Computer Science Admission Category

computer science student studying

Students in computer science will learn how to design software, develop computer applications such as databases and graphics and investigate mathematical problems. They will train to meet an increasing demand for graduates with scientific knowledge and creative skills to excel in the industry. A computer science degree will introduce students to tomorrow's technological world.

Computer Science Programs

Why Study Computer Science

Computer Science Careers

 

Applying to Computer Science

OUAC Admission Code: TAD (Computer Science)

Supplementary Application Form Required: Yes

Admission Category Prerequisites: English and Calculus

Approximate Admission Range: Low 90s

Supplemental Application for Computer Science Admission Category

The supplemental application will be found in applicants' JOIN U of T account after they have applied through the OUAC.

  • It comprises four short-answer questions
  • Applicants will be asked to reflect on personal experiences and qualities
  • The questions are not specific to computer science
  • It is not timed

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply and submit all requested documents, including the supplemental application, as early as possible. See the recommended early application deadline here.

Deferrals 

Offers of admission to the Computer Science admission category at the Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George campus are not eligible for deferral.

Alternate Admission Category Form

Applicants applying to the Computer Science admission category in the Faculty of Arts & Science have the option of selecting an alternate admission category for consideration on the JOIN U of T portal after completing their OUAC application.

Selecting an alternate category does not affect students' eligibility to their first choice of admission category. You can select from the four other admission categories at Arts & Science: Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. Computer Science and Rotman Commerce are not available as alternate choices. If you are admitted to an alternate admission category, you may be waitlisted for your first choice and reconsidered at a later time, space permitting.

Please note that selecting an alternate admission category does not guarantee admission. To be considered for your alternate choice, you must meet eligibility requirements and the minimum overall average, including in any prerequisite courses.

Transfer students

Students with previous post-secondary (at the University of Toronto or another post-secondary institution) are not eligible to apply directly into the Computer Science admission category or program of study.

More information on pursuing a program of study in Computer Science as a transfer student can be found on our Transfer Student Admission webpage.

Exceptions to the above include:

  • Dual-enrolment secondary school students who are completing post-secondary courses at part of their secondary school diploma. The secondary school official transcript must list all the dual enrolment courses explicitly. Additional information or documentation may be requested to confirm the nature of the program. Students admitted into the Computer Science admission category or program of study are not eligible for transfer credits for dual-enrolment courses.
  • Students who completed programs or certificates not eligible for transfer credit such as religious studies, and technical programs such a photography, culinary arts, etc. If in doubt about eligibility, please contact the Office of the Faculty Registrar.

Admission Requirements by Curriculum:

Admission to the Computer Science admission category is not the same as enrolment in a Computer Science program of study. Students apply to a program of study, or programs, of study at the end of first year.

However, all students admitted to the Computer Science admission category are guaranteed admission in the Computer Science specialist, major or minor program of choice after first year, provided that they meet the conditions of the first-year guarantee.

To prepare for admission into your program of study at the end of first year:

Step 1: Search for your desired program of study (e.g. major in data science) in the table in the "Computer Science" section below

Step 2: Find the high school subject prerequisites for your desired program of study listed under Subject(s) Required in Addition to English

Step 3: These prerequisites subjects allow you to enrol in introductory first year courses needed for your program of study selection at the end of first year. You can find these courses listed under Program Area in the Academic Calendar

Program List

After first year, you can apply to one of the two programs listed below. Whichever path you choose, you'll be on the cutting edge of in-demand fields like artificial intelligence, game design, statistics, human-computer interaction and more.

Program Subject(s) Required in Addition to English
Computer Science Calculus
Data Science Calculus

Why Study Computer Science at Arts & Science?

upper year computer science students work on research project with faculty

Gain Hands-On Experience

Eligible Computer Science students can apply for the Arts & Science Internship Program after first year and gain 12-20 months of relevant, paid work experience and specialized professional development training. As an undergraduate student, you'll also have the opportunity to work closely with a professor on a research or development project.

Professor Steve Engels discusses class materials with students

Award-Winning Faculty and Research

Computer Science research is ranked #1 in Canada and our faculty is globally renowned. We're home to two Turing Award winners and to members of acclaimed computing societies, including nine Association of Computing Machinery fellows and eight Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada.

 

Computer Science Careers

#1 in Canada for graduate employability — recruiters from top companies have consistently ranked U of T as #1 in Canada and among the best in the world at preparing its students for the workplace. With a computer science degree from a world-renowned university, you will have a competitive advantage when applying for jobs in fields such as:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Computational linguistics
  • Computer systems
  • Computer vision
  • Game design
  • Human-computer interaction
  • Scientific computing
  • Theory of computation
  • Web and internet technologies 

Use Career Navigator to explore more computer science careers and check out our alumni success stories below.

My two majors at U of T — computer science and economics — were a great pair. On the computer science side, you learn how to build a product so that users love it. — Zain Manji, HBSc 2016