mcgill university ms in cs: Fees, Living Costs, Test Scores, Visa Process, Work during Study, Entry Requirements.

McGill University MS in CS Fees, Requirement, Application, Deadline 2026.

Montreal, QuebecLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1821established year
40531enrollment
Public
7.3/10

Master of Science [MS] (Computer Science)

2 years
Full Time
On Campus

₹21 L/Yr

CA$31,269 /Yr
192 Students Applied
23 Students Admitted
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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 13, 2026

MS Computer Science at McGill University: Fees, Eligibility & Outcomes for Indian Students (2026)

McGill University's MS Computer Science (Thesis) is a 2-year, 45-credit research program based in Montreal, Canada. McGill ranks #27 globally (QS 2026) and #43 in Computer Science by subject (QS 2026) — placing it among the top 5 CS programs in Canada.

Montreal is one of the world's top AI research hubs, home to Mila (Quebec AI Institute), where several McGill CS faculty are core members. The total cost for Indian students is approximately ₹27–32 Lakhs over 2 years (tuition + living), with a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of up to 3 years upon graduation.

Admission Status (2026 Intake): The Fall 2026 application cycle is now closed. The next intake is Fall 2027. Applications open in September 2026 and the international deadline for funding consideration is January 1, 2027.

Why Pursue MS Computer Science at McGill?

  • McGill CS faculty are core researchers at Mila, the world's largest academic AI research centre
  • Montreal has the lowest cost of living among major Canadian university cities — roughly 30% cheaper than Toronto
  • Graduates are eligible for a PGWP of up to 3 years, a direct pathway to Canadian PR
  • Average CS graduate salary in Canada ranges from CAD 85,000–1,07,000/year (₹57–72 Lakhs/year)
  • The thesis track positions students strongly for PhD programs at top global universities

McGill MS Computer Science Fees for International Students (2025–26)

Exchange rate used: CAD 1 = ₹67.34 (April 13, 2026 — Yahoo Finance). All INR figures are approximate and subject to exchange rate fluctuation.

Fee Component CAD (Per Year) INR (Approx.)
Tuition (Thesis — 2 terms) CAD 20,726.70 ₹13.95 Lakhs
Compulsory Fees (Registration, IT, etc.) ~CAD 800 ~₹53,872
Health Insurance (SSMU) ~CAD 900 ~₹60,606
Total Annual Cost ~CAD 22,426 ~₹15.10 Lakhs
Total 2-Year Cost (Tuition Only) ~CAD 44,852 ~₹30.20 Lakhs

Thesis students pay a flat per-term residency fee (not per credit), which makes the MS Thesis track significantly cheaper than the non-thesis route (CAD 1,042.30/credit × 45 credits = ~CAD 46,903).

Cost of Living in Montreal for McGill CS Students

Montreal is consistently ranked among the most affordable major cities in Canada for students.

Expense CAD/Month INR/Month (Approx.)
Groceries CAD 300–400 ₹20,202–26,936
Transportation (STM pass) CAD 85–100 ₹5,724–6,734
Utilities (if off-campus) CAD 80–120 ₹5,387–8,081
Miscellaneous CAD 100–150 ₹6,734–10,101
Total (excl. rent) ~CAD 600–750 ~₹40,404–50,505

On-Campus Housing (Graduate Residences 2026–27):

Option Monthly Rent (CAD) INR/Month (Approx.)
Shared Facilities (3704 Peel — Single Room) CAD 875–1,100 ₹58,923–74,074
Solin Hall (Shared Apartment — Single Room) CAD 1,135–1,295 ₹76,431–87,175
Apartment Style (Studio — Greenbriar) CAD 1,155–1,385 ₹77,778–93,236

Rent includes utilities in most on-campus options. International students can work up to 24 hours/week off-campus during academic terms (updated November 2024 IRCC rule) and full-time during scheduled breaks. Minimum wage in Quebec is CAD 16.10/hour (2025), allowing students to earn approximately CAD 1,544/month part-time.

