4 programs, side by side

Full	Waterloo Planning (Co-op Only) OUAC WP ☆ Add to planRemove	Western Computer Science OUAC ECS ☆ Add to planRemove	Ottawa Computer Engineering (4 years) OUAC OBE ☆ Add to planRemove	Western Science OUAC ES ☆ Add to planRemove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–83%“Low 80s”	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	80%	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4UMCV4UMHF4U	MCV4UMHF4USCH4USPH4U	ENG4UMCV4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	one of ICS4U, MDM4U, SBI4U, SES4U, SPH4U	one of ENG4U, FRA4U	two of ICS4U, MDM4U, MHF4U, SBI4U, SES4U, SPH4U
Prerequisitesas published	Any Grade 12 U English (min. 75%)	English, ENG4U Calculus and Vectors MCV4U Advanced Functions, MHF4U One of: Biology, SBI4U +5 more on the program page	ENG4U or FRA4U MHF4U MCV4U SPH4U SCH4U +2 more on the program page	English, ENG4U Calculus and Vectors MCV4U Two of: Advanced Functions, MHF4U Biology, SBI4U +7 more on the program page
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only	Yes Unless otherwise noted, required courses must be completed with a minimum average of 70%. Western Integrated Science applicants must submit a supplementary application. More information Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	Available	Available	Available
Degree	—	—	Bachelor of Applied Science, BASc, Bachelor of Engineering (Co-op), BEng (Co-op)	—
First-year intakewhere published	200	500	88	550
What you study	Environmental StudiesPlanning	Computer GamesInformation ServicesSoftware Engineering	Computer EngineeringComputer ScienceGeneral or Integrated EngineeringSoftware Engineering	Animal ScienceAstronomyBiological SciencesChemistry
What it is	This program teaches you how to design and manage the built and natural environments — from city neighborhoods and transportation systems to parks and land use. The co-op requirement means you'll alternate between classroom semesters and paid work terms at planning firms, municipalities, or environmental organizations, giving you real experience while you study. It suits people who want hands-on learning, enjoy solving problems about how communities develop, and are willing to commit to the co-op schedule.	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.	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.	This is a broad science degree where you choose from fields like biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, geology, and others. You take foundational science courses in first year, then specialize by selecting which science subjects to focus on. Co-op is available, letting you do paid work terms at science-related employers alongside your studies.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	computer science	Applied to directly	biologychemistryearth scienceenvironmental sciencelife sciencesmathematicsphysicsstatistics
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	22 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	Western University on OUInfo	University of Ottawa on OUInfo	Western 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.