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 Media & Communications Studies OUAC EI Remove	York (Markham) Digital Technologies (BASc) OUAC YTA Remove	Waterloo Systems Design Engineering (Co-op Only) OUAC WD Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	77–87%“High 70s to mid-80s”	87–93%“High 80s to low 90s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U MHF4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English, ENG4U	Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) ENG4U MHF4U Four additional 4U or M courses (4U math recommended) No prerequisite below 75%	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Chemistry (min. 70%) Physics (min. 70%)
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Yes NEW: All Engineering program applications require an online video interview. You will receive more information after you apply. An Admission Information Form is also required. We will send you instructions when we acknowledge your application. Also considered: Involvement in extracurricular activities in school or community, evidence of interest in engineering and strong performance in mathematics, science or engineering-related competitions. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	No	Available
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	300	100	94
What you study	Information Systems Information Technology Media and Communication StudiesOthers in Technology	General or Integrated Engineering Information Technology	Artificial Intelligence Computer Science Design General or Integrated Engineering
What it is	This program combines the study of media, communication, and information technology — learning how messages are created, shared, and understood across digital and traditional platforms alongside practical IT skills. The co-op requirement means you alternate between classroom terms and paid work placements in media, tech, or communications companies, giving you real industry experience alongside your degree. It suits students interested in how technology shapes storytelling and public conversation, who want hands-on workplace experience before graduating.	This program teaches you applied engineering and IT skills together, focusing on how to design, build, and manage digital systems and software in real-world settings. Unlike a pure computer science degree, it balances hands-on technical work with engineering principles. It suits students who want practical technical training and are comfortable mixing math-heavy coursework with project-based learning.	This program teaches you to design and build complex systems — often combining software, hardware, human behaviour, and business — that solve real-world problems. Unlike a traditional engineering program focused on one discipline, it blends computer science, design thinking, and management so you learn how systems work across multiple fields. It suits students who want engineering skills but prefer understanding how all the pieces fit together and spending time working in industry during their degree.
The door tomajors you reach through it	communications	Applied to directly	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	None published by average	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
Source	Western University on OUInfo	York University — Markham on OUInfo	University of Waterloo 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.