3 programs, side by side

+ Add a program	McMaster Engineering I - Software Engineering OUAC MES ☆ Add to planRemove	Queen's Smith Engineering - Direct Entry Computer Engineering OUAC QEC ☆ Add to planRemove	Queen's Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs OUAC QE ☆ Add to planRemove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	87%“A minimum of 87% is required for consideration. Admission is by selection.”Admission by selection — the real bar may sit above this	90–93%“Low 90s”	87–90%“High 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4UMCV4USCH4USPH4U	ENG4UMCV4UMHF4USCH4USPH4U	ENG4UMCV4UMHF4USCH4USPH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English 4U Calculus & Vectors 4U Chemistry 4U Physics 4U	ENG4U MCV4U SPH4U SCH4U MHF4U	ENG4U MCV4U SPH4U SCH4U MHF4U
More than marks?supplementary application	Yes OUAC application deadline: January 15, 2027 Mandatory supplementary application Usually closes before January 15	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	Bachelor of Engineering, BEng, Bachelor of Engineering and Management, BEng&Mgt, Bachelor of Engineering and Society, BEngSoc	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	—	40	800
What you study	Software Engineering	Computer ScienceElectronic & Electrical EngineeringGeneral or Integrated EngineeringSoftware Engineering	Aerospace EngineeringChemical EngineeringCivil EngineeringComputer Science
What it is	You study how to design, build, and test software systems that solve real problems. Software engineering goes beyond pure coding to include planning, teamwork, and understanding what users actually need. This program includes mandatory co-op work terms where you apply what you learn in paid positions, and you can choose a degree stream that adds management skills or explores the social impact of technology alongside the technical core.	Smith Engineering's direct-entry computer engineering program lets you study the design and programming of computing systems from the ground up, combining software development with the electronics and electrical principles that make hardware work. Unlike applying to general engineering first, you enter this stream directly and follow a focused path in computer engineering throughout your degree. It suits students who are confident they want to build or optimize computer systems and hardware, not just write software in isolation.	Smith Engineering's common first year means you take the same core courses as all engineering students — math, physics, chemistry, and engineering fundamentals — before choosing a specialization like mechanical, civil, chemical, or aerospace engineering in second year. This delays your choice, letting you explore different engineering fields before committing. It suits students who know they want engineering but are unsure which branch fits them best.
The door tomajors you reach through it	software engineering	Applied to directly	engineering
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	None published by average	None published by average
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	Queen's University on OUInfo	Queen's University on OUInfo

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.