Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#1

Post by buss » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 1:06 AM UTC

I'm considering a move to Canada sometime in the next year or two, but I plan on going to grad school (I'm on track to finish my BS in CS in the next two years). If I do decide to make the move, what are the best computer science schools, preferably with significant research in security? I like the Vancouver area, but I don't think the University of British Columbia would be a good pick for CS. Opinions?

Also, it would be nice, but not necessary, for there to be some amount of startup activity in the area.

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#2

Post by amichail » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 1:23 AM UTC

Univ of Toronto is the top one overall for grad school though I don't know how much security research is done there.

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#3

Post by ozzieg » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 2:09 AM UTC

University of Waterloo has always ranked at the top of all CS programs, and is the most sought after school with respect to university recruiting. Security is thoroughly covered in the combinatorics department of the math faculty

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#4

Post by cperciva » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 2:10 AM UTC

Can you be a bit more specific than "security"? Are you interested in cryptography? Protocol analysis? Formal security proofs? Automatic analysis of source code to detect bugs (think Coverity)? Also, from a general point of view, do you consider Computer Science to be a branch of mathematics, or a field of engineering?

If you like Vancouver, I'd certainly recommend considering SFU -- as a whole, SFU is smaller than UBC, but the CS departments are almost exactly the same size.

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#5

Post by mmp » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 2:18 AM UTC

I'm a CS grad student at the Universite de Montreal. It's probably not what you're looking for (what's security?), since it's francophone and concentrates mainly on operations research, but if there's any interest feel free to email me.

If you do come to Montreal, check http://montrealtechwatch.com/ for local startup activity. In any case, it's a great city to live in.

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#6

Post by buss » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 2:45 AM UTC

cperciva wrote: post #4

Can you be a bit more specific than "security"? Are you interested in cryptography? Protocol analysis? Formal security proofs? Automatic analysis of source code to detect bugs (think Coverity)? Also, from a general point of view, do you consider Computer Science to be a branch of mathematics, or a field of engineering? If you like Vancouver, I'd certainly recommend considering SFU -- as a whole, SFU is smaller than U…

By security, I mean cryptography, intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and web-based attacks (like SQL injection, XSS, and the like). I consider computer security to be equal parts mathematics and engineering (even the best cryptosystems can be engineered poorly and introduce weak points).

I'm taking a course (in the mathematics department) on elliptic curve cryptography, and I am a new member on UF's infosec team. I'll be competing in this year's iCTF, so that should help give you an idea of what I mean by security and what I'm interested in researching.

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#7

Post by theorique » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 2:57 AM UTC

Waterloo is probably a good bet. Startup and entrepreneurship history (Maple, RIM/Blackberry).

Strong in math and applied math also. http://www.cacr.math.uwaterloo.ca/ http://crysp.uwaterloo.ca/

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#8

Post by hello_moto » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 3:03 AM UTC

The head of CS department has a PhD from MIT with strong Math background and a fellow AT&T researcher specializing in security.

http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/2005/05mar03/defe...

UBC has won ACM Pacific Northwest Programming Contest for 4 years in a row beating Stanford, Berkeley and the rest. The other 2 UBC teams usually place within top 10 (3rd, 4th place)

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#9

Post by neilk » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 3:08 AM UTC

In Canada, Waterloo is head and shoulders above the rest for almost anything. Ian Goldberg teaches there now, so there's at least one world-class security researcher. I believe there are plenty of startups in the area, but I don't have first-hand knowledge. I can tell you that a Waterloo degree is looked on very favorably at Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo.

In Vancouver, your picks are UBC or Simon Fraser University. I don't know enough about their grad programs to say anything useful, but I know SFU has a very good undergrad degree, and they really mentor their students to be entrepreneurs. There is a startup scene in Vancouver but it's a bit lightweight, with a few notable exceptions.

Re: Ask YC: What are the best computer science universities in Canada?

#10

Post by neilk » Thu, Nov 08, 2007, 3:09 AM UTC

neilk wrote: post #9

In Canada, Waterloo is head and shoulders above the rest for almost anything. Ian Goldberg teaches there now, so there's at least one world-class security researcher. I believe there are plenty of startups in the area, but I don't have first-hand knowledge. I can tell you that a Waterloo degree is looked on very favorably at Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo. In Vancouver, your picks are UBC or Simon Fraser University. I…

Cryptography, Security and Privacy research group at Waterloo:

http://crysp.uwaterloo.ca/