Studying Software Engineering in Ontario
You can’t always apply to software engineering directly. Some universities admit you straight into it; others admit you into a broad first-year category and you choose software engineering 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 software engineering later
Apply to Engineering (EE)
You choose software engineering at the end of first year — you rank programs at Intent to Register in March and are placed on your year-weighted average.
The accredited Software Engineering BESc is an Engineering discipline: you enter the common Engineering first year (EE) and are placed into Software Engineering in second year by grades, not guaranteed. EE requires ENG4U, MHF4U, MCV4U, SCH4U and SPH4U, and you must write the Casper test. Placement into Software needs at least 60% in NMM 1411A/B, 1412A/B, 1414A/B and Physics 1402A/B, at least 70% in ES 1036A/B, and a year-weighted average of 60%. Computer Science (ECS) offers only a Minor in Software Engineering, available solely alongside a CS Honours Specialization or Specialization — that is not the engineering degree, and BESc Software Engineering students are barred from a concurrent CS degree.
https://www.eng.uwo.ca/undergraduate/first-year/admission_to_programs.htmlApply to Computing (QD)
You choose software engineering in May at the end of first year, when you request a Computing plan.
Queen's has no Bachelor of Software Engineering. The closest is the Software Design specialization inside the Bachelor of Computing (QD), confirmed on the School of Computing program list and chosen after first year. If you specifically want an accredited engineering degree, that is Computer Engineering through Smith Engineering — either the common first year (QE) or the direct-entry code (QEC) — a completely different application with Chemistry 4U and Physics 4U required.
https://www.cs.queensu.ca/undergraduate/programs/University of Toronto — St. George
Apply to Computer Science
You choose software engineering at the end of first year.
There is no degree called Software Engineering at U of T — that program page does not exist. Two real routes: the Computer Science admission category in Arts & Science (tad, declare after first year), or Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, which is direct-entry BASc under its own code tcs and requires MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U and SPH4U. Pick tcs instead if you want engineering rather than a science degree.
https://future.utoronto.ca/program/computer-science/University of Toronto — Mississauga
Apply to not offered at UTM
UTM has no engineering faculty and no software engineering degree — confirmed absent from the full A-Z program listing. All U of T engineering is at the St. George campus. The closest thing at UTM is the Computer Science Specialist (TMX), which is a science degree, not an accredited engineering one.
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/future-students/programs-az-listingUniversity of Toronto — Scarborough
Apply to Computer Science
You choose software engineering end of first year, when you apply for the CS specialist.
UTSC has no engineering faculty — Software Engineering here is one of five streams inside the Computer Science specialist (HBSc), alongside Comprehensive, AI & Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship and Information Systems, chosen after first year. It is not a BEng and is not an accredited engineering degree.
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/programs/computer-scienceWilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo
Apply to not offered at Laurier
Laurier has no engineering faculty, so no software engineering. Computer Science is the route, and the strongest version is the joint BBA + Computer Science with the University of Waterloo (UWB, mid-90s).
https://www.wlu.ca/programs/index.htmlApply to Engineering (BEng) (YT)
You choose software engineering after the common first year, as your Boost discipline preference.
Software Engineering at York is a Lassonde engineering discipline reached through the single Engineering code (YT, low-to-mid 80s) and the Boost supplementary co-application. Computer Science (YSG, low-80s) is the non-engineering alternative and is direct entry.
https://lassonde.yorku.ca/discover/getting-into-lassondeApply to Computer Science (BG)
You choose software engineering inside Computer Science or Game Programming — Brock has no software engineering degree.
Brock has no software engineering programme and its only engineering degree is Integrated Engineering (BNG). Computer Science (BG, high-70s) and Game Programming (BGP, low-80s) are the software routes.
https://brocku.ca/programs/undergraduate/Toronto Metropolitan University
Apply to Computer Engineering (SCE)
You choose software engineering on the application — TMU has no software engineering code; Computer Engineering and Computer Science are the routes.
