Master of Data Science

Application Deadlines

Full-time and part-time admission to the MDS program commence in Fall semester. Entry for Fall 2025 will open September 1, 2024. There is currently no winter entry for this program.

Admission Requirements

Honour’s Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution with a minimum overall average of 75 per cent (B) in the last four semesters of study with:

1) a major or minor in data science, computer science, mathematics, statistics, or a related field; or

2) working knowledge of statistics and computer programming, as demonstrated through completion of university or college level degree credit courses equivalent to the following U of G courses:

• STAT*3240 Applied Regression; and
• CIS*2500 Intermediate Programming

Prospective students with an Honour's Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field who do not meet the above requirements may qualify for entry to the program after completing the Diploma in Applied Statistics (or equivalent) with a minimum overall average of at least 75 per cent (B). Please note, completing this diploma does not automatically guarantee a placement in the Data Science program. However, it is an opportunity for you to increase your knowledge in this area. 

Note: Applicants with an average below 75 per cent will only be considered if there are extenuating circumstances surrounding their academic performance, an explanation of which should be included in the Statement of Academic Intent when applying

Due to the volume of inquiries and applications, we do not assess individual eligibility until a full application is received. The Admissions Committee will then consider the applicant's application package in its entirety. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee entrance to the program as the final decision to send out an offer also depends on the pool of applicants for that entry point.

The Admission Committee will review applications from December 2024 until the end of April 2025. Notifications will be sent to all applicants by the end of June 2025. 

Please do not email us requesting an update for the status of your application. You are able to view the current status of your application via your WebAdvisor. Our Admission Selection Committee will begin reviewing eligible applications November 1st. Official offers are sent out from December to April. We thank you for your patience with our review process.

• Ready to apply? Visit Applying to Guelph for step-by-step instructions using our online application system by the application close date for next cycle. Please follow the steps on the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, Applying to Guelph website. Here is some information about applying:
• Have all your documents ready: you will need your resume/CV, transcript(s) with grading scale/scheme of all previous degree(s), one-page statement of interest, and the email addresses of at least two referees. Two references are required; at least one of them should be academic.
• Apply on OUAC.
• Within 5 business days of completing your application to OUAC, you will receive an email with your login information and instructions on how to upload your documents to our student information system called WebAdvisor. If it has been 5 business days and you have not received your login information, please check your Junk and Spam folders. Otherwise, please contact gradapps@uoguelph.ca

Please note we cannot waive the application fee. All required documentation must be submitted by deadline or your application will be considered incomplete.

Applications from international students are welcomed.

Do I need to provide an English Language Proficiency Score? A valid English proficiency test is required for applicants whose first language is not English. If your first language is not English but you have completed prior post-secondary studies in which English was the language of instruction, then you may request to have your English Language Proficiency requirement waived. You will need to write a brief statement about the University from where you obtained/will be obtaining your degree, then upload this statement in the English score test section of your application. For more information about the English language requirement, acceptable tests, and minimum test scores, please visit the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, English Language Proficiency webpage. 

Academic Credentials: Please use this International Credentials Guide to compare your academic credentials and determine the grade equivalency needed.

GMAT/GRE: Not required for this program.  
WES Reports: Not required for this program.

All applications must be completed and submitted by the deadline outlined above. Due to varied processing time for international student visas, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible for earliest acceptance. Review the overview of the typical application process for Prospective Students - International Applicants for more information.

Part-time study is possible; however, courses are only offered during the workday and are delivered as in-person format. Part-time studies will extend your program past 3 semesters, up to 6 semesters of study.

For information on the fee structure for full-time and part-time tuition, please visit Guelph Graduate Fees.

More information on Cost of Living in Guelph can be found here: Cost of Living While Studying at Guelph.

CEPS Dean’s Graduate Excellence Entrance Scholarships (DGEES) are available to CEPS’s course-based students for the 2025-26 academic year who meet the entry requirements for the program and a minimum 70% admission average. For MDS, up to $5,000 is available for international and domestic students. If awarded, a DGEES will be included in your offer of admission, and it will be applied to your account in the first semester. Learn more.

