Computer Science admission requirements for Ontario university students
Transfer student information
Competition for admission is extremely competitive with very few spaces (if any) expected to be available for transfer students. Students interested in transferring into Computer Science should have outstanding grades, especially in computer science and mathematics courses, and should be studying in a related program. Admissions assessments are performed on a case-by-case basis. For further detailed information, please review the School of Computer Science website.Program requirements
- Advanced Functions 4U
- Calculus and Vectors 4U
- Any Grade 12 U English
- One other Grade 12 U course
There are supplementary information forms, including the Admission Information Form, which are required for admission. We'll email you detailed instructions once we receive your application.
Admission average
- You will not be considered for admission to our program if you have completed more than two years of post-secondary studies.
- Minimum cumulative university average of 85% with a minimum of 85% in each mathematics/computer science course(s) at the university level.
- If you have not taken university-level math courses, we will consider previous high school mathematics courses (provided they were taken in the last three years). If they were not taken within the last three years, you will have to refresh those courses before your application can be considered further.
Recommended high school courses
Grade 11 U Introduction to Computer Science and/or Grade 12 U Computer Science are helpful background for your studies; however, it will not impact your likelihood of admission if you do not take these courses.Transfer credits
If you receive an offer of admission, we'll assess you for possible transfer credit using the course outlines (syllabi) you provided. The transfer credit you receive will depend on when you took the course, the course content, and the grade you earned in the course. You can receive up to 10.0 units (equivalent to 20 courses) towards your Waterloo degree. Please refer to our transfer credit policies for further information.General requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses, including all required courses.
- Grade 12 U or M courses must be completed through schools that are accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
- Admission averages depend on the number of applications received and the number of spaces available. The range listed above is based on previous years.
Notes
- You're strongly encouraged to write the Euclid Mathematics Contest and/or the Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest. Results of the contests will be used in scholarship decisions and possibly admission decisions for programs in the Faculty of Mathematics.
- If your first language is not English, you may need to meet our English language requirements.
- If you repeat a course or take a course outside of your regular day school, see our Faculty of Mathematics policy for more information.
- Required courses completed more than three years ago may need to be updated. Email the admissions office for more information.
Next steps
- Learn about courses, co-op, and customizing your degree in the Computer Science program.
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