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.

	Laurentian Computer Science OUAC LCS Remove	York Digital Media (BA) - School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design OUAC YFA Remove	Carleton Engineering – Software OUAC CES Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	70%	73–80%“Mid- to high 70s”	75–80%“75–80% (regular and co-op)”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U MHF4U	ENG4U	MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	one of MCV4U, MDM4U	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	1 grade 12 English U/M course (ENG 4U) 1 grade 12 4U Advanced Functions (MHF 4U) 1 other grade 12 U/M math 3 other grade 12 U/M courses A minimum overall average of 70% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses +4 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	Advanced Functions (MHF4U) Calculus (MCV4U) Chemistry (SCH4U) Physics (SPH4U) 2 best 4U/M courses +3 more on the program page
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	—	35	—
What you study	—	Computer Animation and Visual Effects Computer Games Design	Artificial Intelligence Computer Engineering Software Engineering
What it is	Computer Science is the study of how to design, build, and improve software and the systems that run it. You learn programming languages, algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving techniques that apply across industries. This program includes a mandatory co-op work term, so you spend time applying what you learn in real jobs alongside classroom study, which sets it apart from a straight academic stream.	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.	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.
The door tomajors you reach through it	computer science software engineering	Applied to directly	software engineering
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	29 published, 4 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them
Source	Laurentian University on OUInfo	York University on OUInfo	Carleton 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.