Off-campus rent in the McGill Ghetto/Plateau area typically ranges from CAD 900–1,300/month for a shared apartment.

Admissions: McGill MS CS Eligibility for Indian Students

The program admits students for Fall semester only.

Intake Applications Open International Deadline (Funding) Final Deadline
Fall 2027 September 2026 January 1, 2027 March 1, 2027

Eligibility:

  • Bachelor's degree in CS or a related field with a minimum CGPA of 3.2/4.0 (equivalent to approximately 75–80% aggregate in Indian universities)
  • Equivalent of a strong CS minor: Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Programming Languages, Computer Systems
  • Mathematics background: Calculus, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics

Application Process:

  • Apply via McGill's online portal (Minerva)
  • Submit official transcripts (with certified English translations if applicable)
  • Statement of Purpose (research-focused)
  • Minimum 3 Letters of Recommendation (academic preferred)
  • CV/Resume
  • Identify and contact a potential supervisor before applying — this is critical for thesis admission
  • GRE: Optional for MSc (recommended if applying for scholarships)

English Language Proficiency (ELP):

Test Minimum Score Waiver
TOEFL iBT 100 (min. 20 in each section) Waived if undergraduate instruction was in English
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall Waived if undergraduate instruction was in English

Indian students from English-medium universities (e.g., IITs, NITs, central universities) are typically exempt from ELP requirements if their medium of instruction was English.

MS Computer Science Curriculum at McGill (Brief Overview)

The 45-credit thesis program combines coursework with original research.

  • Thesis Research (COMP 691–694): 29 credits — core of the program
  • Coursework (16 credits): 4 graduate-level CS courses chosen from areas such as:
    • Applied Machine Learning (COMP 551)
    • Algorithms and Data Structures (COMP 566)
    • Natural Language Processing
    • Computer Vision
    • Distributed Systems
    • Bioinformatics
  • Research areas include: AI, ML, Robotics, NLP, Computer Vision, Quantum Computing, Software Engineering

McGill Computer Science Rankings (2026)

McGill's CS program is consistently ranked among the top in Canada and globally.

Ranking Body Rank Year
QS World University Rankings (Overall) #27 2026
QS Subject Rankings — Computer Science #43 2026
Times Higher Education — Computer Science #74 2026
US News — Computer Science (Global) #140 2026

Scholarships for McGill MS CS International Students

Scholarship Eligibility Value Deadline
McCall MacBain Scholarship All nationalities, incoming master's students Full tuition + stipend ~October 2026 (for Fall 2027)
Arbour Foundation Scholarship CS, Engineering, Management students Partial (varies) Check GPS portal
Weston Fellowship All nationalities, incoming & current Varies Check GPS portal
FRQ-NT (Quebec) All nationalities, Natural Sciences & Engineering Up to CAD 17,500/year January 2027
McGill Graduate Award Program Current students, no citizenship restriction Varies Ongoing

Thesis students are also commonly funded through supervisor research grants (RA-ships), which can cover tuition and provide a monthly stipend of CAD 1,500–2,500/month.

Placements & Career Outcomes

McGill CS graduates are hired across Canada, the US and globally. Montreal's tech ecosystem includes companies like Ubisoft, Shopify, Google DeepMind (Montreal), Microsoft Research and numerous AI startups.

Metric Data
Overall McGill placement rate ~90% within 6 months of graduation
Average CS salary in Canada (entry-level) CAD 85,000–95,000/year (₹57–64 Lakhs/year)
Mid-level CS salary (3–5 years) CAD 1,00,000–1,20,000/year (₹67–81 Lakhs/year)
Top roles Software Engineer, ML Engineer, Research Scientist, Data Scientist
Top employers (CS) Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Shopify, Ubisoft, RBC, Mila

ROI: Is McGill MS CS Worth It for Indian Students?

