MS Computer Science

Overview

The MS in Computer Science Programme aims at developing professionals who are equipped with skills to cope with the diverse and ever changing field of CS. The Programme provides students with a solid theoretical foundation along with knowledge of latest trends in specialised areas.

The two-year MS Programme provides rigorous training that not only provides a reliable understanding of systems, processes and technologies but also equips them with the ability to design new and imaginative solutions to problems. Those applicants who have a background in CS can complete the Programme in one-year by taking the required 30 credit hours.

Strengths of the MS Programme:

  • A solid theoretical foundation is ensured through the core courses and prerequisite requirements
  • Ability to understand the theoretical basis of problem-solving
  • Concentrated knowledge about latest trends in specialised areas:
    • Network and Distributed Systems
    • Software Engineering
    • Machine Learning
    • Data Science
    • Computer Vision
    • Computer and Network Security
    • Cloud Computing
    • Algorithms
  • Ability to understand and apply current research in these areas
  • Flexibility to focus on one area.
  • Wide range of course offerings.
  • High quality full time faculty, active in research.
  • Opportunity to work as research assistants with the faculty.
  • Opportunity to continue into the PhD Programme, upon clearing the Qualifier Exam.

* The medium of instruction at LUMS is English for all degree programmes offered. Assessments are accepted in English only.

Note:
Generous Financial Aid and Scholarships available for qualifying students.

Structure

The Department of Computer Science offers MS degree with Thesis as well as with course‐work‐only options. The course structure for MS in Computer Science is given in Table X.

Table X: Course requirements for MS in Computer Science (all Courses are 3 credit hours each)

Categories Course Description
Core Courses Depth Core Computer Science CS 510  Design and Analysis of Algorithms
Mathematics CS 5014 Applied  Statistics   OR   CS 501 Applied Probability
Breadth Core
(1+1+1)		 1 course from each stream is required to fulfill the breadth core requirement

Stream I:
Systems

Any course with code prefixes:
CS 52X (Architecture)
CS 57X (Networks)
CS 58X (Distributed Systems)
fulfills the core course requirement for Systems stream.

Examples:
CS 570 Advanced Operating Systems
CS 582 Distributed Systems
CS 585 Service Oriented Computing

Stream II:
Software Engineering

Any course with course code prefix:
CS 56X (Software Engineering)
fulfills the core course requirement for Software Engineering stream.

Examples:
CS 561 Human Computer Interaction
CS 569 Design Patterns & Refactoring
CS 567 Software Reuse
CS 560 Distributed Software Systems Development

Stream III:
Data Science

Any course with course code prefix:
CS 53X (Machine Learning)
CS 55X (Computer Vision)
fulfills the core course requirement for Data Science stream.

Examples:
CS 5312 Big Data Analytics
CS 535 Machine Learning
CS 532 Intelligent Computing
CS 536 Data Mining
CS 5310 Computer Vision Fundamentals
Elective Courses Students may take electives from within one or multiple streams. Apart from the following courses with prefix CS6XX, any course with prefix CS5XX taken in addition to the core requirement will also be counted as elective
Examples:
CS 677 Internet of Things
CS 678 Topics in Internet Research		 Examples:
CS 664 Software Engineering for Smart Grids
CS 666 Topics in Interactive Computing		 Examples:
CS 674 Digital Image Processing
   
Credit hour requirement for elective courses = 9 for MS-by-thesis; 15 for MS-by-coursework

MS‐By‐Coursework

In addition to the 15 credit hours of core courses, each graduate student must take 15 credit hours of electives to complete the requirements of the MS degree. The following restrictions apply on the elective courses for students who wish to pursue the MS‐by‐coursework option.

  • At least 12 credits of letter grade courses (excluding Seminar Courses and Independent studies).
  • Maximum 6 credit hours of free electives from other SBASSE departments or schools or courses with code CS59X.
  • A 3-credit hour MS Project may also count towards the 15 credit hour electives requirement of the MS degree.

