How to Apply to Engineering at Queen’s University: A General First Year with Guaranteed Choice of Ten Disciplines or Direct Entry to Seven Programs, No Supplementary Application, with Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, offers engineering degrees through Smith Engineering (formerly the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science). Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on Queen’s undergraduate admission and Registrar websites, for domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents), international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computing is in a different faculty and has its own article on this site; only Computer Engineering is covered here.

Note: Smith Engineering’s own site (smithengineering.queensu.ca) does not permit access by the tool we use, and the online Academic Calendar returned no readable content, so this guide does not include the Faculty’s degree names, CEAB accreditation, or the specific conditions for internal and external transfer into Engineering. Please check the Faculty site and the calendar.

1. Programs and how admission works

• Two entry routes: the 2027 Undergraduate Viewbook says you can enter through the General First Year (OUAC code QE) or by direct entry to a program. Queen’s describes the general stream as ideal for students who have not decided, and says it guarantees your choice of 10 disciplines with no cut-offs, limits or quotas if you pass your first-year courses.
• The 10 disciplines: Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Engineering Chemistry, Engineering Physics, Geological, Mathematics and Engineering, Mechanical and Mining Engineering.
• Direct entry (OUAC codes): Chemical QEH, Civil QEV, Computer QEC, Electrical QEE, Mechanical QET, Mining QEN, plus direct entry only Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering (QEM).
• First year: the viewbook mentions Introduction to Computer Programming, Physics, Chemistry, Calculus and Applied Engineering Mechanics, and an Engineering Design and Practice course where small teams solve a real-world problem.
• Upper-year specializations include Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical, Biomechanical, Environmental, Industrial, Machine Learning and Software Engineering, among others.
• Internship: an optional internship program is available in all engineering programs, offering paid 12–16 month internships that the viewbook says align with accreditation requirements. It cites an average internship salary of about CAD 56,000; check current figures.
• Accreditation and licensing: the viewbook states only that Engineering Chemistry graduates are accredited as both chartered chemists and professional engineers. CEAB accreditation and PEng for the other programs are not published on the pages read; ask the Faculty.

2. Admission averages and prerequisites

• Competitive averages (previous intake): Queen’s says the table shows the minimum average for consideration for September of last year, and thresholds could be higher: General Engineering (QE), Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Mining are the low 90s; Computer Engineering the mid-80s; Mechatronics and Robotics the mid-90s. The Engineering admission average is calculated using only the prerequisite subjects. Decisions are based on grades and supplementary information, with preference to the strongest overall applicants.
• Ontario: OSSD with six 4U/4M courses including ENG4U; Engineering requires ENG4U, Calculus and Vectors 4U, Chemistry 4U, Physics 4U and Advanced Functions 4U (francophone school students may offer EAE4U or FRA4U instead of ENG4U).
• British Columbia: English Studies 12, Calculus 12 or Pre-Calculus 12, Physics 12 and Chemistry 12; provincial diploma with four academic courses including English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12.
• Other provinces (from the viewbook table): Alberta/NWT/Nunavut English 30-1, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Mathematics 30-1 and Mathematics 31; Saskatchewan English 30, Calculus 30 (if available), Pre-Calculus 30, Chemistry 30 and Physics 30; Manitoba English 40S, Pre-Calculus 40S, Chemistry 40S and Physics 40S.
• Québec CEGEP: at least 12 academic subjects in a Pre-University program for first year, and DEC graduates of the two-year program can receive transfer credit; prerequisites must be at the Pre-University level.
• Supplementary application: Queen’s lists it as required only for Commerce, Nursing and Health Sciences. No supplementary application, reference letter or interview is listed for Engineering on the pages read; your SOLUS To-Do List shows what applies to you.

3. Domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents)

• Route: applicants in Canada use the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC); applicants from the US or abroad may use the Common App or Queen’s International Application. We did not visit these portals. The application fee is not stated on the pages read.
• Ontario and out-of-province: prerequisites are listed by province (above); tuition differs for Ontario and out-of-province students (below). No preference or guarantee for Ontario residents is stated.
• Standardized tests: no SAT/ACT requirement is stated on the pages read; other test requirements are not published there.
• Scholarships: everyone who applies is automatically considered for admission awards, and you are told with your offer; you will not receive more than one merit-based award. The Principal’s Scholarship goes to students in the top 3% of each program’s competitive average, CAD 7,000 for one year. Smith Engineering has faculty awards (for example a CAD 2,000 entrance award), and the viewbook lists Chancellor’s Scholarships (CAD 48,000, 50 available, high school nomination required). The Major Admission Award needs an online application due 8 December 2026 (apply to Queen’s by 20 November). The viewbook also lists the Schulich Leader Scholarship (CAD 120,000 over four years for engineering, high school nomination). Many awards require first-time, full-time study.

