3 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

	Carleton Engineering – Software OUAC CES Remove	Waterloo Global Business and Digital Arts (Co-op only) OUAC WGB Remove	Ottawa Computer Engineering (4 years) OUAC OBE Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	75–80%“75–80% (regular and co-op)”	80–83%“Low 80s”	80%
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U	ENG4U	MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	one of ENG4U, FRA4U
Prerequisitesas published	Advanced Functions (MHF4U) Calculus (MCV4U) Chemistry (SCH4U) Physics (SPH4U) 2 best 4U/M courses +3 more on the program page	Any Grade 12 U English (min. 75%)	ENG4U or FRA4U MHF4U MCV4U SPH4U SCH4U +2 more on the program page
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	—	—	Bachelor of Applied Science, BASc, Bachelor of Engineering (Co-op), BEng (Co-op)
First-year intakewhere published	—	140	88
What you study	Artificial Intelligence Computer Engineering Software Engineering	Business Studies Computer Animation and Visual Effects Design Media and Communication Studies	Computer Engineering Computer Science General or Integrated Engineering Software Engineering
What it is	You study how to design, build, and maintain software systems and applications, from the coding and logic to the architecture that makes programs run. This program includes hands-on projects in artificial intelligence and computer engineering alongside core software development. The co-op placement is required, meaning you alternate between classroom terms and paid work terms at companies, giving you real workplace experience before you graduate.	You study both business and digital creative work — things like animation, graphic design, and media production — alongside practical work terms in real companies. Unlike a general business degree, this combines creative visual skills with business knowledge so you can manage or launch projects that blend both. It suits people who want to work in creative industries but also understand the commercial and organizational side of getting work made and sold.	Computer engineering combines the design of computer hardware with the software that runs on it. You'll study circuits, processors, programming, and systems that integrate both. The co-op stream lets you alternate between classroom and paid work terms at tech companies, giving you real industry experience alongside your degree, which sets it apart from the straight four-year option.
The door tomajors you reach through it	software engineering	Applied to directly	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	22 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 75%See them
Source	Carleton University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	University of Ottawa on OUInfo

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Same subject area and a similar published range, at a campus you have not got in the table yet.

Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.