Which universities come out on top for computer science degrees in Canada? We find out using the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021. Whether you’re looking for a bachelor’s in computer science or a master’s in computer science in Canada, check out the following universities for inspiration. Gaining a place at one of these high-performing universities will look great to future employers and will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in IT and computer science.

1. University of Toronto

Ranking 18^th in the world, the University of Toronto is considered the best computer science university in Canada and is home to two Turing Award winners. If studying this subject as an undergraduate student, you can expect to cover the following topics:

• Artificial intelligence
• Computer systems
• Game design
• Web and internet technologies
• Computational linguistics

This degree falls under the Faculty of Arts and Science which means you could choose to study modules from other disciplines within the department. The university also has its own innovation lab where students from across the faculty can collaborate and design software-based innovations. Both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science are available at the University of Toronto.

Find a bachelor’s in computer science in Canada now.

2. University of Montreal

The Computer Science and Operations Research Department at the University of Montreal consists of 40 professors, who are all leading researchers in the field. As a computer science student at the university, you will gain mathematical, technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills which are all valuable to future employers. Many of these computer science graduates therefore possess the right knowledge for careers in:

• Video game design
• Natural language processing
• Robotics
• Animated films
• Artificial intelligence
• Software development
• Data analytics
• Cloud computing technologies

Students can choose to study a bachelor’s in computer science or alternatively, they can choose to major or minor in computer science. The university also offers a master’s in computer science for those students who want to further develop their expertise.

Both bachelor’s and master’s students can also take advantage of the many international exchange opportunities on offer. These enable students to study all over the world for one or two semesters.

Find a computer science master’s degree in Canada today.

3. University of Waterloo

When studying a bachelor’s in computer science at the University of Waterloo, you can gain two years of paid work experience with the department’s co-op programme. Previous employers include Microsoft, Facebook, and Google. Undergraduate students can graduate with either a Bachelor of Computer Science or a Bachelor of Mathematics with a major in computer science. Students also have the choice of optional modules tailored to their interests such as bioinformatics or artificial intelligence.

At the graduate level, computer science students can choose from a variety of research fields including:

• Machine learning
• Artificial intelligence
• Programming languages
• Quantum computing
• Software engineering
• Computer graphics
• Systems and networking

Computer science students can also take advantage of campus activities, competitions, societies, and committees such as Hack the North, MathSoc, Women in computer science, women in STEM and so on. The University of Waterloo was also voted 1^st in Canada for connecting students and employers (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020).

Check out these other institutions for more computer science courses in Canada:

• Carleton University
• Conestoga College
• Fanshawe College
• Ontario Tech University

4. University of British Columbia

This Canadian university prides itself on being at the forefront of artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and computer systems research. Many of the university’s computer science graduates go on to work for leading companies like Google and Amazon. At the undergraduate level, prospective students can choose from the following computer science programmes (as their major*):

• Computer science major BSc (Faculty of Science)
• Computer science major BA (Faculty of Arts)
• Combined major specializations BSc (Faculty of Science)
• Combined major in business and computer science BCom
• Cognitive Systems Program

*Other degree options are available such as choosing computer science as your minor.

At the postgraduate level, students can choose from a master’s in computer science or a master’s in data science. A PhD programme is also available to students looking to extend their learning within the field.

Not sure where you want to study in Canada? Find out which cities are considered best for international students.

5. McGill University

A top research university in Canada, the computer science department at McGill University ranks 2^nd for its research funding. Plus, almost half of the university’s computer science graduate students are international. Prospective undergraduate students can choose one of several degree types:

• BSc in computer science
• BA in computer science
• Combined BA and BSc

At this level, students have both core and optional modules, gaining the foundational principles and exploring other areas of interest. You could also choose to minor in another subject that you feel would complement your major in computer science.

The school offers masters and PhD computer science programmes, but you will need to demonstrate your pre-existing knowledge of the subject through the completion of certain modules (as specified on the university website). If you study your bachelors at McGill University, you can also apply for the fast track which allows students to complete a masters in just one year.

Next steps: If you found a university you like the sound of, check out their website for more information.

Or alternatively, use our course matcher tool to find a programme and university in Canada.