MS‐By‐Thesis

In addition to the 15 credit hours of core courses, each graduate student must take 6 credit hours of MS Thesis; MS Thesis I CS 509 A and MS Thesis II CS 509 B in two separate semesters, and 9 credit hours of electives to complete the requirements for the MS degree.

The following restrictions apply on the elective courses for students who wish to pursue the MS‐with‐Thesis.

  • At least 9 credit hours of letter grade courses (excluding MS Project, Seminar Courses, or Independent Studies).
  • Maximum 3 credit hours of free electives from other SBASSE departments or schools or courses with code CS59X.

Important Dates

MS (Computer Science / Electrical Engineering / Mathematics / Physics / Biology / Chemistry)

ActivityDate
Online Application Deadline (PST)
15 Apr 2020
05:00 pm
Deadline to submit supporting documents
16 Apr 2020
Online Application Deadline (PST) -- LUMS UG Continuing Students
15 Apr 2020
05:00 pm
Deadline to submit supporting documents - LUMS UG Continuing Students
16 Apr 2020
Admission decisions
01 Jul 2020 to 31 Jul 2020
Notes: 

The University reserves the right to change dates and deadlines for admissions. Please keep informed of any changes by visiting www.lums.edu.pk periodically as well as the LUMS online application site.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria for Fall 2020 Admissions

Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility criteria in order to be considered for admission to the Graduate Programme.

The Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) offers MS Programme in Computer Science of two years’ duration.

Admission is purely merit-based and rests solely on the following criteria:

  1. Academic record;
  2. Performance in the Admission Tests;
  3. Completed and submitted application form and supporting documents by the stipulated deadline;
  4. Interview Performance (if called)

Note: This is the minimum criteria that applicants need to fulfil in order to be eligible to apply. Fulfilment of this criteria does not guarantee admission to LUMS.

Academic Requirements for Fall 2020 Admissions

A minimum of 16 years of education is required for applying to the MS Programme in Computer Science.

Applicants are expected to have obtained their Bachelor’s (or Master’s) degree from the National or Foreign institutions that are accredited or recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan. Applicants who have obtained their degrees from institutions that are not listed with the HEC, Pakistan, will be required to obtain an Equivalence Certificate from the HEC. For further information, please visit: www.hec.gov.pk.

As a minimum academic performance, all applicants must have a CGPA of at least 2.4 (on a scale of 4) or at least 60% marks in all university-level degrees (i.e. 4 years Bachelor’s degree or 2 years BSc. degree and 2 years MSc. degree). In addition, applicants must have secured at least 60% marks in their FSc. exam. A-level students must have at least 65% marks on IBCC equivalence scale with at most 1 D grade.

Applicants applying to the MS Programme in Computer Science must have their Bachelor’s (or Master’s) degree in any one of the following areas:

  • Computer Science
  • Software Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Other closely related disciplines that are synergistically aligned with computing (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Accounting, Economics or Management Sciences) and involve rigorous coursework in Mathematics and strong programming background.

Note:

Applicants completing their last degree by June 30, 2020 are also eligible to apply for MS Programme if they are meeting all minimum admission requirements at the time of submission of application.

Please note applicants need to provide the final official transcript by June 30, 2020 or they will not be considered for admission in MS Programme.

Admission Eligibility Criteria for LUMS SBASSE Continuing Students

BS - MS Programme

LUMS BS students graduating in 2020 from SBASSE with a Subject CGPA (SCGPA) of ≥ 3.0 in their BS degree are eligible to apply.

Following are the application categories:

  1. SBASSE students who have obtained a Subject CGPA (SCGPA) of ≥ 3.0 in their BS degree are exempted from the LUMS Graduate Admissions Test (LGAT) and LUMS SBASSE Subject Test.
    The application submission deadline for this category of students is April 15, 2020. Please note that the exemption from the LGAT and LUMS Subject test will only be granted if the SCGPA ≥ 3.0 requirement is met at the time of application submission.
    Please visit the following link to apply for this programme: https://admissions.lums.edu.pk
  2. SBASSE students who have obtained a Subject CGPA (SCGPA) of ≥ 3.0 (at the time of application submission) in their BS degree applying across departments will be required to take the SBASSE Subject Test in the subject they want to pursue their MS in.
    The application submission deadline for this category of students is April 15, 2020. The LUMS Graduate Admissions Test (LGAT) is waived off for this category of students but they must successfully register for LUMS SBASSE Subject Test through LUMS Online admission system on or before April 15, 2020.

