Advice for Prospective Students
Thank you for your interest! I am looking for talented students at all levels (PhD, master's, or undergraduate) to join my group. The best way to demonstrate your interest is to send me a personalized email indicating how your research interests align with mine. I understand this might feel abstract, so here is a set of instructions I would recommend you follow to maximize your chances:
- Indicate the role in the subject. I would recommend you use this exact subject: "Master's/PhD/Undergraduate opportunities in your group (Domestic/International)". If you do, it will tell me you read this page.
- Briefly describe who you are. Here, I insist on brief. You do not need to go over all your previous experiences and skills unless there is something you want me to know that is not already obvious from your CV. Instead, spend time on the next point about research.
- Mention 1-2 of my papers you find most interesting and propose original ideas that build upon them. These ideas can be as simple as proposing new features, or trying to apply the work to a new domain. I am also open to new topics, but then make it clear why you think my expertise could be beneficial.
- Briefly mention additional information that may be relevant. For example, a good way to show me your technical skills is to give me a link to your github profile or other projects you developped.
Applying
I can recruit master's and PhD students through the DIRO at Université de Montréal (deadline Feb 1st / Sept 1st) or through Mila (deadline Dec 1st). For DIRO PhD students, you will need my approval to be able to apply. So please, reach out to me well in advance of the application deadline.
For more information, see the application process for DIRO master's / Mila master's / DIRO PhD / Mila PhD.
For undergraduate students, please send me an email. If you are from the Université de Montréal, you can also take a look at the IFT3150/4055 projects, I frequently add new subjects there.`
Studying at Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is one of the best Canadian universities. Rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, but computer science at UdeM is usually in the top 5 in Canada, and top 50 world (e.g., the Shanghai ranking placed CS@UdeM 2nd in Canada and 24th world in 2024; Times Higher Education placed CS@UdeM 3rd in Canada and 46th world in 2025).
About the lab: the lab is located in the Pavillon André-Aisenstadt, which is the main building for computer science. This building is located in the main campus, on the mountain "Mount Royal", which means easy access to nature all while being minutes away from the subway. All students are assigned a permanent desk in the lab.
About tuition: your tuition will vary depending on your position (MSc, PhD), status (international or domestic), and advancement in the program (tuition is lower once you are done with classes & comps). UdeM has relatively low tuition fees compared to many universities in Canada (see tuition fees on the UdeM website). Even for international PhD students, you are likely eligible for an exemption that will make your tuition fees similar to domestic students (see bourse d'exemption). When comparing offers, I would recommend you pay close attention to the tuition fee as this will substantially impact how much you will receive in the end. Keep in mind that in Canada, most universities have three terms, meaning you pay tuition three times a year.
About comprehensive examination: the comp exams are quite similar to other universities and include taking a number of (grad) classes and giving a research presentation. See the details on the department website.
About Mila: you will be affiliated with Mila. This means that, on top of the benefits of being a UdeM student, you will also be part of the Mila community, giving you Slack access, building access, and frequent invitations for talks and activities. But please remember that the lab is located at UdeM, and that your diploma will be from UdeM (Mila is not a University).