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Applications and Offers

The UofA- and Canada-specific parts of applying and accepting: how to describe your degree, which course projects count, the posting rules that help you, and what to check in a Canadian offer. For general resume and negotiation advice, see the links at the bottom.

Last verified: October 2026.

Your Degree on a Resume

  • Name the path, not just "Computer Science." UofA's degree is a BSc with Computing Science as the subject area, in one of several paths (Program Overview). Write it so the path is visible, for example: BSc, Honors in Computing Science (AI Option), University of Alberta, expected April 2028. The AI and Software Practice Options are worth showing because they tell an employer which upper-year courses you took.
  • SIP: list each placement under Experience like any job. Once you've completed 8 or more months, your transcript and parchment carry a "with internship" designation (SIP page); add "with internship" to your degree line at that point. The WKEXP courses themselves don't belong on a resume.
  • Research: a USRA, URI Stipend, or CMPUT 399/499 project goes under Experience or Research with the lab and supervisor; Getting Into Research covers how to list it.

Course Projects That Count

A course project belongs on your resume when it was a real team build and you can explain the parts you wrote. These qualify:

Course What you can list
CMPUT 301 A term-long team app with design, testing, and revision control
CMPUT 401 A team project built for a real stakeholder (a startup, company, charity, or individual client)
CMPUT 404 A distributed web application that talks to other teams' servers
CMPUT 469 An AI/ML team project on a real-world task, usually with a domain expert
CMPUT 393 A substantial data-engineering project on large datasets
CMPUT 291 Group database projects (Python with SQLite, then MongoDB, in most sections)

Individual assignments rarely belong unless you extended them well past the spec. Check your course's policy before you make a repo public, and see Side Projects for turning these into portfolio pieces.

Posting Rules That Help You

Since January 1, 2026, Ontario employers with 25 or more employees must, in public job postings (Ontario ESA guide):

  • include the expected pay or a pay range no wider than $50,000 (unless pay is over $200,000);
  • say whether AI is used to screen, assess, or select applicants;
  • say whether the posting is for an existing vacancy;
  • not require Canadian experience;
  • tell applicants they interviewed whether they got the job, within 45 days of the last interview.

This applies to Ontario roles, including Toronto and Ottawa postings you apply to from Edmonton. Use the posted range when you negotiate. AI screening is common: after the rule took effect, the share of Ontario postings mentioning AI rose from 9% to 28% by May 2026 (Indeed Hiring Lab), so expect software to read your resume before a person does.

Reading a Canadian Offer

Taxes

  • Look up the federal rates on the CRA rates page and Alberta's on alberta.ca. Alberta added an 8% bracket in 2025; for 2026 it covers the first $61,200 of income.
  • Compare offers in different cities on after-tax pay and rent, not the headline number (see Edmonton's Tech Scene for wage and rent data).

Retirement and savings

  • RRSP matching is part of your pay. Your RRSP deduction limit is 18% of your previous year's earned income up to an annual maximum ($32,490 for 2025), reduced by any pension adjustment from an employer plan (CRA). Ask what the match is and whether it vests immediately.
  • FHSA: you get $8,000 of First Home Savings Account room in the first year you open one, deductible like an RRSP (CRA). Open it early so the room starts accumulating.

US companies, USD offers, and remote work

A US company without a Canadian entity can hire you two ways. Ask which before you compare numbers.

  • Through an Employer of Record (EOR): a service such as Remote or Deel becomes your legal Canadian employer, runs payroll in CAD, deducts CPP, EI, and income tax, and provides local benefits, while the US company directs your work (Remote, Canada). If the offer is quoted in USD, ask whether your salary is fixed in USD (and converted each pay period) or converted once to a fixed CAD amount.
  • As a contractor: you're paid the gross amount with nothing withheld. You pay both the employee and employer halves of CPP (11.90% in 2026, up to $8,460.90) (CRA) plus your own income tax instalments, with no benefits. A contractor rate needs to be noticeably higher than an employee salary to come out even.

Negotiating, Briefly

  • Ask for the pay range early; for Ontario roles, it's already in the posting.
  • A competing offer is the strongest lever. Ask for a deadline extension rather than accepting under pressure.
  • SIP is different: offers obtained through SIP must be accepted or declined within 24 hours, and declining more than one per term can cost you campusBRIDGE access (SIP page). Only apply to SIP postings you'd take.
  • If the pay won't move, ask about relocation, housing, or start date instead.

Generic Advice: Go Here Instead

Related: Internships · Interview Prep · Career Paths