Studying Computer Science in Ontario
You can’t always apply to computer science directly. Some universities admit you straight into it; others admit you into a broad first-year category and you choose computer science later. That difference is why searching for a major by name can make it look like a university doesn’t offer it.
Apply broad, choose computer science later
Apply to Computing (QD)
You choose computer science in May at the end of first year, when you request a Computing plan.
You are admitted to the Bachelor of Computing, not to Computer Science — you are in no plan at all in first year. CORRECTED THRESHOLD: automatic acceptance into your chosen Computing plan needs a B or higher in CISC 121 or CISC 124 AND a 2.6 cumulative GPA; with a 2.3 GPA and a B- you land on a pending list instead. Entry requires English 4U, Advanced Functions 4U AND Calculus and Vectors 4U. If you have no programming background, the School recommends CISC 101 in fall and CISC 121 in winter, pushing CISC 124 to second year.
https://www.cs.queensu.ca/undergraduate/programs/University of Toronto — St. George
Apply to Computer Science
You choose computer science at the end of first year — guaranteed if you get 70% in CSC110Y1 and 77% in CSC111H1 (plus the math requirement) within 12 months.
The one category you cannot switch into later. The calendar states only students in the Year 1 Computer Science admission category (CMP1) meeting the admission guarantee may apply to the CS Specialist. Students from other A&S categories are shut out of the Specialist entirely and can only compete for the CS Major/Minor via a supplementary application on CSC148H1 and CSC165H1/CSC240H1 grades. Requires a supplemental application and MCV4U; admission range roughly low 90s.
https://future.utoronto.ca/program/computer-science/University of Toronto — Mississauga
Apply to Computer Science
You choose computer science after first year — POSt request, guaranteed only if grade thresholds are met.
The most important thing to get right at UTM, and it is NOT direct entry to the major. You must pick the Computer Science category (TMX/CMP1) in Grade 12 — from Fall 2026-27 onward you can no longer switch in from Life Sciences, Math or anywhere else — but admission to that category does not put you in the CS program. You still request the POSt after first year, and entry is guaranteed only if you complete CSC110Y5 (70%), CSC111H5 (77%), MAT139H5/MAT159H5 and ISP100H5 within 12 months. A supplemental application also applies from the 2026-27 cycle onward. Requires MCV4U and MHF4U; anyone with prior post-secondary study is ineligible for this category.
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/future-students/programs/computer-scienceWilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo
Apply to Business Administration (BBA) + Computer Science (BSc) (UXA)
You choose computer science on the application — Computer Science alone is chosen as a major inside Honours Science (UZL), while UXA is the combined BBA route.
Computer Science at Laurier Waterloo is offered as a BA or BSc major, but the standalone version has no code of its own in the listing we hold — it sits inside Honours Science (UZL, mid-70s) or the Honours BA. The codes that name it directly are the double degrees: BBA + Computer Science (UXA, high-80s) and the UWaterloo joint BBA + BCS (UWB, mid-90s). Laurier's Milton campus also runs Computer Science. Check the current OUAC listing for a standalone Waterloo CS code before you apply.
https://www.wlu.ca/programs/index.htmlApply to Bachelor of Science (PS)
You choose computer science on the application or after — the Bachelor of Science (PS, 70% minimum) is a genuinely undeclared door, and you choose a major from the seven inside it.
Computer Science is a major inside the Bachelor of Science, and also inside the Bachelor of Arts for a BA version. Data Science is a related programme. Nipissing admits to the Bachelor of Science as one OUAC code, PS, at a 70% minimum; the seven science majors are chosen inside it. Liberal Science (PLB) is the non-specialised version.
https://future.nipissingu.ca/programs/
Apply straight to computer science
The Academic Calendar says it flatly: 'Admission to the Computer Science program is direct from Year 1.' ECS and ES are two separate OUAC choices — applying to Science does not get you into Computer Science, and students not registered in the CS program are capped at 1.5 Computer Science courses a year, which is enough for a Minor only. ECS needs six 4U courses with a minimum 70% in each, including ENG4U, MCV4U and MHF4U (plain Science does not require MHF4U). Warning the marketing pages have not caught up to: the Honours Specializations in Information Systems and in Bioinformatics are listed as admission discontinued effective 2027 — the surviving modules are Honours Specialization, Specialization and Major in Computer Science, plus Minors in Computer Science, Game Development and Software Engineering.
