How to Apply to Computer Science at Western University: Direct Application to ECS in the Faculty of Science and the Computer Science and Ivey Combined Degree, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Western University in London, Ontario, offers computer science through the Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science. You apply directly to Computer Science, OUAC code ECS. Degrees include the BSc, the BMSc and a combined Honours Specialization in Computer Science and Ivey HBA, taking 3–5 years, with a first-year class of about 500. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on Western’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Program structure

• First-year courses: Foundations of Computer Science (1020) and Computer Science Fundamentals I and II (1026, 1027).
• Modules: Honours Specialization, Specialization, Major and Minor in Computer Science, plus minors in Game Development and Software Engineering; upper-year courses include applied logic, systems programming, artificial intelligence, cryptography and security, and game design.
• Concurrent degrees: the department lists Computer Science combined with the Ivey HBA, Western Engineering BESc, Music or Nursing, completed in one year less than taking both separately.
• Work experience: Science Co-op can start as early as second year, and the department’s Industry Internship places students with companies for 8–16 months between third and fourth year. Open source and game development projects are also listed.

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

• Ontario: required ENG4U, MCV4U and MHF4U, plus one of MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SPH4U, SES4U or ICS4U. The admission average guideline is the low to mid 80s, based on Ontario students and not a guarantee.
• BC: a diploma by June with five academic Grade 12 courses including English 12 or English First Peoples 12; Computer Science also requires English, Calculus, Pre-Calculus and any science, with at least 70% in each.

3. Students at high schools in China

• Documents: senior secondary transcript (completed and in-progress subjects), graduation diploma, Academic Proficiency Test (Huikao) results and Gaokao results; a school letter if your province has no Huikao.
• Computer Science prerequisites: senior-level Math and any Science. Western may request course descriptions.
• Grades: admitted students typically have at least the equivalent of a B (3.0) on the Canadian scale, and some programs are more competitive; Western converts non-Canadian averages. You can apply with mid-year results for a conditional offer.
• After accepting: official documents go from your school to WES Canada for verification; discrepancies can lead to a cancelled offer.

4. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.
• TOEFL iBT: from 21 January 2026, 4.5 overall with at least 4.0 in reading, speaking and writing and 4.5 in listening; earlier tests 83 overall with at least 20 in each.
• Other: PTE Academic 58 (56 in each); Duolingo 115 (100 in each subscore).
• For fall 2027, take tests before March 2027; exemptions are available if you qualify. Applicants close to the requirement may be offered the nine-week English Boost program before classes.

5. Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• 15 January 2027: deadline for guaranteed consideration; later applications are accepted but space is not guaranteed.
• 14 February 2027: National Scholarship deadline.
• 1 March 2027: special consideration and extracurricular materials; applicants from outside Ontario must have everything in by this date for guaranteed Scholarship of Excellence consideration.
• 1 June 2027: earliest response date for Ontario high school students; others follow their offer letter.

6. Tuition and scholarships

• Tuition (2025–26 estimates, first-year tuition and fees): international about CAD 48,000–64,400; Canadians from outside Ontario about CAD 9,300–16,900. International tuition rises no more than 4% a year after Year 1. Use Western’s tuition lookup for the exact Computer Science figure.
• Automatic admission scholarships (direct from high school): 250 Scholarships of Excellence worth CAD 8,000 (6,000 in first year plus 2,000 for exchange); 92–100% averages receive CAD 2,500 and 90–91.9% CAD 1,500 in first year, each plus CAD 1,000 for exchange.
• By application: the National Scholarship (due 14 February); international students can apply for three International President’s Entrance Scholarships worth CAD 100,000.

7. Transfer students

• From a university (Canadian or international): an overall average of at least 70% across all previous university courses, plus the Computer Science high school prerequisites or equivalents. BC and Alberta college university-transfer students apply under university transfer standards.
• From a college: at least 78% in a two- or three-year diploma, or 80% in the first year of General Arts and Science or Pre-Health.
• Credit is assessed after you accept; at least 10.0 credits must be taken on Western’s main campus. Admission scholarships are only for applicants direct from high school.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Transcript, diploma, Huikao and Gaokao results; senior-level math and one science
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band) or TOEFL, taken before March 2027
• Apply to Computer Science (ECS) on OUAC by 15 January

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

• BC: English 12, Calculus 12, Pre-Calculus 12 and a science, each 70%+; Ontario: ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U plus one, aiming for the low to mid 80s
• For Computer Science with Ivey, also look into the Ivey AEO application (due 15 January)

Transfer students:

• A university average of 70%+ and the high school math and science prerequisites

Sources: Western University, Computer Science program; Department of Computer Science: future students; BC requirements; China requirements; English language proficiency; Transfer from a Canadian university; Transfer from a Canadian college; Admission deadlines; Costs; Admission scholarships. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check Western for the latest details.