We are also a Vector-recognized master’s program. Applicants to the Master of Data Science program are considered for the Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence (valued at $17,500) if all eligibility requirements are met. The MDS Awards Committee will put forth one nomination for the closed competition. All other applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for the Vector Scholarship in AI will have an opportunity to apply to the open Vector Scholarship in AI competition and will receive guidance on how to complete the application package from our team.

MDS is a very hands-on program and you need to bring your own a properly configured system, to be able to participate in hands-on exercises and assignments.

We strongly suggest you to arrive to your first class with a modern laptop that supports cloud computing capability. Please back up your system before class. Better yet, do not have any sensitive data stored on the system. We are not responsible for your system or data. 

The MDS graduate faculty have expertise spanning across U of G with exceptional skills in areas related to data science.

Full MDS Affiliated Faculty Listing

As this is a coursework-based program, an advisor is not required; however, this also means there are no internal funding opportunities. 

The MDS collaborates with industry partners to keep the curriculum relevant to the industry needs. Our Data Science Advisory Board, consisting of partners from various industries, was formed in 2021, serving as long-term advisors to the program, and providing feedback on curriculum and other potential areas of program improvement.

The Fall semester is the only entry point for this program. The application portal opens on September 1st every year and closes on February 15th every year. There is no Winter entry for this program. To be considered for the Vector Scholarship, completed applications must be submitted no later than December 15th every year.

Billing and payments are completed on a semesterly basis. After you have registered for the semester, you will be able to make payment arrangements. More information about methods of payment can be found on the Student Financial Services website - Payment and Settlements webpage.

For the Student Direct Stream (SDS) process, please contact our Student Financial Services office, accquest@uoguelph.ca for assistance.

If your first language is not English but you have completed prior post-secondary studies in which English was the language of instruction, then you may request to have your English Language Proficiency requirement waived. You will need to write a brief statement about the University from where you obtained/will be obtaining your degree, then upload this statement in the English score test section of your application. For more information about the English language requirement, acceptable tests, and minimum test scores, please visit the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, English Language Proficiency webpage.

• Academic credentials: Use the International Credential Guidelines to compare your academic credentials and determine the grade equivalency needed.
• International applicants are also encouraged to visit the UofG International page and the OGPS - International Applicants page.

Yes, part-time study is an option. Registering as a part-time student may impact the eligibility for international students to gain a post-graduate work permit upon graduation.

All courses offered within this program are delivered through in-class format only.

Our Admission Selection Committee will begin reviewing eligible applications on November 1st. Official offers are sent out from December to April.

The entry requirements are set to ensure sufficient depth in at least one of statistics, mathematics, and computer science so that incoming students are prepared to succeed in the program. If you do not meet these requirements, you must have sufficient breadth in statistics and computer programming to ensure success in the program. You can use the Statement of Interest in your application to explain why you believe that your prior coursework and/or work experiences have adequately prepared you to meet the eligibility requirements. The Admission Selection Committee will assess your eligibility once a complete application is received.

In general, an engineering degree may qualify as a "related degree," but it depends on the discipline and how much statistics, mathematics, and/or computer science is taken in the program. These relevant disciplines include, but are not limited to, Computer, Electrical, Electronic, Environmental, Information Technology, Software, and Systems Engineering. You can use the Statement of Interest in your application to explain why you believe that your prior coursework and/or work experiences have adequately prepared you to meet the eligibility requirements. The Admission Selection Committee will assess your eligibility once a complete application is received.

The eligibility requirements, including the minimum GPA standards, are set to ensure that incoming students are prepared to succeed in the program. You are welcome to apply to the program. All applications received are reviewed and ranked by eligibility requirements.

No. You do not need to identify a supervisor. A faculty supervisor is not a program requirement for the MDS program.

No, there is no co-op option for this program. There is an option for a project course but does not come with guaranteed funding.

We strongly encourage you to submit one academic and one professional reference. If this is not possible, we will accept two professional references. However, this is not preferred.

Here is a list of required documents you will need to complete your application package:

• Transcript(s) and grading scales/schemes of all previous degree(s)
• An up-to-date CV/resume
• One-page statement of interest – this is an additional supplement document separate from the SOI within the OUAC application
• Valid English Language test result (if applicable)