How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Western Australia: The Bachelor of Science With a Computer Science Major, the ATAR 70 Minimum and Maths Prerequisites, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is in Perth. UWA has no separate computer science bachelor: Computer Science (major code MJD-CMPSC) is a degree-specific major in the Bachelor of Science (course code BP004), and can also be taken in the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours). Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on UWA’s official information, for students at high schools in China (including A-level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. The degree and the major

• Length and intakes: the BSc is three years full time, 144 points (24 units, eight a year), with intakes in February and July at the Perth (Crawley) campus. The major page lists 3 years for the BSc, 4 for the BSc (Hons) and 4 for the BPhil (Hons).
• Apply to the BSc: you apply for the Bachelor of Science (BP004) and take Computer Science as your degree-specific major. You can add a second major or up to two minors if they fit within 144 points.
• Major units:
  • Level 1: Introduction to Cybersecurity, Computational Thinking with Python, Relational Database Management Systems;
  • Level 2: Systems Programming, Object Oriented Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Discrete Structures;
  • Level 3: Advanced Algorithms, Computer Networks, Professional Computing and Agile Web Development, plus one option from Graphics and Animation, Knowledge Representation, Secure Coding, Intelligent Agents, High Performance Computing and the Computer Science WIL Internship (CITS3009).
• Accreditation: the Handbook states that the Computer Science major in a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Philosophy is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and meets Seoul Accord graduate standards.
• Related majors: Software Engineering (MJD-ESOFT) cannot be combined with Computer Science. UWA also offers a Data Science major.
• Further study: honours in Computer Science, the Master of Data Science, the Master of Information Technology and research degrees.

2. Students at high schools in China

• Minimum entry: the BSc needs a minimum ATAR of 70 and has no course prerequisites, but majors have their own prerequisites (see below). UWA’s Gaokao table (out of 750; Shanghai is out of 660 and scaled):
  • about 65% (488–491) equals ATAR 70;
  • about 70% (525–528) equals 80, about 72.5% equals 85 and about 76% equals 90.
• Maths prerequisite: the major requires WA Mathematics Methods, or Mathematics Applications plus a first-year mathematics unit; students without either take two first-year mathematics units. The first-year Python unit also lists Mathematics Methods (or UWA’s bridging maths unit) as a prerequisite.
• Gaokao maths: UWA’s subject table equates Gaokao Mathematics at 50–65% with Mathematics Applications and 65%+ with Mathematics Specialist, and lists “no equivalent” for Mathematics Methods. UWA does not say whether Gaokao maths satisfies the Methods prerequisite, so confirm with UWA; otherwise, the major allows first-year maths units.
• Graduation certificate only: accepted with SAT or ACT results (ATAR 70 equals SAT 1100 or ACT 20).
• International curricula:
  • A-levels: CDD (7 points) equals ATAR 70 and CCC (9) equals 80; UWA does not list A-level maths equivalents, so they are assessed individually;
  • IB: 24 equals ATAR 70 and 27 equals 80; Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL at 4+, or Applications and Interpretation HL at 3+, equals Mathematics Methods;
  • AP: with a recognised high school qualification and at least two subjects at 3+, an aggregate of 6 equals ATAR 70 and 9 equals 80; AP Calculus AB at 3+ equals Mathematics Methods.

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

• Provinces: all provinces and territories except New Brunswick and Quebec; you need the high school graduation diploma.
• Conversion: the average of 5 or 6 final-year subjects. 60 equals ATAR 70, 70 equals 80, 75 equals 85 and 80 equals 90.
• Maths: Canadian subjects are assessed individually against Mathematics Methods. Submit your grade 12 maths results and ask UWA whether you will need first-year maths units.

4. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, as also stated on the major page.
• TOEFL iBT: 82 (20 in speaking and writing, 17 in listening and reading), or 4.5 on the 1–6 scale (4 in writing, 3.5 in the others).
• Other tests: PTE 64 (no band below 60); Duolingo 125 (speaking 115, writing 125, reading 115, listening 110).
• Exemptions: for example, at least one recent full-time year of degree study in Canada (excluding Quebec), the US, the UK, Ireland or New Zealand.

5. Transfer students

• From a university: at least one full-time semester of degree study at AQF level 7 or higher in Australia with a GPA of 4.0 (out of 7).
• From vocational study: completion of an AQF level 5 (diploma) qualification or higher.
• Credit: ask for credit in your application and apply for more after enrolling.
• Internal transfer: under the course rules, UWA undergraduates with at least 24 points and a WAM of 50, who have not started their final semester, meet their major’s prerequisites and face no quota, can transfer into the BSc in the two yearly windows.

6. Dates and process

• Intakes: Semester 1 (February) or Semester 2 (July).
• Deadlines: domestic and onshore applicants apply by 19 February 2027 for Semester 1 and 16 July 2027 for Semester 2. UWA lists earlier dates (11 January and 7 June 2027) for a set of countries that does not include China or Canada. Some courses differ; check the course page.
• Fee: a non-refundable AUD 150 application fee applies to direct and agent applications.

7. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: international students pay an annual course fee charged per credit point and indexed each year. The major page says no current fee information is available; the 2027 amount is not published, so use UWA’s fee calculator.
• Global Excellence Scholarship: for 2027 entry, open to all nationalities. ATAR 85+ earns 10% off tuition and 90+ earns 20% each year for the standard duration, assessed automatically on final transcripts. UWA’s tables put ATAR 85 at about 72.5% in the Gaokao, a Canadian average of 75, IB 30, A-levels BCC or an AP aggregate of 11. It cannot be held with other UWA tuition reductions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply for the Bachelor of Science (BP004) with the Computer Science major; about 65% in the Gaokao (ATAR 70), or A-levels CDD, IB 24 or an AP aggregate of 6
• Check whether your maths meets Mathematics Methods; otherwise plan first-year maths units
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each); AUD 150 application fee

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

• Graduation diploma with a 60%+ average in 5–6 final-year subjects (ATAR 70); 75%+ earns 10% off tuition
• Submit grade 12 maths results and confirm the maths prerequisite with UWA

Transfer students:

• At least one full-time semester of degree study with a GPA of 4.0 (out of 7), or an AQF level 5 qualification; request a credit assessment

Sources: The University of Western Australia, Computer Science major; Bachelor of Science; Handbook: Computer Science major; Handbook: Bachelor of Science; International applicants; International and overseas qualifications; International Baccalaureate; English language requirements; International student fees; Fee calculator; Global Excellence Scholarship. Information is for 2027 entry (the Handbook shown is the 2026 edition). Check UWA for the latest details.