4. International applicants

• Grades and curricula: country and curriculum requirements are on the admission requirements pages; those read list Canadian provinces, China, IB and the French Baccalauréat. Other curricula (such as A-levels or US) are not listed separately on the pages read; select your country on Queen’s requirements page.
• IB: the full IB Diploma with six subjects, three at Higher Level, no mark below 3 and a total of at least 28 (excluding bonus points). Engineering prerequisites: Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and English; Mathematics Applications and Interpretations SL is not acceptable; the Engineering average uses prerequisite subjects only.
• English: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) 4.5 overall with no skill below 4.0 for tests from January 2026 (88 overall and 20 in each skill before then); PTE Academic 60; Duolingo 120; Cambridge 175 (no component below 170); CAEL 70 (no band below 60); LanguageCert Academic 70 (no score below 65). Scores are valid for two years, must be sent by the testing body, and must arrive by 31 March.
• Waivers: completing an IB diploma (SL English B alone is not enough); or living in a country where English is the primary language for the last three years; or three years of full-time English-medium schooling, supported by a school profile or principal’s letter. Applicants who are academically competitive but short on English are automatically assessed for QBridge (an eight-week summer Accelerated course, or EAP for Engineering).
• Awards: students paying international fees are automatically considered for the Engineering International Admission Award: CAD 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 or 25,000 a year for four years, no application, for students entering post-secondary for the first time. Renewal needs an 80% course load (typically 24 units) and a 3.5 GPA. The international page also mentions automatic awards for averages of 90%+.
• Study permits, funds and credential verification: the pages read point to a study permit FAQ and immigration support but give no specific steps; co-op work permit information and funding evidence are not published there.

5. Applicants from China

• How the gaokao is used: Queen’s states that students currently in high school must submit High School Graduation Examination results (Huikao/Xuekao); graduates must submit Gaokao results. Both must be verified by CHESICC, along with the high school graduation certificate.
• Prerequisites: Senior III Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics; the Engineering average uses these subjects only. Minimum grades are not published; see the previous-intake averages above.
• Supplementary application: none listed for Engineering.
• English: see the test scores and waivers above.
• Interview and country pages: a China requirements page exists but states no engineering interview; a Greater China recruiter is listed, and nothing else is published there.
• A-level or AP schools in China: not listed separately on the pages read; high school credits can be assessed for transfer credit (AP, A-level and IB are on the list).

6. Timeline (fall 2027 entry)

• 1 October 2026: applications open; 20 November: suggested OUAC application date if you plan to apply for a Major Admission Award; 8 December: Major Admission Award online application due;
• 1 March 2027: application deadline for all first-year full-time programs except Commerce, Health Sciences and Nursing, including Engineering;
• 31 March 2027: all documents, including transcripts and English test scores; 30 April: Queen’s receives Ontario grades from OUAC.

7. Costs

• 2026–2027 first year (CAD, Registrar page, 32.2 units for Engineering): Ontario students tuition 12,152.92 plus about 1,525.83 ancillary fees and a 110 student assistance levy, total 13,788.75; out-of-province students tuition 15,205.48, total 16,841.31; international students tuition 59,283.74 plus UHIP 948, the 110 levy and about 1,525.83 ancillary fees, total 61,867.57 (the page labels this Years 1–5). The viewbook lists approximate figures of 12,396 (Ontario), 15,965 (non-Ontario) and 59,284 (international), which differ slightly for domestic students; rely on the Registrar’s latest schedule.
• Residence and other costs: the viewbook lists a single-room residence fee of CAD 18,796 and books and supplies of about CAD 1,800.
• The pages read describe no separate engineering differential fee; engineering tuition appears on the Registrar’s “Engineering & Applied Science” line.

8. Transfer students

• External transfer into Engineering: the admission site’s transfer pages cover credit assessment only and give no conditions for entering Smith Engineering (GPA, calculus/physics/chemistry sequence, deadlines). The Faculty site could not be read; not published there, so contact admission@queensu.ca and the Faculty.
• Credit: high school courses (AP, A-level, IB, CEGEP, French Baccalauréat) are assessed automatically, up to 18.0 credit units in any faculty, posted to SOLUS by 15 September; request additional credit by the end of fall term of first year.
• Switching faculties within Queen’s: completed courses are assessed and a Statement of Transfer Credit is issued with the offer; the page shows the Engineering-to-Arts and Science course table. Conditions for switching into Engineering are not published there.
• CEGEP: graduates of the two-year DEC Pre-University program may enter first year and receive transfer credit.

Checklist

Domestic applicants:

• Complete the prerequisites for your province (Ontario: ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, SPH4U); previous-intake averages were in the low 90s (mid-80s for Computer Engineering, mid-90s for Mechatronics and Robotics)
• Apply through OUAC by 1 March 2027 to QE or a direct-entry program; for a Major Admission Award apply to Queen’s by 20 November and submit the award application by 8 December

International applicants (including China):

• China: Senior III Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics; Huikao (current students) or Gaokao (graduates) results verified by CHESICC; IB total of 28+ with three HL
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per band) or TOEFL 4.5, or a waiver; all documents by 31 March
• Apply by 1 March; the Engineering International Admission Award is automatic

Transfer students:

• Conditions for entering Engineering are not published; contact admissions. High school credits up to 18.0 units; request more by the end of first-year fall term

Sources: Queen’s University, Undergraduate programs; 2027 Undergraduate Viewbook (PDF); Ontario requirements; BC requirements; China requirements; IB requirements; Competitive averages; Deadlines; How to apply; Supplementary application; English proficiency; International students; Transfer credits; Undergraduate tuition and fees; International awards; Faculty admission awards. Information is for September 2027 entry; competitive averages are from the previous intake. Check Queen’s for the latest details.