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
Queen's University
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-science
Apply straight to computer science
Western
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.
McMaster
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.
U of T (Scarborough)
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.
Waterloo
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.
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.