Computer Science

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)



Meet James Hughes, PhD Alumnus in Computer Science

“I knew that with my supervisor, the community, and the resources, I would be very successful, and I would be able to have the freedom to study what I wanted, how I wanted.”

Supervisor: Mark Daley

Why did you come to Western for your graduate degree?
I decided to come to the Western for my graduate studies for a few reasons. First, I wanted to work with my supervisor as his research areas aligned well with mine. Second, the resources made available to the graduate students here at Western aids my research significantly. Third, I had the opportunity to talk to current graduate students to hear what the atmosphere was really like. This was one of the most valuable experiences as they let me know how friendly the community is and the countless opportunities made available to the students.

How do you de-stress?
Exercise, reading, watching baseball, working on my website.

What is it about your grad program that enables you to thrive and be successful?
My program provides many interesting opportunities. I find that they provide the freedom and resources I need. The faculty is knowledgeable, very friendly and accessible. I also find that I have opportunities for multidisciplinary work (engineering, clinicians, neuroscientists, mathematicians, etc.).

Have you worked as a TA or RA?
I have worked both as a TA and an RA. Being a TA has helped me become a better teacher, and ultimately a better communicator. Being able to communicate challenging ideas to unfamiliar and inexperienced individuals is a skill that will help me communicate my research to others, which will benefit me in academics and ultimately anywhere I end up. Being an RA has supplemented my main project with other research opportunities and has allowed me to work with more people, learn new things, and gain new skills.

Program Websites


Program Contact

Ange Muir (ange.muir@uwo.ca)
Graduate Program Assistant

Department of Computer Science

Western University
Middlesex College Rm 355
London, Ontario N6A 5B7

t. 519-661-2111 ext. 83564
f. 519-661-3515

The Department of Computer Science offers a four-year graduate program leading to a PhD in Computer Science. This program provides a high quality, leading-edge education on Computer Science that produces highly capable and sought after researchers and professional leaders. PhD students have the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in computer science with some of the best researchers in the world.


The Own Your Future doctoral professional development program will help you become a career-ready graduate with the skills necessary to excel in your studies and achieve your future goals. By participating in the program, you will assess your own strengths and opportunities for growth, choose what skills you want to enhance during your time at Western, and learn how to articulate the skills you gained in your degree to optimize your future career opportunities. To learn more, visit www.uwo.ca/ownyourfuture.

Program Length

  • 12 Terms

Program Design

  • Full-time study
  • Thesis-based

Funding Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships (if eligible):

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fee schedules (per term) are posted on the Office of the Registrar's website at http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_schedules.html

Graduate Student Affordability Calculator

Use this helpful tool to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and other necessities for a 12-month (three term) academic year.

Admission Requirements

  • MSc degree in Computer Science from an accredited university, college or institute.
  • Achieved at least a 70% overall average as determined by the Department.

Additional Requirements

Entry into the PhD Program for Applicants with non-CS Undergraduate Degrees

For students who do not hold a four-year Honour's degree in Computer Science, to be eligible to apply for admission into the PhD program they must have the equivalent of the following:

  • Four-year Honours degree (or equivalent) with very high standing from an accredited university, college or institute.
  • Computer Science 3305 (Operating Systems), Computer Science 3331 (Foundations of Computer Science I), Computer Science 3340 (Analysis of Algorithms I), and either Computer Science 3307 (Object Oriented Design and Analysis) or Computer Science 3342 (Organization of Programming Languages.
  • One Computer Science course at the third-year or fourth-year level, different from those listed above.
  • Two additional Computer Science courses at the fourth-year level.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language:

Application Deadline

Domestic Applicants:

  • July 31 - Fall term
  • September 30 - Winter term

International Applicants:

  • February 15 - Fall term
  • July 31 - Winter term

Acceptance notifications are processed on a rolling basis.
International applicants: Acceptance notification by mid-April.
Domestic applicants: Acceptance notification by the end of July.

Fields of Research

  • Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Based Games
  • Bioinformatics and Biocomputing
  • Computer Algebra
  • Distributed Systems
  • Graphics, Image Processing, and Computer Vision
  • Software Engineering and Human Computer Interaction
  • Theoretical Computer Science