Queen’s University in Canada is offering funded Master’s and PhD research places in artificial intelligence, machine learning and computational materials science, giving international students a chance to pursue advanced research at one of Canada’s leading public universities. The openings sit within the Stephen J. R. Smith Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and cover work in multimodal AI, deep learning, atomistic materials modelling and energy-related technologies. For students in Pakistan and elsewhere weighing a research career abroad, it is a concrete opportunity, with funding terms set out in advance and supervisors named.
The two groups behind the openings are led by Associate Professor Ali Etemad and Assistant Professor Meng Li, whose teams work on artificial intelligence and advanced computational engineering. Applicants should approach the supervisor whose work matches their own interests, since research places are awarded by a professor who agrees to take a student into their group. A strong application must show a genuine fit with the group’s research, not only good grades.
Two Research Streams on Offer
The openings cover two broad areas. The first is artificial intelligence and machine learning, offered at PhD level under Associate Professor Ali Etemad. The second is AI-enabled atomistic materials modelling, offered at PhD and Master’s level under Assistant Professor Meng Li. The Master’s place is a Master of Applied Science, the research-based degree Canadian engineering faculties award to students who complete a thesis under a supervisor. Between them, the places span two directions in which AI is moving fastest: models that understand more than one kind of data at once, and models that predict how materials behave at the level of individual atoms.
What the Funding Covers
Money is often the deciding factor for international students, and Queen’s has set out its terms clearly. Eligible full-time PhD students are guaranteed a minimum funding package of CAD 25,000 a year for the 2026-27 academic year, generally for the first four years, as long as they remain in good academic standing. The university states this minimum on its own funding pages, and many departments set higher minimums, so the figure is a floor rather than a ceiling. Research Master’s students may also receive support for the standard duration of their programmes.
The packages can combine scholarships, research fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. Support often comes from several sources at once, including the supervisor’s research grants and awards from bodies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship programme and the Vector Institute’s AI scholarships.
Who Can Apply
The requirements depend on the stream. For the AI and machine learning PhD, applicants should hold a degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics or a closely related subject, with a solid grounding in machine learning and deep learning, and programming experience in Python and frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch. Research experience, publications and strong problem-solving skills are also valued.
For the atomistic materials modelling places, applicants should come from computational materials science, engineering, physics, chemistry or a related research discipline. Experience in computational modelling, machine learning, molecular dynamics or atomistic simulation can strengthen an application, although the opportunity sets no single minimum grade or fixed list of compulsory skills. Candidates should confirm the exact requirements with the supervisor and the graduate department before applying.
English Language Requirements
Because the programmes are taught and researched in English, applicants whose previous education was not in English must show their language ability through a recognised test. Queen’s accepts several tests, with minimum overall scores of 7.0 for IELTS Academic, 65 for PTE Academic, 70 for CAEL, 130 for the Duolingo English Test and 185 for the Cambridge English Assessment. Students should check whether their programme asks for more, and sit the test early enough for results to arrive before the deadline.
Documents You Will Need
Applicants should prepare documents before approaching a supervisor or submitting a formal application. Queen’s generally asks for academic transcripts and recommendation letters, and applicants may also need degree certificates, a current academic CV, a statement of research interests, English-language test results and other documents the department requests. Research applications normally need two academic recommendations, though departments may ask for more.
How to Apply
The first step is to look through the official Smith Engineering graduate positions page and decide which opportunity fits. Applicants for AI and machine learning should study Associate Professor Ali Etemad’s research profile and contact his group to confirm the PhD place is still available. Those interested in materials modelling should contact Assistant Professor Meng Li about the Master’s or PhD places, the requirements and the funding. Only after a supervisor confirms a place is open should a candidate go through the formal admission procedure.
For Pakistani graduates, the timing is worth noting. Canada’s universities have been competing hard for international research talent, and funded places in artificial intelligence are among the most sought after in the world. A funded place with a named supervisor is a strong start to a research career. Anyone interested should move quickly and confirm the position while it remains open.