Cost Component CAD INR (Approx.)
Total Tuition (2 years) ~CAD 44,852 ~₹30.20 Lakhs
Total Living Cost (2 years) ~CAD 38,400 ~₹25.85 Lakhs
Total Investment ~CAD 83,252 ~₹56.05 Lakhs
Average Starting Salary (Canada) CAD 90,000/year ₹60.6 Lakhs/year
Break-Even Period ~11 months post-employment

Students who secure RA funding (supervisor grants) can reduce the net tuition cost to near zero. The PGWP of up to 3 years post-graduation provides a direct route to Canadian Permanent Residency through Express Entry (CEC stream), significantly increasing long-term ROI.

McGill's MS Computer Science is one of the strongest research-focused CS programs in Canada. The combination of a globally ranked university (#27 QS 2026), a top-43 CS subject ranking, Montreal's low cost of living, proximity to Mila and a 3-year PGWP makes it a high-ROI choice for Indian students targeting AI/ML research or Canadian tech careers. The total 2-year investment of approximately ₹56 Lakhs is recoverable within the first year of employment in Canada.

FAQs

Ques. Is GRE required for the McGill MS Computer Science program for Indian students?

Ans. GRE is optional for the MSc program. However, Indian students who want to be considered for McGill scholarships or funding are strongly recommended to submit GRE scores, as it strengthens the application for financial support.

Ques. Can Indian students get funded for the McGill MS CS thesis program?

Ans. Yes. Thesis students at McGill CS are frequently funded through supervisor research grants (RA-ships), which typically cover tuition and provide a monthly stipend of CAD 1,500–2,500. The FRQ-NT Quebec provincial scholarship (up to CAD 17,500/year) is also open to international students in Natural Sciences and Engineering.

Ques. What is the PGWP duration after completing MS Computer Science at McGill University?

Ans. Graduates of the 2-year MS CS program at McGill are eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of up to 3 years. This open work permit allows graduates to work for any Canadian employer and is a key pathway to Canadian Permanent Residency through the Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class stream.


Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
Tuition Fees₹2104404 (CAD 31269)

Other Expenses

HeadAvg Cost Per Year
Living Expenses₹1480600 (CAD 22000)
Health Insurance₹77732 (CAD 1155)

Previous Year Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
2025₹1052168 (CAD 15634)
2024₹1327694 (CAD 19728)
2023₹2092559 (CAD 31093)
2021₹1289064 (CAD 19154)

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RK
5.7 /10

  • Through Property managers, WhatsApp groups. $550 private room, private bath.

academic: 6/10
faculty: 6/10
infrastructure: 6/10
accomodation: 6/10
placement: 4/10
extracurricular: 6/10

Scores Required

6.5 / 9

Avg. Score in

IELTS

86 / 120

Avg. Score in

TOEFL

139

Application Fees

45

ECTS Credits


Ranking

20222021

Academy Ranking of World Universities logo
Sciences 42 out of 500 in Global Ranking
( #3 out of 21 in Canada 2022)

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Sciences 169 out of 250 in Global Ranking
( #4 out of 7 in Canada 2022)

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Comments


Found 1 Comment

L
lunjapikai haokip
May 3, 2023 15:14
What are the chances of getting admitted with 3 years Bachelor degree?
S
Sinbad Chongtham
May 4, 2023 08:01

A four-year bachelor’s degree is typically required to apply for graduate admission at McGill University. However, the university also somtimes accepts applications from students who have completed a three-year bachelor’s degree on a case-by-case basis. However, meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program, as admission decisions are highly competitive and based on a holistic review of each students’s credentials.


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Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids

NameScholarship Per StudentLevel of StudyType
Ontario Graduate FellowshipScholarship per student₹ 6 L/Yr$8,875Level Of StudyDoctorateTypeMerit-Based
Jared J. Davis GrantScholarship per student₹ 67,300/Yr$1,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
The Google Lime ScholarshipScholarship per student₹ 6.7 L/Yr$10,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
Golden Key Graduate Scholar AwardScholarship per student₹ 1 L/Yr$1,500Level Of StudyMasterTypeMerit-Based
Axol Science ScholarshipScholarship per student₹ 1.3 L/Yr$2,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeCompany-Sponsored
Business Administration ScholarshipsScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based

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