Master of Mathematics (MMath) in Combinatorics and Optimization - Quantum Information

The program information below was valid for the spring 2023 term (May 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Spring
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
  • Program type 
    • Collaborative
    • Master's
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
  • Study option(s) 
  • Minimum requirements 
    • A four-year Honours Bachelor degree or its equivalent in mathematics or in a closely related field with a 78% overall average or its equivalent for undergraduate work.
    • Applicants educated outside of Canada, including those from the United States, are recommended to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) subject test in mathematics. Neither the GRE general test nor the GRE subject test is required.
  • Application materials 
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      normally from academic sources.

  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 4 courses, including the 2 Quantum Information core courses, 1 other CO core courses, and at least 1 other CO course.
    • Combinatorics and Optimization core courses:
      • CO 630 Algebraic Enumeration
      • CO 642 Graph Theory
      • CO 650 Combinatorial Optimization
      • CO 663 Convex Optimization and Analysis
      • CO 681 Quantum Information Processing
      • CO 685 The Mathematics of Public-Key Cryptography
    • Quantum Information core courses:
      • QIC 710 Quantum Information Processing (equivalent to CO 681 Quantum Information Processing)
      • QIC 750 Implementation of Quantum Information Processing
    • If students have credit for a course deemed equivalent to a particular required course by the Department Graduate Committee, then that part of the core requirement may be waived. An overall average of at least 75% must be maintained.
    • A student may obtain credit for one graduate term course by completing two undergraduate term courses; however, any student wishing to exercise this option must seek the approval of the Department Graduate Committee.
    • Unsatisfactory academic performance in any one course will result in a review of the student's status by the Department Graduate Committee. If a student with a failed course is permitted to continue, additional work may be required to clear the failure in that course, or by replacement of the failed course; alternatively, the student may be required to repeat part or all of the program.
    • Students without the required prerequisite knowledge may find it necessary to complete some courses at the 3rd or 4th year undergraduate level before proceeding to the core courses. The core courses may be replaced with other courses provided the Department Graduate Committee agrees that they are equivalent. The choice of the precise set of core courses is left to the student and the student's supervisor.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Graduate Studies Research Skills Seminar
  • Master’s Thesis
    • The thesis requirement consists of the writing of an expository or research thesis in Quantum Information. The thesis topic is to be arranged with a faculty member who serves as the Thesis Supervisor. This requirement is met, and credit assigned, when the Thesis Supervisor and two additional readers approve the thesis. In addition to distributing a copy of the MMath thesis to the supervisor and readers, the thesis should also be deposited in the Mathematics Graduate Office for display for a period of three weeks.