How to Apply to Computer Science at Carleton University: Direct Entry to the Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS), Choosing a Stream After First Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Carleton University is in Ottawa. Computer science is taught by the School of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science, and the degree is the Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS), available as an Honours degree or a Combined Honours with Mathematics. High school students apply directly to the BCS, with no supplementary materials. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Carleton’s official information, for students at high schools in China (including international curricula), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Program structure

• Streams (after first year): Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Computer Game Development, Management and Business Systems, Software Engineering, User Experience and User Interfaces (UX/UI), and others.
• Foundations: first year starts with courses such as COMP 1405 (Introduction to Computer Science I), followed by programming, algorithms, software engineering, databases and web applications.
• Co-op: the BCS has a co-op option with paid work terms.
• Industrial Applications Internship Option: paid work experience with industrial partner Shopify, which also covers some tuition and educational expenses.

2. Students at high schools in China

• Chinese high school: the admission average is calculated on all nine academic subjects at the highest level taken; the BCS prerequisite is mathematics, taken in grade 11 or 12. Offers are finalized on receipt of final grades and the graduation certificate, which must be verified by CSSD. Carleton does not mention Gaokao requirements.
• IB: the full IB Diploma with at least 28 points (higher for competitive programs); one 3 is allowed if offset by a 5 or better, and prerequisites need a 4. The BCS needs one of SL Analysis and Approaches, HL Analysis and Approaches or HL Applications and Interpretation. HL subjects at 5 or better may earn up to 3.0 transfer credits.
• A-Levels: the BCS needs Mathematics at A or AS level; Carleton always uses the highest level taken. A-Levels at C or better may earn transfer credit.
• AP: the pages reviewed do not list BCS-specific AP requirements.
• Cut-offs: averages are set each year by program, all programs have limited enrolment, and no figures are published.

3. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• BC general requirements: high school graduation with four Grade 12 academic courses and no prerequisite below 60%; Grade 12 English is recommended for all degrees. Admission considers the overall and prerequisite averages, set each year by program.
• BCS prerequisites: Pre-Calculus 12 and Calculus 12.
• Deadline: for students whose transcripts originate in Canada or the US, the general fall deadline is June 1, 2027; some programs are earlier.

4. English requirements

• Exemption: three recent years of full-time study at an English-language high school in Canada, or at an English-language school in a country where English is the main language; ESL time does not count.
• Scores for direct admission: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL 4.5 on the new scale (tests from January 21, 2026) with no section below 4.0, or 86 on the old scale (22 writing and speaking, 20 reading and listening); Duolingo 120 (110 writing, reading and speaking, 105 listening); PTE Academic 55 (47 in each); CAEL 70 (60 in each); Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 176.
• AP English Language or Literature at 4 or better, or IB English A at 4 or better, also qualify.

5. Timeline (fall 2027)

• Applications open: September of the preceding year.
• March 1, 2027: Prestige Scholarship deadline.
• April 1, 2027: deadline for international applicants (transcripts from outside Canada and the US).
• June 1, 2027: deadline for students whose transcripts originate in Canada or the US.
• Most programs use rolling admission once grades are received. International students can use Carleton’s International Student Application (processing fee $100) or OUAC.

6. Tuition and scholarships

• International tuition: $55,000 a year for the Bachelor of Computer Science, plus about $2,500 in miscellaneous fees (including UHIP and the U-Pass). Carleton says international undergraduate tuition is frozen for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29. Residence and meal plan cost about $14,010 for eight months.
• Automatic Entrance Scholarships: for high school students who meet academic and language requirements, $1,000 to $3,000 a year based on grades, renewable with an A- (10.0) annual GPA.
• President’s Welcome Award for International Students: automatic for international students entering from high school in September 2027, $2,000 to $5,000 for first year only, in addition to other entrance scholarships.
• Prestige Scholarships: for admission averages over 90%, $5,000 to $14,178 a year; apply by March 1.

7. Transfer students

• From university: the BCS prerequisites are Advanced Functions and Calculus and Vectors (or equivalents), and English is recommended for all degrees. Averages are set each year by program, and some programs have additional GPA and course requirements for upper-year entry; Carleton does not publish the BCS transfer GPA, so check with Admissions.
• Transfer credit: assessed after admission; detailed course descriptions may be needed.
• Winter entry: only some programs allow January entry; the deadline is November 15, 2026 (October 15 for international applicants). Check Carleton’s January admissions page to see whether the BCS is open.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Mathematics in grade 11 or 12; average over nine academic subjects; graduation certificate verified by CSSD
• IB: 28+ points with Math AA (SL or HL) or AI HL; A-Levels: Mathematics at A or AS level
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band) or TOEFL 4.5 (4.0 in each); apply by April 1, 2027

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Pre-Calculus 12 and Calculus 12, each prerequisite at 60%+, with English 12 recommended
• Apply by June 1, 2027 (earlier is better under rolling admission)

Transfer students:

• Have Advanced Functions and calculus equivalents; confirm the BCS transfer GPA with Admissions; transfer credit is assessed after admission

Sources: Carleton University, Computer Science (BCS); Canadian high school students outside Ontario; International applicants; International Baccalaureate students; University transfer students; English language requirements; Deadlines; USA and international costs. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Carleton for the latest details.