How to Apply to Computer Science at Virginia Tech: Start in General Engineering, Complete Five Courses and Apply to Change into CS, With Requirements and Timelines for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Virginia Tech, undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering. The degree is the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The department also offers majors in Data-Centric Computing and Secure Computing. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on Virginia Tech’s official websites, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. How to get into Computer Science

• First-year students start in General Engineering: the department says first-year applicants apply to the College of Engineering’s General Engineering program. You can list Computer Science as your intended program, but once admitted to Engineering, all first-year students must complete the General Engineering requirements and then apply and be admitted to their preferred engineering major.
• Admissions decides: only the Office of Undergraduate Admissions reviews and decides first-year applications; the College of Engineering and the department have no role.
• Restricted major: Computer Science is one of the College of Engineering’s restricted programs, so current students join it through a change of major application reviewed by the College’s Academic Affairs Office.
• Required courses (the same for Computer Science, Data-Centric Computing and Secure Computing):
  • ENGE 1215 and ENGE 1216, Foundations of Engineering (or ENGE 1414, Foundations of Engineering Practice, usually offered in fall only and open only to engineering students);
  • MATH 1225 and MATH 1226, Calculus of a Single Variable;
  • ENGL 1105, First-Year Writing.
• Credits and GPA: the College requires at least 12 graded credits at Virginia Tech and a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. A 3.0 GPA guarantees admission for engineering students, and 3.5 for non-engineering students. Students below the guarantee may still apply; the College says most engineering majors admit students below it, and in previous reviews only Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering could not.
• The sites differ: the department’s “Join CS” page encourages students with a GPA of 2.8 or higher to apply if they have completed the courses, while its Undergraduate Programs page says 2.0 or higher. Both are given here; the College of Engineering’s change of major page is the authority.
• Timing: there are three change of major cycles a year, at the end of spring, summer and fall terms, reviewed after grades post. New students can apply only once their first-term grades are available. The end-of-fall 2026 cycle runs from 7 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, with decisions on 7 January; you can list up to three engineering majors for a primary major change. Appeals are allowed within set dates, only for unusual circumstances while at Virginia Tech.
• Students outside Engineering: ENGE 1215, 1216 and 1414 are restricted to engineering students in most fall and spring terms; others can take them in summer or transfer equivalent courses from the Virginia Community College System or elsewhere, ideally after talking to an advisor.

2. Curriculum

• Content: the department describes a foundation in algorithms, problem-solving and software development, with electives in artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, data mining, graphics, human-computer interaction, internet programming, networking, parallel computing and software engineering.
• Study pathways: the department lists example pathways such as Cybersecurity Engineer, Social Impact Engineer, AI/ML Engineer, Full Stack Developer, HCI/UX Engineer and Freestyler. It says these are not required tracks or formal degree requirements.
• Checksheet: the newest checksheet downloadable from the department’s site is for students entering under the 2023-2024 catalog: 123 credits, including chemistry, physics, multivariable calculus, discrete mathematics, linear algebra, combinatorics and statistics, plus software design and data structures, computer organization, data structures and algorithms, computer systems, comparative languages, a theory elective, a capstone and a senior seminar. Roadmaps for 2024-2025 and later are in the course catalog, which this guide has not checked.
• Foreign language: the checksheet requires two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year (6 credits) of the same language at college level; those college credits do not count toward the degree.
• Accelerated master’s: the department offers an accelerated master’s program; see its website for conditions.