​Please note that the exemption from the LGAT will only be granted if the SCGPA ≥ 3.0 requirement is met at the time of application submission.

Note:

SBASSE students with a SCGPA of < 3.0 must take LGAT and SBASSE Subject Tests. They are expected to apply through the regular admission process. The application submission deadline for this category of students is April 15, 2020.

Please visit the following link to apply https://admissions.lums.edu.pk.

Admission Test Requirement for Fall 2020 Admissions

a. Local Applicants

Applicants to the MS Programme in Computer Science are required to take following two (2) admissions tests in order to be considered for Fall 2020 admission:

  1. LUMS Graduate Admission Test (LGAT); and
  2. LUMS SBASSE Subject Test in Computer Science

Please visit the following link to apply https://admissions.lums.edu.pk.

Exemption for applicants who have taken Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Tests

  • Applicants who have taken the Graduate Record Examination GRE (General) (through the Educational Testing Service (ETS) USA) during the last two (2) years (i.e. after April 01, 2018) and obtained an aggregate score of 300 in the quantitative and verbal sections may choose not to take the LGAT.
  • Due to the unavailability of GRE Subject Test in Computer Science, all local applicants must take the LUMS SBASSE Subject Test in Computer Science.

b. International Applicants

Applicants residing outside Pakistan are required to take the GRE General Test through the Educational Testing Service (ETS), USA. For further information, please visit www.ets.org.

Due to the unavailability of GRE Subject Test in Computer Science, such applicants will be assessed based on their GRE General Test score only.

Note:

  • LUMS Graduate Admission Test (LGAT) is comprised of Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical sections.
  • The LUMS Graduate Admission Test (LGAT) and the SBASSE Subject Test in Computer Science for Fall 2020 will be announced later.
  • LGAT and SBASSE Subject Test Scores will be valid only for One (1) academic year.
  • The LGAT and SBASSE Subject Test scores will be used for application evaluation, hence will not be disclosed to applicants.

Subject Test Guidelines:

Please visit the following link; Subject Test Guidelines

Supporting Documents Requirement for Fall 2020 Admissions

Applicants must complete and submit their online application form on or before April 15, 2020; 5:00 pm (PST). The application form can be accessed online at http://admissions.lums.edu.pk. In addition, all applicants are required to submit all supporting documents to the LUMS Admissions Office on or before April 16, 2020.

Waiving Recommendation Letters.

The applicants need to provide the names and contact details of referees and LUMS Admissions Office will contact them while processing admission applications.

Application Processing & LUMS Test Registration fee (if applicable)

  • The application processing fee of  Rs.1200 (SBASSE MS/PhD Programmes).
  • LGAT & LUMS SBASSE Subject Test Registration Fee of Rs. 1000 (SBASSE MS/PhD Programmes).
  • The application processing fee of $81 for International applicants (SBASSE MS/PhD Programmes).
  • The application processing and LGAT & LUMS SBASSE Subject Test Registration Fee of $89 for International applicants (SBASSE MS/PhD Programmes).

Payment Procedure

After the successful submission of the online application form through the LUMS Online account on or before the application submission deadline, applicants will be able to print a system generated Application Processing and LUMS Test Registration (if applicable) Fee payment voucher.  For further details regarding Fee payment options Click here

Proof of Payment

A stamped copy of the payment voucher or a confirmation email of an online banking transaction constitutes proof of payment. Applicants are required to send a copy of payment proof along with all other required supporting documents as ONE package on or before the stipulated deadline.

Applicants must print and paste the “Mailing label” on the envelope before sending it to the LUMS Office of Admissions. Applications or documents received after the stipulated deadline will not be processed.
 

Interview Performance

Shortlisted applicants may be called for an interview.

