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.

	Western Computer Science OUAC ECS Remove	Carleton Engineering – Software OUAC CES Remove	York Digital Media (BA) - School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design OUAC YFA Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	75–80%“75–80% (regular and co-op)”	73–80%“Mid- to high 70s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U	MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	one of ICS4U, MDM4U, SBI4U, SES4U, SPH4U	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English, ENG4U Calculus and Vectors MCV4U Advanced Functions, MHF4U One of: Biology, SBI4U +5 more on the program page	Advanced Functions (MHF4U) Calculus (MCV4U) Chemistry (SCH4U) Physics (SPH4U) 2 best 4U/M courses +3 more on the program page	Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) ENG4U 4U Math (minimum grade of 75% required) 4 additional 4U/M courses 4M Arts (or similar arts training) recommended
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	500	—	35
What you study	Computer GamesInformation ServicesSoftware Engineering	Artificial Intelligence Computer Engineering Software Engineering	Computer Animation and Visual Effects Computer Games Design
What it is	Computer Science at Western teaches you how to write programs, build software systems, and solve problems using computers and code. You choose a focus — such as game development, managing information systems, or engineering robust software — based on your interests. The program includes paid work terms alongside your studies, letting you apply classroom learning in real jobs and build professional experience before you graduate.	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.	This program teaches you how to create digital content across animation, game design, and visual media. Unlike a pure computer science degree, it balances technical skills with creative and design thinking. It suits people who want to build things that people see and interact with, rather than work mainly on backend systems or theory.
The door tomajors you reach through it	computer science	software engineering	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	29 published, 4 with no applicationfrom 75%See them
Source	Western University on OUInfo	Carleton University on OUInfo	York University on OUInfo

Also compare with

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.