About À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

About the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

The best and brightest are drawn to the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ for its renowned academic programs, its world-leading co-operative education program, and its teaching and research excellence. The university embraces the opportunity to collaborate with — and be elevated by —Ìýa world-class peer group.

University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus during the fall

The University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ champions a culture of curiosity, exploration, risk-taking, entrepreneurship, global stewardship and leadership. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵÌýbrings bold ideas and brilliant minds together, inspiring innovationÌýwith global impact today and in the future.

University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ facts — computer science

  • À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is rankedÌýnumber one for computer science for the fifth year in a rowÌýbased on program and research reputationÌýaccording to theÌý²Ñ²¹³¦±ô±ð²¹²Ô’sÌý2023 university rankings, and among the top 25Ìýinternationally for computer scienceÌýaccording to the 2024,Ìý,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýÌýQuacquarelli SymondsÌýworldwide university subject rankings.
  • Nationally and internationallyÌýrecognized faculty — the Cheriton School of Computer Science is home to eleven Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, ten Fellows of the Association for Computing Machinery, sevenÌýFellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, one Canada Excellence Research Chair, two Canada Research Chairs, two NSERC Industrial Research Chairs,Ìýand 15 Ontario Early Researcher Award winners; find out more about our award-winning faculty.
  • À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is theÌýonly Canadian university to win the , taking the prized titleÌý. Since 1993, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ has qualified for the ICPC World Finals 28 times, beenÌýICPC World Champions twice, andÌýICPC North American Champions seven times. Learn more about ourÌýhistory at the ICPC.
  • Cheriton School of Computer ScienceÌýfacultyÌýhave launched more than 50 companies and start-ups, among them Axelar,Ìý, Inductiv, , , , Rapid Novor, , and .
  • °Â²¹³Ù±ð°ù±ô´Ç´Ç’s youngest graduate student,Ìý, was just over 14 years old when he enrolled in computer science at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. He completed his PhD by age 20 under the supervision of Cheriton School of Computer Science ProfessorsÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý.ÌýErik DemaineÌýisÌý.

  • Cheriton School of Computer Science doctoral students have become professors at universities across the globe, including at MIT, Harvard, Cornell, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Stanford, the University of Alberta and UBC.

  • Cheriton School of Computer Science undergraduate alumni excel in graduate programs around the world, and are sought after by tech giants, innovative startups, and small- and medium-sizedÌýenterprises. Cheriton undergrads have founded multi-million dollar companies, among them , Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý.

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's Davis Centre lit by warm sunlight

The Davis Centre (L), lit up as the sun sets, is where the Cheriton School of Computer Science resides. DC is connected to the Math and Computer Building by a two-story accessible bridge — a bridge that’s both physical and metaphorical. The MC Building is where computer science at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ started. We continue to have deep connections to the other four academic departments within °Â²¹³Ù±ð°ù±ô´Ç´Ç’s Faculty of Mathematics.

At most universities, departmental branches of computer science and mathematics are typically housed within a faculty of science or a faculty of arts. But at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ mathematics is a faculty.

University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ facts — general

Peter Russell Rock Garden during the fall

°Â²¹³Ù±ð°ù±ô´Ç´Ç’s Peter Russell Rock GardenÌýwasÌýcreated in 1982 toÌýcommemorate the university’s 25th anniversary. Voted best outdoor space, thisÌýeducational and beautiful landmark in the heart of campus has grown steadily over the years to contain more than 70 specimens of rocks and minerals.

The rock garden is a fewÌýminutes away by footÌýfrom the Cheriton School of Computer Science. It's a beautiful spot all year long, but especially in the spring and fall.

Beyond Tradition — A documentary about the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and its early days in CSÌýresearch and application

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Ken McLaughlin hasÌýspent his career uncovering and shaping the stories of our local communities into urban portraits that breathe with the life ofÌýgreat biographies.Ìý

Take a walk through time as heÌýuncovers °Â²¹³Ù±ð°ù±ô´Ç´Ç’s historic legacies, including the introduction of co-operative education, early entrepreneurial ventures that lead to revolutionary spin-off companies, and the integration of computers and computer scienceÌýin the post-secondary world.Ìý

The video captures key moments of °Â²¹³Ù±ð°ù±ô´Ç´Ç’s history, and starting at ~6:40 it recounts our early days in computer science research and application, pioneered byÌýWes Graham, a professor and the first director of the university’s computer centre.

