How to Apply to Computing at the Australian National University: The Three-Year Bachelor of Computing and Four-Year Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours), with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese (Gaokao, A-Level, IB, AP) and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

The Australian National University (ANU) is in Canberra, and its undergraduate computing degrees are offered by the ANU School of Computing. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on ANU’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. The computing degrees

• Bachelor of Computing: three years, building strong computing fundamentals. The School says its cybersecurity, information systems and software development majors are accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
• Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours): four years with embedded honours, including a computing specialisation; ACS-accredited.
• Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours) (Research & Development): described by the School as an accelerated program for future leaders in computing research and development.
• Related degrees: the four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Software Engineering, and the three-year Bachelor of Applied Data Analytics combining computing, statistics and social science.
• Majors (in both the Bachelor of Computing and Advanced Computing): Computer Systems, Cyber Security, Data Science, Human-Centred & Creative Computing, Information Systems, Intelligent Systems and Software Development; Advanced Computing also offers Advanced Intelligent Systems.
• Specialisations (Advanced Computing): Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Human-Centred & Creative Computing, Systems & Architecture, and Theoretical Computer Science.
• Honours and double degrees: graduates of a three-year bachelor’s, including from other or overseas universities, can add a year of Honours in Computing; computing degrees can also become a flexible double degree with one more year of study.

2. How ANU assesses international applicants

• ANU Selection Rank: ANU converts your qualification into a Selection Rank out of 99.95 and checks it against your chosen degree’s requirement. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee entry.
• Degree requirements: the admissions website says each degree’s required rank and prerequisites are published in ANU’s Programs and Courses catalogue. The ANU pages used for this guide do not list the ranks for the Bachelor of Computing or Advanced Computing, so check the catalogue before you apply.
• Up to three preferences: direct applicants can list three programs in order and receive one offer for the highest eligible preference. The application fee is AUD 150.

3. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: ANU publishes province-by-province conversions for tests from 2017. For “other provinces” (750 total): rank 80 needs 525, 85 needs 544, 90 needs 570 and 95 needs 630. Shanghai (from 2017) needs 462, 479, 502 and 554; Hainan needs 630, 653, 684 and 756.
• A-levels: the higher of your best 3 or best 4 subjects (A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1). Rank 80 needs 13 (3 subjects) or 14 (4 subjects); 85 needs 14 or 16; 90 needs 15 or 18; 95 needs 16 or 20.
• IB (from schools outside Australia): rank 80 needs 31, 85 needs 33, 90 needs 35 and 95 needs 39.
• AP: students completing a Chinese or US high school diploma can use 3 to 4 AP exams, counting scores of 3 or above. A 4-subject aggregate of 14 equals rank 80, 15 equals 85 and 17 equals 90; a 3-subject aggregate of 10 equals 80, 11 equals 85 and 13 equals 94.
• Predicted results: A-level, IB or HKDSE students can apply with predicted results, but only for Semester 2 (July) and only for programs requiring 94 or below.

4. Students at Canadian high schools

• British Columbia: a 4-point average of all Grade 12 courses except Graduation Transitions and Career Life Connection (A=4, B=3, C+=2.5, C=2, C-=1). Rank 80 needs 3.45, 85 needs 3.55, 90 needs 3.65 and 95 needs 3.80.
• Ontario: your best six U or U/C courses including ENG4U. Rank 80 needs 77, 85 needs 79, 90 needs 83 and 95 needs 87.
• Other provinces have their own tables on ANU’s indicative entry requirements page. International students at Canadian high schools apply directly to ANU.

5. English requirements

• English is part of ANU’s minimum admission requirements and can be met through previous study in English or tests including IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced and PTE Academic.
• The admissions English page does not list scores for computing degrees; check ANU’s English language policy and the degree requirements in the catalogue.

6. Transfer and the Diploma of Computing

• Transfer: transferring is almost the same as applying for the first time, through the international direct application. One year of an Australian bachelor’s degree or a comparable qualification can meet the minimum requirement. Credit is requested at enrolment after you accept an offer and is decided by the responsible college.
• Diploma of Computing: 12 months (two semesters), starting in Semester 1 (February); UAC code 136052, CRICOS 121404G; entry at ATAR 70 or IB 26.75. Complete it with an ANU GPA of 4.0 (a pass average) to be guaranteed entry to the Bachelor of Computing with one year (48 units) of credit; ANU lists the corresponding Selection Rank as 80. You may instead progress to a non-aligned degree with up to one year of credit.

7. Timeline for 2027 entry

• Semester 1 (February 2027): direct applications close on 15 December 2026; accept by 15 January if overseas or 31 January if in Australia.
• Semester 2 (July 2027): direct applications close on 15 May 2027; accept by 30 June overseas or 10 July in Australia.
• Through UAC: international students completing Australian Year 12, the IB Diploma or NZ NCEA apply via UAC.

8. Fees and scholarships

• 2027 international tuition: ANU charges by discipline band. Information technology courses are in band 4, at AUD 57,640 per 48 units (one full-time year) in 2027. Actual fees depend on your courses, and fees are reviewed each year.
• Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award: for residents of China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), Japan, Korea, Mongolia and other listed places with a Selection Rank of 85+, 20% off first-year tuition, assessed automatically.
• International Achievement Award: for residents of other countries, such as Canada, with a rank of 85+, 20% off tuition for up to 4 years, also automatic.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Check the Selection Rank for the Bachelor of Computing or Advanced Computing in ANU’s catalogue, then compare your Gaokao, A-level, IB or AP conversion
• Prepare English scores as required by the degree
• For February 2027, apply by 15 December 2026; consider the Diploma of Computing if you fall short of direct entry

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

• BC: a 4-point Grade 12 GPA, for example 3.55 for rank 85
• Apply directly to ANU; a rank of 85+ is automatically considered for the International Achievement Award

Transfer students:

• Apply as an international direct applicant; request credit at enrolment

Sources: The Australian National University, School of Computing bachelor degrees; Diploma of Computing; International applications; Undergraduate indicative entry requirements; Gaokao; British Columbia; Ontario; GCE A-levels; IB; AP; Transferring to ANU; English language requirements; International tuition fees; Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award; International Achievement Award. Information is for 2027 entry. Check ANU for the latest details.