FAQs

What are the admission requirements for MS Programme?

Please visit the following link for the minimum eligibility criteria; https://admission.lums.edu.pk/graduate-programmes

Do you require any test for admission to the MS Programme?

Please visit the following link for admission test details; https://admission.lums.edu.pk/testing

How can I submit the application processing and test fee (if applicable)?

After the successful submission of the online application form you will be able to print a system generated Application Processing and LUMS Test Registration (if applicable) Fee payment voucher. Please print the fee voucher for making payments at Allied Bank Branches throughout Pakistan. The voucher can be paid:

  • In cash by presenting the payment voucher along with the requisite amount at any Allied Bank branch throughout Pakistan.

By which date should applicants expect their Test Registration Cards to be delivered?

Test Registration Cards and instructions will be posted to the applicants' secure online application account and an email message will alert applicants that the Test Registration Card has been posted. It will be posted on applicants' online account one week before the test date.

I have submitted my online application & all required documents on time but I am unable to view my Test Registration Card?

If an applicant is unable to view his/her Test Registration Card despite completing all the requirements then he/she can write to us at helpdeskao@lums.edu.pk.

I have not yet received any confirmation email after the submission of my online application. What should I do?

You should recheck the completion and proper submission of your online application.

Is it possible to apply after the deadline?

Applications submitted after the deadlines are not accepted.

How do I inform about a change in the online application?

It is highly recommended to fill out the application form carefully. No changes can be made after the submission of online application. In sheer need an applicant can send the updated information to helpdeskao@lums.edu.pk with the specific header "Change in Application Form".

I have received my transcripts for Bachelor's/Master's but I do not have the degree. What should I do?

You should submit all your transcripts latest by the document submission deadline. Copy of your degree can be submitted later.

Is financial aid available for MS students?

Yes, financial aid is available on need basis.

How and when do I apply for financial aid?

You should apply for financial aid while submitting your online application. The application form for the financial assistance is within the online admission application.

Whom should I ask to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?

The recommendation letters can be from a faculty member who has had a reasonable opportunity to evaluate you academically.

Are there any specific quotas in admission?

Admission in LUMS MS Programme is purely merit based and there are no quotas.

 

 

Can my admission be deferred?

In truly exceptional circumstances the Graduate Programme Committee may grant a deferral. All requests should be made in writing and will be reviewed on a case to case basis.

How will you notify me regarding a decision on my application?

Final Admission decision will be communicated through an official letter; however, you can check your application status through your online account. Regretfully, we are unable to provide information regarding your application status by telephone or e-mail.

Do you have any age limit for the admission to the MS Programme?

No, there are no age restrictions.

May I appeal my admission decision or ask to have the decision explained?

The admission process is a well deliberated and thorough process. Each year we receive a large number of outstanding applications. Unfortunately, all of them do not qualify because of the limited number of available seats. The decision regarding admission is final.

If your application is unsuccessful you will also receive a letter informing you of this. Due to the volume of applications the University receive, it is not possible to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Who is an International applicant?

A Foreign national who is not of Pakistani origin and does not have a Pakistani passport/NICOP/CNIC is eligible to apply to LUMS under its International Student Programme. Applicants holding dual nationality out of which one is Pakistani are not eligible to apply through LUMS International Student Programme.

What is the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan?

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan is an independent, autonomous, and constitutionally established institution of primary funding, overseeing, regulating, and accrediting the higher education efforts in Pakistan.
HEC is responsible for formulating higher education policy and quality assurance to meet the international standards as well as providing accrediting academic degrees, development of new institutions, and uplift of existing institutions in Pakistan.

How do I get equivalence from Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan?

International students can get equivalence through the following process: http://hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/Equivalence%20Degree%20Issuance.

Does LUMS offer campus accommodation to international students?

LUMS provides a well-maintained residential environment for International students.

What are the visa requirements for LUMS as an International applicant?

Please visit the link for visa requirements: https://international.lums.edu.pk/visa-and-travel#int-accbtn-1a.

