Cutoffs

Western Computer Science

Western University

The published admission average for Computer Science at Western University is 80–87% for September 2027 entry, under OUAC code ECS.

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.

Plain-English summary. The universities publish requirements but not an explanation of the program, so this one is written for you and checked against the official listing above. Read the university’s own page before you decide.

Admission average

80–87%

OUAC code

ECS

First-year spaces

500

Western University publishes this as “Low to mid 80s”

Compare side by side →
Co-op available

What’s the Western Computer Science acceptance rate?

Western University doesn't publish an acceptance rate for Computer Science, and no Ontario university publishes one for any program. What it publishes is the admission average: 80–87% for September 2027 entry. Western acceptance rate, program by program

Admission requirements

Required
ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U
Choose one of
ICS4U, MDM4U, SBI4U, SES4U, SPH4U

Western’s own wording

  • English, ENG4U
  • Calculus and Vectors MCV4U
  • Advanced Functions, MHF4U
  • One of:
  • Biology, SBI4U
  • Math of Data Management, MDM4U
  • Chemistry, SCH4U (not required for admission, but required to take first-year Chemistry courses)
  • Physics, SPH4U
  • Earth and Space Sciences, SES4U
  • Computer and Information Science, ICS4U
  • See Ontario high school course codes.

How many other programs require these outright:

Also required

  • Unless otherwise noted, required courses must be completed with a minimum average of 70%.
  • Alternative Offers
  • Alternative offers are not made automatically.

What it costs

First-year tuition at Western is $6,171 for an Ontario student in arts and science in 2026–27. Engineering ($12,539) and Management and Organizational Studies, and Computer Science ($8,077) cost more. Western tuition, program by program

Source: Western University on Ontario Universities’ Info. Grade ranges change year to year and are not guarantees — confirm with the university before you apply.

What this leads to

The picture for computer games as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.

Game designers average $69,950 in Canada, designing game systems and narratives. Programmers, artists, and technical leads build the code, visuals, and tools that bring games to life at studios like Ubisoft, Relic Entertainment, and Gameloft.

In its favour

  • Job postings exist: Canada has hundreds of live game dev roles as of 2026
  • Creative and technical skills both valued: you're not locked into pure coding or pure art
  • Large Canadian studios in Montreal and Vancouver mean local job markets and senior positions for those who stay
  • AI tools are making prototyping faster, so your early projects can look more polished

Worth knowing

  • Entry level is saturated: most positions ask for 1-2 years of experience minimum, making that first job harder
  • 52% of game industry professionals now say generative AI is harming the field, up from 30% a year ago—the mood in studios is skeptical
  • Crunch and tight deadlines are standard; balancing creative vision with technical constraints and budget limitations is difficult as projects evolve
  • Modest starting salaries: contract and freelance work pay as little as $12.85–$36.25 per hour, even in Toronto

How AI is changing this work

97% of developers now use AI-assisted tools for asset creation, and teams use AI for ideation, testing, and prototyping instead of building everything manually. This is real—not coming. AI significantly cuts the time and money spent on creating levels, characters, and dialogue. But AI cannot yet replace specialized human skill sets, and human creativity still defines what makes a game memorable. What's changing is the job: you'll be directing AI tools rather than building everything from scratch, which means different skills matter more (knowing what you want, art direction, systems thinking) and some routine tasks matter less. The field is not being automated away, but entry-level grunt work is.

Where this came from (6 sources)
  1. 1. Video Game Developer in Canada | Available jobs - Job Bank
  2. 2. 81 game programmer jobs in Canada, June 2026 | Glassdoor
  3. 3. Video Game Designer Salary in Canada in 2026 | PayScale
  4. 4. $12-$55/hr Video Game Jobs in Toronto, ON (NOW HIRING)
  5. 5. 647 game developer jobs in Canada, July 2026 | Glassdoor
  6. 6. Video Game Jobs in Canada: 1,000+ Open Roles

Deadline reminders

Application dates move, and supplementary deadlines land before the January OUAC one. We’ll email you before the ones that apply to Computer Science.

We send your email address and the programs you’ve starred, so the reminders are the right ones. Your marks and your average are never sent — they stay in this browser. Deadline emails only, a week before and the day before each date, and every one has a link to stop them.

Similar ranges, similar subjects

Compare these side by side →

More at Western

All 18 programs at Western