How to Apply to Computer Science at UT Austin: Listing CS as Your First Choice, Calculus Readiness, BS or BSA, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), undergraduate computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS). UT Austin admits by major, so to study CS you list Computer Science as your first choice. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on official UT Austin information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. How to apply to Computer Science

• First choice: Computer Science: apply through the Common App with Computer Science as your first-choice major, meeting all UT Austin requirements.
• Why the first choice matters: UT reviews applicants for their first-choice major, considering how competitive it is; only applicants eligible for Texas automatic admission may be considered for a second choice, so international applicants effectively get one chance.
• Calculus readiness (required): freshman applicants to Computer Science (and History and CS, Linguistics and CS, and Neuroscience and CS) must show calculus readiness by the deadline with any one of: SAT Math 620+; ACT Math 26+; AP Calculus AB or BC 3+; IB HL Mathematics 4+; a high school Calculus I (or higher) course with a B or better; a college Calculus I (or higher) course with a B or better; or CLT Math 26+. If you use test scores, have them sent to UT Austin.
• Entry terms: freshmen can start CS in fall or spring; transfer students in fall only.
• Entry status: all students are admitted as “CS - Entry Level” and advance by completing the core, so you do not choose between the BS and BSA when applying.

2. Two degrees and concentrations

• Core: every CS student takes six core courses: two programming, two systems and two theory. UT says there are more than 65 courses to choose from.
• Bachelor of Science (BS): 6 core courses, a full calculus sequence (2–3 courses), 2 upper-division math, 3 science and 8 upper-division CS electives. More technical and research-oriented, suited to software engineering, AI, cybersecurity, data science or graduate study.
• Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA): 6 core courses, an integral calculus sequence (1–2 courses), 2 upper-division math, 2 science and 4 upper-division CS electives. Fewer math and science requirements and more room for a minor or certificate.
• When to choose: decide between BS and BSA by your second year.
• Concentrations (optional): Computer Systems, Cybersecurity, Game Development (with Fine Arts and Radio-Television-Film), Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Computing, and a Responsible Computing Stamp.
• Honors and interdisciplinary: Turing Scholars Honors Program (open to incoming and current students); Texas Honors Computer Science and Business (Texas CSB, freshmen only, a dual degree with Business Honors); X+CS Integrated Degree Program (currently History, Linguistics and Neuroscience + CS, open to incoming and current students); and the Texas Robotics Undergraduate Honors Program for current students.

3. Changing into Computer Science after enrolling

• A closed major: Computer Science and the three X+CS majors are closed majors; even current CNS students cannot switch by speaking with an advisor and must apply through internal transfer.
• Minimums: 24 hours in residence at UT Austin (30 to add a second major); one math and two science courses from the approved lists (calculus in residence is highly recommended for CS); a GPA of at least 3.0; fewer than 90 hours in residence; and the ability to graduate within four years at UT.
• Timing and attempts: applications open in spring for fall admission, with the online application available in February; students may apply twice at most.
• Competition: UT says internal transfer into CNS is very competitive and space-available; meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission. It suggests taking more math and science than required with B or higher grades, a GPA above 3.0, and 12–15 hours each semester.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Application: Common App, at least one essay and the required short answers; the international application fee is USD 90 and cannot be waived.
• SAT/ACT required: at least one official SAT or ACT score sent by the testing agency (SAT code 6882, ACT code 4240). SAT Math 620 or ACT Math 26 also meets calculus readiness.
• Transcripts: submit your secondary records equivalent to US grades 9–12. UT does not say whether Gaokao results are accepted and publishes no CS cut-offs for A-levels or IB; IB HL Mathematics 4 or AP Calculus 3 can demonstrate calculus readiness.
• Optional: résumé, up to two recommendation letters, and a short essay on special circumstances.
• English: China is not on the exemption list; submit TOEFL iBT 79 (4 on the 1–6 scale), IELTS Academic 6.5 or Duolingo 115.

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

• English exemption: Canada (except Quebec) is on the exemption list; students who completed at least three years of high school and graduated in an exempt country are also exempt.
• SAT or ACT is still required, Computer Science must be your first choice, and calculus readiness applies.
• UT publishes no grade requirements for the BC curriculum.

6. Fall 2027 timeline

• Application opens 1 August;
• Early Action (EA) closes 15 October;
• Regular closes 1 December, with supplemental materials due by 10 December;
• by 15 January 2027, EA applicants receive a decision or deferral; deferred and regular applicants hear by 15 February.

7. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 estimate: non-resident tuition ranges from USD 42,554 to 51,106 depending on college; with housing and food, transportation, books and personal costs, the total is 64,204 to 72,916 (based on 12 hours per semester). Which tier applies to Computer Science is not published; use UT’s cost estimator.
• Aid: UT scholarships need no separate application; CS department scholarships are for current students (applications 13 April to 15 May). Admissions pages do not describe need-based aid for international undergraduates; check with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

8. External transfer students

• Fall only: CS admits transfer students for fall only.
• Prerequisites: CNS transfer applicants must show credit or in-progress work for at least calculus (MATH 408K, 408C or 408N) and six hours of first-year math and science.
• International transfer: you need 24 transferable hours earned after high school graduation; in-progress courses do not count.
• The CS department refers external transfer applicants to the Office of Admissions; any additional CS-specific requirements or admit rates are not published.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• List Computer Science as your first choice; apply EA by 15 October or Regular by 1 December
• Show calculus readiness by the deadline (SAT Math 620, ACT Math 26, AP Calculus 3, IB HL Math 4, or a calculus course with a B or better)
• Official SAT or ACT required; TOEFL 79 (new scale 4), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115
• Apply separately for Turing Scholars or Texas CSB if interested

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

• Graduates of Canadian high schools outside Quebec are generally exempt from English tests
• SAT or ACT required; list CS first and show calculus readiness

Transfer students:

• External transfer is fall only; complete calculus and six hours of first-year math and science
• Current UT students apply through CNS internal transfer: 24 hours, GPA 3.0+, one math and two science courses, at most two attempts

Sources: The University of Texas at Austin, Computer Science undergraduate applications; Core CS degrees; Concentrations; Honors degrees; X+CS Integrated Degree Program; CS cost and aid; College of Natural Sciences internal transfer; Freshman applicants; High school prerequisites and calculus readiness; International freshman applicants; International student information and English; Colleges and degrees; Transfer applicants; International transfer; 2026-27 cost of attendance. Information is for fall 2027 entry (2026-27 cost estimates). Check UT Austin for the latest details.