Fees

Fee Structure for FY 2020-21

Particulars

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

 

PKR

PKR

Admission Fee (One Time Charge)

81,500

-

Tuition Fee

175,800

175,800

Semester Registration Fee

26,900

26,900

General Security (Refundable - One Time Charge)

34,400

-

Total Fee

318,600

202,700


Hostel Fee

Particulars

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

 

PKR

PKR

Hostel Fee (double occupancy)

45,000

45,000

Hostel Fee (triple occupancy)

30,000

30,000

 
Important Points

  • The above breakdown of fee structure is for Year 1 of the 2 Year MS Computer Science programme
  • Fees are payable by semester according to the schedule given in the Annual Fee bill.
  • Through an amendment in the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 by Finance Act 2013, advance tax (under section 236 I) shall be collected @ 5% on the entire amount of fee (if Student Payable exceeds PKR 200,000 per annum excluding the amount refundable).
  • Advance tax paid on fee is adjustable at the time of filing of Income tax return. LUMS will issue Advance Tax Certificate in this regard at year-end.
  • University fees are usually announced once each year, for the following academic year. However, tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.


Refund Policy

To learn more about the University's Refund Policy, please click here.

SUBMISSION OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

We are here to help and guide you through the admissions process during this time. You can continue to monitor this page for admissions related updates. Our campus is also providing general updates and resources as needed. 

Our Campus is closed, but we're still here to help

Due to the country’s stay at home directive, LUMS campus is closed and no longer offering in-person visits. However, we're still working and available to answer your admission related questions! Feel free to email us at admissions@lums.edu.pk or contact us through Live web chat (Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST).

Unfortunately, a few of our processes are unable to be done remotely. These are detailed below.

Submitting your supporting documents

All available documents can be submitted online through the LUMS Online Admission system. In case, few documents are not available/missing then applicants can seek help/extension by writing to the Admissions Office at admissions@lums.edu.pk.

Acknowledgement for documents receiving

We may not be able to accept postal mail or courier packages at this moment. If you had documents sent through such means recently, you will receive a system generated acknowledgement email of your submitted documents within two weeks’ time. If need be, Admissions staff will also contact you for the completion of supporting documents.

Recommendation Letter Waiver

If referees can send recommendation letters by email, they can email them directly to admissions@lums.edu.pk. If this cannot be done, please provide only names and contact details of referees and we will approach them directly, if the need arises.

Please feel free to contact admissions@lums.edu.pk, if further information is needed.

Wishing you health and safety!

Admission Support

Subject Test

The Computer Science subject test would consist of multiple choice questions from the foundation courses of Computer Science. Topic-wise question distribution will be as follows:

  • Discrete Structures (25 – 30)%
    1. Functions, relations and sets
    2. Basic logic
    3. Proof techniques
    4. Basics of counting
    5. Graphs and trees
    6. Discrete probability
  • Programming and problem solving (25 – 30)%
  1. Programming Fundamentals: fundamental programming constructs, basic algorithms and problem solving, fundamental data structures, recursion, event-driven programming, object-oriented programming
  2. Programming Languages: features, paradigms, implementation techniques
  • Algorithms and Complexity (20 – 25)%
  1. Advanced data structures and algorithms (including graph algorithms), algorithmic strategies, distributed algorithms, basic computability and complexity
  2. Automata theory and formal languages
  • Systems  (15 – 22)%
  1. Architecture: digital logic and digital systems, machine level representation of data, assembly level machine organization, interfacing and communication
  2. Operating Systems: operating system principles, concurrency, scheduling and dispatch, and memory management
  3. Networking
  • Additional Topics  (8 – 12)%
  1. Software Engineering
  2. Database systems
  3. Linear Algebra and calculus

 

The format of the questions will be similar to the GRE CS Subject Test. A sample test can be downloaded from the link:https://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/MFT/pdf/mft_samp_questions_compsci.pdf

Overview
Structure
Admission Criteria
Information on document(s) submission
Fees
Fee Structure
Important Dates
Apply Online
Admission Support
Application support
FAQs

RELATED EVENTS

There are currently no upcoming events.



image-container