Here we have curated a list of top universities in Canada for bachelors in Computer Science.
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- University of British Columbia
- University of Alberta
- McMaster University
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto provides admissions to computer science bachelor degrees that consist of co-op, major, minor or specialist programs. The program provides a foundational working knowledge on computer science which are of modern computer software and hardware, theoretical aspects of computer science, and also relevant areas of mathematics as well as statistics.
|
Type of Institution |
Public |
|
QS World University Rankings 2022 |
26 |
|
QS World Rankings in Computer Science |
11 |
|
Average Annual Fees |
24,000 CAD |
|
Programs Offered |
|
University of Waterloo
The computer science bachelor program in the university of Waterloo develops a broad understanding in areas such as systems and networks, algorithms and programming. The program is also available with a major and co-op program in which you get two years of paid work experience at the university. You also have the option to choose a data science major after your first year of study.
|
Type of Institution |
Public |
|
QS World University Rankings 2022 |
149 |
|
QS World Rankings in Computer Science |
23 |
|
Average Annual Fees |
23,000 CAD |
|
Programs Offered |
|
University of British Columbia
UBC offers two or more degree programs in the computer science field for studies. The university will teach you how to use and improve computers and explore topics such as databases and operating systems, software engineering, numerical methodology, security and web development. In this program you will also learn about specialty areas of computational intelligence, animation and computer graphics.
|
Type of Institution |
Public |
|
QS World University Rankings 2022 |
46 |
|
QS World Rankings in Computer Science |
25 |
|
Average Annual Fees |
23,000 CAD |
|
Programs Offered |
|
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is one of the top universities in Canada and ranks among the top 100 in the world with its state of the art teaching and research facilities. Provides admissions to two different bachelor degrees of computer science in the Bachelor of education in secondary education by the University career and technology studies of computer science.
|
Type of Institution |
Public |
|
QS World University Rankings 2022 |
126 |
|
QS World Rankings in Computer Science |
109 |
|
Average Annual Fees |
26,555 CAD |
|
Programs Offered |
|
McMaster University
The computer science programs at McMaster University is a direct entry four year program where students will learn about programming, software designing, system and theoretical foundations. The course comes with five computer science, three math and two electives that will provide a specialised knowledge right away and more employable in the co-op positions after first year.
|
Type of Institution |
Public |
|
QS World University Rankings 2022 |
140 |
|
QS World Rankings in Computer Science |
201-250 |
|
Average Annual Fees |
21,000 CAD |
|
Programs Offered |
|
As an international student seeking admission to the top Computer Science Bachelor universities in Canada, it is important to know about the eligibility and university requirements for admission. Let's discuss these below
Bachelor Computer Science in Canada: Eligibility Criteria, Requirements & Documents
Here we have briefly discussed the eligibility criteria and the admission requirements for the best colleges in Canada for bachelor of computer science.
Eligibility Criteria
The standard requirements for bachelor degree in computer science Canada for international students are
- Completed high school education with at least 60% to 80% marks.
- Students must have mathematics as their compulsory subject in high school or some universities may also ask for additional subjects requirements in intermediate level such as physics or chemistry.
- Have a proof of English Language Proficiency Test Scores. The minimum test scores of some common tests are of TOEFL (79-95) or IELTS (6.5).
Documents Required
Before applying to Bachelor Computer Science universities in Canada make sure you must have the following set of documents to complete the application procedure
- Officially certified educational transcripts
- Notarised translated documents not issued in English
- Proof of English Language Test
- Academic or Professional reference letters
- Statement of Purpose
- Academic achievements certificates (if applicable)
- Proof of Finances
- Copy of Passport
- Study Permit
Let us now briefly discuss the costs of studying a Bachelor of Computer Science program in Canada.
Cost of Studying Bachelor Computer Science in Canada
For studying Bachelor in Computer Science in Canada, your expenses will include the university tuition fees and the costs of living.
Tuition Fees
The Bachelor Computer Science fees in Canada differs for various universities and mainly depends upon whether you are a domestic or an international student. The average tuition fees for international students to study computer science bachelor degree in Canada is around 23,750 CAD per year.
Cost of Living
Apart from the tuition fees, students also have to bear the living costs that may amount between 850 CAD to 1,575 CAD per month. Of these costs, students account for the majority of their expenses in accommodation which ranges from 4,000 CAD to 8,750 CAD per year depending on whether you are living on an on-campus or off-campus apartments.
Suggested: Complete breakdown of cost of living in Canada!
Scholarships for Bachelors of Computer Science in Canada
There are a number of scholarships are available for international students pursuing a bachelor degree in computer science in Canadian universities which includes a lot of university specific, privately funded and government funded scholarships.
Given below are some of the scholarship that can aid you in your computer science bachelor program in Canada.
|
Scholarship Name |
Eligibility |
Benefits |
|
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, University of Toronto |
International students with good academic achievement |
Varies |
|
International Student Entrance Scholarship, University of Waterloo |
International students admitted to a full time undergraduate degree and have a minimum of 90% admission average. |
10,000 CAD |
|
International Admission Scholarship, University of Alberta |
International students with a top admission average |
5,000 CAD |
|
Athletic Financial Awards, McMaster University |
International students with a minimum of 6.5 GPA in all enrolled courses. |
4,500 CAD |
Suggested: Top scholarships in Canada for international students!
Career Opportunities after Bachelor Computer Science in Canada
There are various job profiles you can target after completing a Bachelor Computer Science Courses in Canada. Applying for a job in computer science does not necessarily mean the end of your higher education. You can also have the option to work for a few years and gain some professional experience before applying for a Masters degree in computer science.
Here we have tabulated some of the most common job profiles after a Bachelor in Computer Science with their average salary.
|
Job Profile |
Average Annual Salary |
|
Software Developer |
68,470 CAD |
|
Computer Scientist |
85,968 CAD |
|
Software Engineer |
79,105 CAD |
|
Full Stack Developer |
70,000 CAD |
|
Programmer Analyst |
62,146 CAD |
|
Front-end Engineer |
65,945 CAD |
Canada is proven to be one of the best suited study abroad destinations for international students both in terms of quality of education and affordability. After completing your bachelors, you can also pursue Masters in computer science in Canada, which is a blooming prospect! Therefore, make sure you have properly planned everything before starting your computer science journey as an international student in Canada.