Real direct entry, and the supplementary application is required — miss the late-January deadline and your file is not considered. Co-op is NOT a separate competition: McMaster says the co-op and non-co-op OUAC codes are the same program, and if you didn't select co-op you can still opt in with an academic advisor once you start. Note CS sits in the Faculty of Engineering but grants a Bachelor of Applied Science, not a Bachelor of Engineering — if you want the licensed-engineer path that is Software Engineering, a different application.
Direct from high school only — any post-secondary credits disqualify you. Low 90s (high 90s for co-op), with Advanced Functions and Calculus & Vectors. Being admitted to TXC is not the same as having the CS POSt: the CS major and all specialist streams are limited-enrolment and requested on ACORN after first year.
Genuinely direct entry — "apply directly to this program on your application" — and a separate application from Mathematics even though CS sits in the Faculty of Mathematics. Being admitted to Mathematics does not give you CS, and CS is not one of the 16 Mathematics majors. Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, any 4U English, one other 4U course; individual selection from the low to mid-90s; the Admission Information Form is required. Available co-op or regular. It is also a different application from Software Engineering.
Computer Science (BComp) Honours (GCT)
Computer Science sits in the Bachelor of Computing, not the BSc, and has its own code at 85-90% — the highest range at Guelph outside Engineering and Bio-Medical Science.
Computer Science (BCS) is direct entry at 80-85%, regular or co-op. Streams chosen inside the degree include Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Computer Game Development, Software Engineering and Cybersecurity; there is also a separate Bachelor of Cybersecurity (COA) and Data Science (CSD), both 80-85%.
Computer Science is direct entry at low-80s and comes in four codes: BSc (YSG), BA (YPK), and international iBSc (YSY) and iBA (YPF). All co-op available. Cybersecurity (YPR BSc / YPX BA) and Data Science (YYY BSc / YYW BA) are separate degrees.
Computer Science is direct entry at high-70s. Brock also publishes Computer Science and Mathematics Co-op (BHG), a Computer Science International Double Degree (BDG, high-80s), Game Programming (BGP, low-80s) and Game Design (BGD, low-80s), and two Data Science and Analytics streams (BSA, BFA, high-70s).
Direct entry at 75-80%, co-op available; a part-time version (SAE) shares the range. Cyber Science (SSC, 75-80%) is the security-focused alternative. Computer Engineering (SCE, 85-90%) is the engineering route.
Direct entry at a 70% minimum, or 75% for co-op programmes. Windsor publishes a minimum average rather than a range, and its own pages show the minimum is a floor for consideration, not the bar: Nursing is listed at 70% but Windsor recommends 85%, and Concurrent Education lists 75% while the admitted mean is 86%. For limited-enrolment programmes, treat the published number as the lowest you can apply with, not what gets you in.
Direct entry at mid-70s (DCD co-op). Artificial Intelligence (Computer Science) (DIC), Data Science (DSM, mid-70s; DMO co-op at mid-80s), Interactive Computing (DSO) and Integrated Mathematics and Computer Science (DMC) are separate codes. Ontario Tech publishes nearly every major twice, a base code and a co-op code, usually at the same range.
Direct entry at a 70% minimum; the co-op code (RZK) is 80%. Software Engineering Co-op (RZC) is separate at 85-90%, and Computer Science and Physics (RCY) and Computer Science and Forensics (RZN) are joint codes at 70%. Trent publishes a minimum, and its own admissions FAQ says 'meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission'. The safety net is real: if you are not admitted to a competitive programme, Trent automatically assesses you for an alternate offer into a similar one, with no second application.
Direct entry at 70%, co-op available, at Thunder Bay and Barrie. Software Engineering is a separate route through the Engineering code (AM).
Direct entry at 70%. Computer Science – Game Design (LKS) is a separate code at the same range.
Computer Science (BCOSC 4 year) (JEA)
Computer Science is Algoma's largest offering — direct entry at 65%+ as a BCOSC or BSc, 3 or 4 year, at Sault Ste. Marie, Brampton or online, with named streams in Data Science and AI (JAJ), Computer Games Technology (JFF), Mobile Software Engineering (JFH) and a Co-op stream (JFM, 70%). Algoma has three campuses — Sault Ste. Marie, Brampton and Timmins — and publishes separate OUAC codes for Brampton. Check the code's campus before you apply; the Brampton versions carry '(Brampton)' in the name.
Computer Science BSc (RCZ, 70% minimum). Computing Systems BA (RCW) and Business and Computing & Information Systems (RCC) are the adjacent Durham doors.
Read off each university’s own admissions pages, and covering the seven campuses Ontario students apply to most. Entry structures change — confirm with the university before you build a timetable around one. Search all programs.