3. Deadlines and materials

• Early Action (EA): due 15 November; transcripts or the STARS self-reported record by 1 December; decisions in late February.
• Regular Decision (RD, space available): due 15 January; materials by 24 January; decisions in mid-March. Reply by 1 May.
• There is no Early Decision. Virginia Tech reviews by the major requested on your application, looking at rigour, grades and trends, and test scores if submitted. For fall 2026 it received more than 58,000 applications for about 7,200 places.
• High school coursework (fall 2027 applicants): 18 units, including 4 English, 3 mathematics (including Algebra I and II), 2 laboratory science (biology, chemistry or physics), 2 social science (one must be history), 3 additional academic units (foreign language highly recommended) and 4 electives.
• Test-optional: Virginia Tech is test-optional for students entering through fall 2028, including international applicants.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Records: current students submit grades 9–11 transcripts and graduates grades 10–12, with certified English translations; you can start with the STARS self-reported record.
• Gaokao: Virginia Tech does not say how Gaokao results are used. A-levels, IB, AP: the international education systems page explains the documents needed for each system; there is no separate grade threshold for Computer Science. Credit for AP, IB and Cambridge exams is listed in the registrar’s transfer guide.
• English (one of these, within two years): TOEFL 4.5 on the new scale (no section below 4.0) or 80 on the old scale (no section below 16); IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.5; PTE 59; Duolingo 115; Cambridge 176; or alternatives such as SAT Reading and Writing 550, ACT English 24 or IB English A at 5.
• Funding: you must document funds for the first year before an I-20 is issued.

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

• Materials and deadlines are the same; Virginia Tech does not publish grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.
• English waiver: students who complete four years of high school in Canada (excluding Quebec) or another English-speaking country, taught only in English and without ESL courses, do not need an English test.

6. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer: anyone who has attempted 12 or more college credits after high school; dual enrollment and AP credit earned in high school do not count.
• External transfers can enter Computer Science directly: the department says external transfer students do not go through the full General Engineering program. Admissions alone decides; only those not admitted to Computer Science at entry need to use the internal change of major process.
• Entry terms: Computer Science accepts transfer applications for spring, summer and fall 2027. Spring applications are due 1 October and summer/fall applications 1 March. For spring entry to engineering majors, see the College of Engineering’s Spring 2027 admissions guide.
• Transfer roadmap (2026-2027):
  • Required (complete before transfer with few exceptions): MATH 1225 and MATH 1226 (MATH 1225 can be replaced by a CLEP Calculus score of 64 or higher); ENGL 1105 or 1106;
  • Strongly recommended: CS 1114 (Introduction to Software Design), ENGE 1215 and 1216;
  • Recommended: MATH 2114 (linear algebra), MATH 2204 (multivariable calculus), two lab sciences (biology, chemistry or physics) and the other writing course.
  Completing these courses does not guarantee admission; decisions also weigh overall and course grades, the applicant pool and space.
• What counts: progress on prerequisites for your intended major and your overall college GPA. High school grades and SAT/ACT are not considered, so students in their first semester of college are usually not competitive.
• The College of Engineering has a director of transfer services, and the department has a resources page for prospective transfer students.

7. Costs

• 2026-27 out-of-state on-campus estimate (USD): tuition 36,428, fees 3,754, housing 10,394, food 6,826, for direct costs of 57,402; with course materials, personal and transportation costs, the total is about 64,756.
• College of Engineering fee: the same estimate lists an extra $2,000 for engineering students. The computer budget for new students is normally $2,150, or $3,140 for engineering students because of higher computer requirements.
• Scholarships: the international pages do not say whether international students can receive scholarships; check with admissions or financial aid.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply on the Common App with Computer Science as your intended major, by 15 November (EA) or 15 January (RD)
• Submit STARS or transcripts (with English translation) and IELTS 6.5 (6.5 in every band), TOEFL 4.5 (new scale) or Duolingo 115
• In your first year, finish the engineering foundations, two calculus courses and writing, aim for a 3.0 GPA, and apply to Computer Science in a change of major cycle

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

• Same deadlines; four years of English-only schooling in Canada outside Quebec without ESL waives the English test
• Take two years of one foreign language in high school, or make it up at college

Transfer students:

• Apply by 1 October (spring) or 1 March (summer/fall)
• Complete two calculus courses and writing before transfer, ideally also CS 1114 and the two engineering foundations courses

Sources: Virginia Tech, Computer Science undergraduate; Join Computer Science; CS Undergraduate Programs Office; College of Engineering restricted-major change policies; CS, DCC and SC checksheets and roadmaps; CS checksheet 2023-2024 (PDF); First-year admissions requirements; Dates and deadlines 2026-2027; International requirements; International education systems; Transfer requirements; Available transfer majors; Computer Science transfer roadmap (PDF); CS resources for prospective transfer students; 2026-27 out-of-state on-campus cost of attendance (PDF). Information is for 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Virginia Tech for the latest details.