AI is everywhere these days. You see it in your phone, in the apps you use, and even in the way companies are making decisions. It feels exciting, almost like the future is arriving faster than anyone expected. But if you want to do more than just use AI tools, you need to understand what makes them possible. Behind every chatbot, image generator, or smart system is computer science. Coding, algorithms, and data structures form the foundation that allows these technologies to exist.
That’s why computer science graduates are in demand across every industry. Whether it’s healthcare, finance, entertainment, or education, companies are seeking talent who can design and enhance the systems that shape how we live and work.
That’s something Tobi Onibudo understood early on. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, he was drawn to the discipline by the thrill of building things that create real impact. He loved the idea of taking a simple thought and turning it into something people can use. When it came to choosing a university, he wanted a place that combined strong academics in this field with a sense of community.
That search led him to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The city’s college-focused atmosphere and welcoming environment gave him the right balance to adjust, settle in, and focus on what mattered most. Now, he’s in his fourth year of computer science at Dalhousie.
When asked how the Bachelor of Computer Science has supported his development, Onibudo says: “Dal’s hands-on environment, from hackathons and Shiftkey Labs programs to a growing Halifax tech community, has let me apply and refine my coding skills on real challenges. Tackling these events boosted my technical confidence and taught me to focus on building solutions that deliver true value.”
Founded in 1997, Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Computer Science is the leading IT research institution in Atlantic Canada. Source: Dalhousie University
Part of one of the top 12 universities in Canada (Times Higher Education), the Faculty of Computer Science (FCS), one of 13 academic faculties, combines award-winning professors, advanced facilities, and hands-on learning that prepare you for the future of tech.
As a student, you can choose between two main undergraduate options: the Bachelor of Computer Science or the Bachelor of Applied Computer Science. Both provide a strong foundation, but they lead you in slightly different directions.
If you choose the Computer Science programme, you’ll dive deep into the theory, design, and application of the field. You’ll explore areas such as software development, algorithms, networking, and artificial intelligence. By the end of your degree, you’ll be able to evaluate, innovate, and build new technologies.
Along the way, you’ll learn alongside professors who lead research in AI, blockchain, graphics, VR, data science, and web systems. For those who want an extra challenge, the accredited honours programme provides a rigorous path that also prepares you for graduate school.
If you take the Applied Computer Science option, you’ll combine a strong technical foundation with practical skills in project management, problem-solving, and communication. You’ll work in teams with students from different years to design solutions for real non-profit organisations. Guiding you are professors who specialise in human-computer interaction, software project management, website design, and more. By graduation, you’ll be equipped with both technical and professional skills that employers value across industries.
No matter which option you take, one of the biggest advantages is the chance to participate in co-ops. “Co-ops have been a great space for me to apply the skills I’ve learned on a larger scale while picking up new ones along the way,” Onibudo says. “There’s so much to learn in computer science and co-ops give you room to grow in a real-world setting. They’ve helped me improve both technically and professionally.”
From oceans and healthcare to ICT and aerospace, Dalhousie students, faculty, and alumni are using their skills to make an impact. Source: Dalhousie University
For Onibudo, one internship that stood out was his time at CPP Investments. It was a very different environment from the classroom, but he felt ready to handle the challenges. “Being the tech lead and product manager in my software engineering class gave me a solid base,” he says. “Also, learning new tools in class helped me adapt quickly to new challenges.”
That mix of academic preparation and practical experience has shaped his vision for what comes next. “I see myself building solutions that are not just innovative but genuinely useful to the people who rely on them,” he says. “Whether I’m in a high-level role or building something of my own, I want to create value wherever I am.”
For recent graduate Dave Chuck, the Bachelor of Computer Science programme led him to multiple co-ops at Bell, Canada’s largest communications company. There, he applied what his professors taught him: to think out of the box and take multiple factors into consideration.
“When I joined last summer as a co-op student, it was my first big-company job,” Chuck says. Thanks to his education and go-getting attitude, he was offered a full-time new grad offer as a software developer.
Achievements come in all forms at Dalhousie and Manar Elgamil’s journey is proof of that. Apart from participating in a co-op placement at Axis Capital, the Egyptian joined the Women in Tech Society (WiTS) and the peer mentorship programme, even becoming the former’s president in her last year. Her proudest moment was working with the Computer Science Society (CSS) to help prepare WiTS for the annual snowball event.
“I’m really proud of being a part of the hosting team for the snowball event,” she says. “I was the MC for the evening and there were people from industry, other faculties, and students there. It was a huge event and I’ll always consider it a great accomplishment.”
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