About À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region and the City of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is a dynamic urban centre well known for its cultural diversity and high-tech savvy.

Often rated as one of the top 10 cities to live in Canada, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ attracts business talent and students from around the world, advancing its reputation as one of the country’s smartest communities.

The cities of , , and are known as the tri-cities. Over time, they have grown so that their borders are no longer distinct and they now share several services, such as bussing, through the larger .

The City of °Â²¹³Ù±ð°ù±ô´Ç´Ç’s population in 2020 was about 150,000.ÌýThe Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ — made up of the cities of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, Kitchener, Cambridge, and four surrounding townships — is the 10th largest community in Canada with a population of 620,000. The region is targeting to reach a population of 740,000 by 2031.

According to the , in the following were the average prices for housing in the area:

  • Detached homeÌý— $885k Cdn
  • Semi-detached homeÌý—Ìý$650k Cdn
  • TownhouseÌý—Ìý$643k Cdn
  • CondominiumÌý—Ìý$484k Cdn

The University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is within commuting distanceÌýof several nearby towns andÌýcities. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to drive across Kitchener-À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.ÌýBased on Google Maps, the following are approximate drive times to nearby cities andÌýpoints of interest:Ìý

  • Pearson International Airport: 60 minutes
  • Toronto, OntarioÌý(provincial capital): 90 minutes
  • Niagara Falls, Ontario: 90 minutes
  • Buffalo, New York: 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Detroit, Michigan: 3 hours
  • Ottawa, Ontario (capital of Canada): 6 hours

If you are interested in moving to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, the following links give insight into what the city offers.ÌýSome of the links are to realtorÌýor commercial business sites. These resources have been marked with an asterisk.ÌýThis is not an endorsement or recommendation,Ìýbut the information mayÌýbe useful.

General information about the region

Why À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is a great place to live

  • ,Ìýa free and open data sharing portal where anyone can access and use data relating to the City of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
  • The 2018 À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Economic Development profile document of the region:ÌýÌýand theÌý
  • Ìýallows you to compare À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ to other communities, and see individual rankings
  • ,Ìýa website maintained by Communitech, the technology incubator
  • ,Ìýan overview of the city written with the newcomer in mind
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Neighbourhoods, schools and multicultural services

Kitchener-À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is made up of several distinct neighbourhoods. The following links will help you understand the neighbourhoods and find ones that areÌýbest forÌýyou.

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Ontario has two publicly funded school boards — the public school board and the Catholic schoolÌýboard. In addition to these boards are a variety of private schools that may meet your family’s educational needs.

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À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is proud of the diversity of its population. The following sites canÌýhelp you find a community within your new community.

Getting around the Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region has investedÌýheavily in alternative modes of transportation. From the new Ion Light RailÌýsystem to get youÌýaround the city, a GO station to help you commute to Toronto, and a network of well-maintainedÌýbike trails, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ wants you to get around in the way that best suits your needs.

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Ion station near Davis Centre

The University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Ion station provides easy access for students,Ìýstaff and faculty from the university’s main campus. The station is between Engineering 5 and the Davis Centre, which houses the Cheriton School of Computer Science,Ìýon main campus.

Finding employment

If you are moving to work at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, the following sites may be great resources to help others who move with you to find work.Ìý

Entertainment, children’s activities and restaurants

From the world-class exhibits that come through in downtown KitchenerÌýto the art-house movies shown at the and Cinemas, the region offers a wide range of entertainment.

If you areÌýinterested in live entertainment, the has one of the best acoustic performance areas in the world and is home to the . in Kitchener is home to the Ontario Hockey League’s and, like the Centre In The Square, also hosts a variety of music andÌýentertainment acts.

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region is a great place for families. From nontraditional campsÌýto house-league sports, you can find an activity to suitÌýanyone’s interest.

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Looking to try a new place to eat? The following links are a good start to learn about the variety of dining options in the city.