An M.A.Sc. is expected to take about 24 months. An examining committee of three, including the supervisor, a co-reader, and the committee chair, conduct a public examination after copies of the thesis have been made publicly available, for a minimum of one week prior to the exam. 

M.A.Sc. degree candidates registered as full-time students are required to spend at least one winter session at the University. M.A.Sc. candidates may also register as part-time students. 

In either case the program must be completed within 5 years of initial registration. The Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering Program is for students interested in pursuing advanced studies and research in Biomedical Technologies, Communications Systems, Computer and Software Systems, Energy Systems, or Micro and Nano Technologies. 

Electrical and Computer Engineers develop computing systems, from chip architecture to mobile applications, to communications protocols as well as the energy systems to allow these devices and all other electrical systems to function. 

The discipline has a huge impact on society because it helps to design the systems we use in everything from health to finance to safety. In this program students can choose to contribute to research on technologies very close to or already in the market, or technologies that are in the early stages of research such as quantum computing or carbon nanotubes.