TMU has no Software Engineering degree. Computer Engineering (SCE, 85-90%) is the accredited engineering route and Computer Science (SAB, 75-80%) the non-engineering one — a ten-point gap.
https://www.torontomu.ca/programs/undergraduate/Apply to General Engineering (NE)
You choose software engineering before second year, as your discipline choice — Windsor has no software engineering code.
Windsor has no Software Engineering degree. General Engineering (NE, 74% minimum) leads to Electrical (NEN) or Mechatronic Systems (NEF) as the software-adjacent disciplines; Computer Science (NT, 70%) is the non-engineering route.
https://www.future.uwindsor.ca/program/general-engineering/Apply to Computer Science (DSD)
You choose software engineering on the application — Ontario Tech has no software engineering code.
Ontario Tech has no Software Engineering degree. Computer Science (DSD, mid-70s) and Artificial Intelligence Engineering (DIA, mid-70s) are the routes; the latter is the accredited engineering one.
https://ontariotechu.ca/programs/undergraduate/index.phpApply to Engineering (AM)
You choose software engineering after the common first year, as your discipline — Software is one of Lakehead's six BEng disciplines.
Software Engineering at Lakehead is one of the six disciplines inside the single Engineering code (AM, 70%), reached through the two-year diploma then two-year BEng structure. Computer Science (AG) is the non-engineering route at the same range.
https://www.lakeheadu.ca/programs/faculties/engineering/undergraduate-programsApply to Computer Science (LCS)
You choose software engineering on the application — Laurentian has no software engineering code.
Laurentian has no Software Engineering degree; its engineering disciplines are Chemical, Mechanical and Mining. Computer Science (LCS, 70%) and Computer Science – Game Design (LKS) are the software routes.
https://laurentian.ca/undergraduate-programsApply to Bachelor of Science (PS)
You choose software engineering 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.
Nipissing has no engineering of any kind. Computer Science, chosen inside the Bachelor of Science, is the software route. 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 to not offered at Trent Durham
Not at Durham; Software Engineering co-op (RZC) is at the Peterborough campus.
https://www.trentu.ca/durham/
Apply straight to software engineering
Engineering I - Software Engineering
Different program from Computer Science, different application, and it grants a Bachelor of Engineering. From Fall 2027 entry you name Software Engineering on OUAC and McMaster's wording is that you lock in your second-year spot when you apply — but you still take the common Engineering 1 year with every other engineering student, and your Software Engineering courses start in Level 2. The alternative code is Engineering I - Discovery Track, where you pick at the end of first year and allocation is competitive on first-year CGPA. Engineering requires a supplementary application (late January).
Co-op only — there is no regular-stream option. The prerequisite trap: because it is jointly run by Mathematics and Engineering, it carries the Engineering course list, so you need Chemistry AND Physics on top of Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors and English (all 70%). Computer Science does not require chemistry or physics, so students who assume the two programs take the same courses can find themselves eligible for one and not the other. Individual selection from the low to mid-90s, Admission Information Form required, and programming experience is expected. Applying to Software Engineering does not put you in the running for Computer Science.
Software Engineering (BComp) Honours (GBS)
Software Engineering at Guelph is a Bachelor of Computing, not a Bachelor of Engineering, so it does not carry a P.Eng path. It shares the 85-90% range with Computer Science.
Carleton offers Software Engineering two ways with different codes and different outcomes: as an accredited engineering degree (BEng, CES, 75-80%) leading toward P.Eng, or as a stream inside Computer Science (COD, 80-85%). The engineering route asks a lower average but a heavier first year.
Software Engineering - Co Op (RZC)
Software Engineering Co-op is direct entry at 85-90% — one of Trent's highest ranges — but it is a computing degree, not an accredited engineering degree, as Trent has no engineering faculty. Computer Science (RSC, 70%) is the lower-bar route.
Computer Science - Mobile Software Engineering (BCOSC 4 Year) (JFH)
Algoma has no engineering faculty, but Computer Science – Mobile Software Engineering is a named stream with its own code at 65%+. It is a computing degree, not accredited 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.