Computer Science: Applied Computing MScAC (Quantum Computing Concentration)

MScAC Program (Quantum Computing Concentration)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Computer Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in a related area such as physics, computer science, mathematics, or any discipline where there is a significant quantitative component. The completed bachelor’s degree must include significant exposure to physics, computer science, and mathematics, including coursework in advanced quantum mechanics, multivariate calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, programming languages, and computational methods.

  • A standing equivalent to at least B+ in the final year of undergraduate studies.

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who have graduated from a university where the primary language of instruction is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the following minimum scores:

    • Internet-based TOEFL: 93/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

    • IELTS: an overall score of 7.0, with at least 6.5 for each component.

  • If students complete a portion of their degree in English, or part of their degree at another university where English is the language of instruction, applicants must still provide proof of English-language proficiency.

  • Three letters of reference from faculty and/or employers, with preference for at least one such letter from a faculty member in Physics.

  • Applicants will be asked to respond to program-specific questions addressing their interest in the concentration and objectives for the program.

  • Applicants must indicate a preference for the concentration in Quantum Computing in their application. Admission is competitive, and students who are admitted to the MScAC program are not automatically admitted to this concentration upon request.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 1.0 FCE chosen from the Physics (PHY course designator) graduate course listings. Of eligible courses, the following are examples that are particularly relevant to the Quantum Computing concentration:

      • PHY1500H Statistical Mechanics (0.5 FCE)

      • PHY1520H Quantum Mechanics (0.5 FCE)

      • PHY1610H Scientific Computing for Physicists (0.5 FCE)

      • PHY2203H Quantum Optics I (0.5 FCE)

      • PHY2204H Quantum Optics II (0.5 FCE)

      • PHY2212H Entanglement Physics (0.5 FCE)

    • 1.0 FCE chosen from the Computer Science (CSC course designator) graduate course listings. Of eligible courses, the following are examples that are particularly relevant to the Quantum Computing concentration:

      • CSC2305H Numerical Methods for Optimization Problems (0.5 FCE)

      • CSC2421H Topics in Algorithms (0.5 FCE)

      • CSC2451H Quantum Computing, Foundations to Frontier (0.5 FCE)

    • 1.0 FCE in required courses:

      • CSC2701H Communication for Computer Scientists (0.5 FCE)

      • CSC2702H Technical Entrepreneurship (0.5 FCE)

    • Course selections should be made in consultation with the Program Director. Appropriate substitutions may be possible with approval.

  • An eight-month industrial internship, CSC2703H (3.5 FCEs). The internship is coordinated by the department and evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

Program Length

4 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F)

Time Limit

3 years full-time