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Computer Science Division

We promote the study of computer science in the Atlantic region, with the recruitment and support of students, faculty, and researchers as our primary focus.

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science (MSCS) Conference

Mathematics Statistics and Computer Science Undergraduate Student Conference logo

This year’s Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science (MSCS) Conference will be held at Cape Breton University, on October 17 and 18, 2025.

Registration is now open and will close on October 18, 2025.

Abstract Submission is open and submission deadline is October 05, 2025

Plenary invited speakers include:

  • Blundon Lecture (Mathematics): Pengfei Guan (McGill University)
  • Field Lecture (Statistics): Neil Spencer (University of Connecticut)
  • Sedgwick Lecture: Rita Orji (Dalhousie University)

Computer Science Programming Competition

The deadline to submit team registrations is Tuesday, October 1, 2025. For more details, visit the Programming Competition page.

View previous competition results.

Mathematics Problem Solving Competition

The competition will begin at 2:00pm on Friday October 17, 2025. For more details, visit the Mathematics Competition page.

View previous sample problem sets at Mathematics Problem Solving Competition.

More information can be found on the MSCS 2025 conference website!

Hosting Schedule

  • 2025-2026: CBU
  • 2026-2027: UNB-SJ
  • 2027-2028: UNB-F
  • 2028-2029: UMoncton
  • 2029-2030: Dal
  • 2030-2031: Saint Mary’s
  • 2031-2032: StFX
  • 2032-2033: MtA
  • 2033-2034: UPEI
  • 2034-2035: UNB-SJ
  • 2035-2036: CBU

News and Events

ACPC Programming Contest

The Computer Science Committee has organized a programming competition for Atlantic Canadian universities since 1998. From 1998 until the 2019-20 academic year, this competition was called the Atlantic Canadian Preliminary Contest (ACPC), and served as the first round of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). Each year, the top three (or so) teams in the ACPC advanced to the ICPC Northeast North America (NENA) Regional contest. Starting in the 2020-21 academic year, however, the NENA Regional no longer required teams to qualify via a preliminary round, so the ACPC became a standalone event, no longer associated with the ICPC. As a result, ACPC now stands for Atlantic Canadian Programming Competition.

On multiple occasions during ACPC’s affiliation with ICPC, Atlantic Canadian teams that advanced to the NENA Regional excelled at that level, thereby earning a spot in the ICPC World Finals (Saint Mary’s in 2001-02, UNBF in 2002-03 and 2004-05, Mount Allison in 2016-17).

In the ACPC, teams of at most three students are given descriptions of approximately 8-10 problems that must be tackled over a 5-hour period by writing code using the allowed languages. Teams are ranked by number of problems solved, with ties broken using an elapsed-time rule. Awards are given to the top three teams, with the #1 team also earning an entry on the ACPC competition plaque.

In addition, even though the ACPC is no longer part of the ICPC, the Computer Science Committee has established a second plaque that is awarded to the top-ranked Atlantic Canadian team in the NENA Regional each year.

Here you can view results and problem sets from all past ACPC years.

A brown plaque with gold details. The plaque states "Top-ranked Atlantic Canadian team in the ICPC NENA Regional" and the same is said in French right below it. Names of the winner are being displayed at each golden spot

The Computer Science Committee has been involved with the participation of Atlantic Canadian students in the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). Teams from our universities have competed in multiple World Finals.

For 2020, a contest will be held in conjunction with the computer-science portion of the conference, to provide an optional warm-up / training opportunity for teams considering competing in the ICPC’s Northeastern North American division.

Visit the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) website for more information.
You can also view results and problem sets from past programming competitions.

A brown plaque with gold details. The plaque states "Top-ranked Atlantic Canadian team in the ICPC NENA Regional" and the same is said in French right below it. Names of the winner are being displayed at each golden spot

Awards

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science (MSCS) Conference 2017
Thanks to the support of our generous conference sponsors, each year MSCS recognizes the achievements of some of Atlantic Canada’s top undergraduate and graduate computer students through a variety of awards.

About

The Computer Science division promotes the study of computer science in the Atlantic region, with the recruitment and support of students, faculty, and researchers as its primary focus.

The division is led by a committee, which consists of representatives from computer science programs at the universities in Atlantic Canada. The committee’s discussions focus on student recruitment, program offerings, and recent developments in computing science.

The annual conference is a venue for students, faculty, and researchers to present research projects and to discuss common issues and the latest developments and innovations.

The highlight of the annual conference is the programming competition, which previously was a preliminary round of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). For 2020, while not required, the contest provides an excellent opportunity to practice and prepare for the first round of the ICPC.

Dvision

Milton King

Computer Science
Milton King
St. Francis Xavier University

View all Computer Science division members

Sponsors

Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University - School of Science and Technology logo
Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute
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