How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Guelph: Direct Entry to the Bachelor of Computing Major with an Optional Five-Year Co-op, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Guelph (U of G) in Guelph, Ontario, Computer Science is a major in the Bachelor of Computing (BComp). High school students apply to Computer Science directly, in a regular or co-op stream. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Guelph’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

• What you study: an emphasis on math, systems development, programming, and algorithm design and analysis, with an optional Area of Emphasis in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science or UX.
• Co-op: a five-year program with five work terms. Guelph reports that 94% of CS co-op students found employment in the Winter 2026 term. Co-op students pay an extra CAD 405 per semester (academic and work).
• Guelph says it supports students whether or not they have prior computing experience.

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

• BC: high school diploma with five Grade 12 academic courses, including English Studies 12 (or English First Peoples 12) and Calculus 12, plus three more academic courses.
• Estimated cut-off range 82–87%, based on previous years; actual cut-offs depend on applications and space. Co-op averages often exceed this range, and students not admissible to co-op are automatically considered for the regular program.
• Recommended: computing and data management courses, and courses for the area you want to apply computing to.

3. Students at high schools in China

• Subjects: senior-level English and Calculus, plus four more courses.
• Current students: transcripts for grades 10, 11 and at least the first semester of grade 12, with prerequisites at Senior 3 level and “qualified” Huikao results in required subjects; a conditional offer is possible if prerequisites are completed or in progress at the required level.
• Graduates must submit Gaokao results, including the relevant subjects, with a minimum of approximately 500.
• Gaokao and Huikao results must be verified through CHESICC; final transcripts and the graduation certificate are sent by the school to intdocs@uoguelph.ca.
• A-level, IB and AP: see Guelph’s British, IB and American curriculum requirement pages; not verified item by item here.

4. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.
• TOEFL iBT: 89 overall with no section below 21; from 21 January 2026, 4.5 overall with no section below 4.0.
• Other: Duolingo 110; PTE 60; CAEL 70.
• Applicants studying outside Canada should submit English scores by 1 March 2027.

5. Timeline (fall 2027 entry)

• Canadian high school students: 15 January application deadline for current high school students (later applications still considered); 22 January for scholarships requiring an application; 15 April for final transcripts from outside Ontario; 1 June to accept on OUAC.
• Students outside Canada: complete documents by 1 February for early offer consideration; English scores by 1 March; Vaccarino President’s Scholarship by 8 March; application deadline 15 May, documents by 22 May; accept by 1 June and pay the non-refundable CAD 2,000 tuition deposit by 15 June.
• The Schulich Leader Scholarship (STEM, up to CAD 120,000 over four years) requires a school nomination by 27 January 2027.

6. Tuition and scholarships

• International tuition: the Bachelor of Computing is about CAD 58,807 a year (2025–26 estimate); with fees, books, health insurance, residence and meals, total annual costs are about CAD 64,589 to 88,498. Guelph guarantees later tuition increases will not exceed 5% a year.
• President’s International Entrance Scholarships (automatic, by admission average, paid over four years): 95%+ CAD 42,500; 90–94.9% 38,500; 85–89.9% 35,500; 70–84.9% 32,500. Renewal requires an 80% average each year.
• Dr. Franco J. Vaccarino President’s Scholarship: two awards of CAD 42,500 with guaranteed first-year residence, due 8 March.

7. Transfer students

• From a university (BC example): at least 2.0 credits completed, a minimum cumulative average of 70%, and the high school prerequisites (English Studies 12 and Calculus 12 or equivalents); fall entry. Applicants with fewer than 2.0 credits are typically considered for fall only.
• From a college: at least one year of a two- or three-year diploma with a minimum average of 75%, plus the same prerequisites; fall entry.
• Transfer students cannot be admitted directly to co-op but may apply after starting; meeting minimums does not guarantee admission.
• International transfer students admitted for winter or fall 2027 automatically receive a one-time CAD 10,000 scholarship.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Senior English and calculus; current students submit Huikao results, graduates Gaokao (about 500+), all verified by CHESICC
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band) or TOEFL 89, by 1 March
• Deadline 15 May; complete documents by 1 February for early consideration

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

• BC: English Studies 12, Calculus 12 and three more academic courses, aiming for 82–87%+ (higher for co-op)
• Apply by 15 January; ask your school about a Schulich Leader nomination

Transfer students:

• A university average of 70% or college average of 75%+, with English and calculus prerequisites; fall entry

Sources: University of Guelph, Computer Science program; BC high school requirements; China requirements; University transfer requirements (BC); College transfer requirements (BC); Deadlines; English proficiency; International costs and scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry (tuition is the 2025–26 estimate). Check the University of Guelph for the latest details.