How to Apply to Computer Science at Boston University: Apply to the College of Arts & Sciences, the 15-Course BA in Computer Science and Five Joint Majors, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Boston University (BU), undergraduate computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, with five joint majors combining computer science with other fields. Here is what you need to know, based on BU’s official information, for students at high schools in China (including A-level and IB students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Which school, and getting into the major

• You choose a school when applying: first-year applicants must specify a BU school or college. The department says prospective computer science majors should apply to the College of Arts & Sciences; students without a set plan are advised to apply to CAS as “Undeclared” or to the College of General Studies.
• Possible alternative offers: admissions considers you for the school you apply to, but you may instead be offered the College of General Studies or another BU program for which you qualify.
• Declaring: current CAS students declare computer science through a form on the CAS Advising website; students in other BU schools speak with their advisor, and moving into CAS is an Intra-University Transfer. The department strongly recommends meeting a CS advisor before declaring. The pages read for this guide give no grade threshold or cap for declaring computer science.
• Related programs: the majors list also includes Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering and a BS in Data Science in the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences; this guide has not checked their requirements.

2. BA in Computer Science requirements

• 15 courses in four groups:
  • Group A (foundations, all required): Introduction to Computer Science I and II (CS 111, 112), Combinatoric Structures (CS 131), Computer Systems (CS 210) and Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms (CS 330), plus Calculus I proficiency (equivalent to MA 123);
  • Group B (technical preparation, two of three): Geometric Algorithms (CS 132), Algebraic Algorithms (CS 235), Probability in Computing (CS 237);
  • Group C (essential paradigms, at least two): Concepts of Programming Languages (CS 320), Elements of the Theory of Computation (CS 332), and one of Fundamentals of Computing Systems (CS 350) or Distributed Systems (CS 351);
  • Group D (advanced topics): CS courses at the 300 level or above, bringing the total across Groups A to D to 15.
• Grades: all courses counting toward the major need a C or higher; Metropolitan College courses do not count.
• Areas: there are no fixed tracks; Group D electives let you emphasise an area. The department lists networks, theory, data mining and data analytics, artificial intelligence, operating systems, media computing, and security and cryptography.
• Joint majors (all BAs): Computer Science and Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Statistics and Computer Science, Linguistics and Computer Science, and Physics and Computer Science. Computer Science and Economics, for example, requires at least 128 credits, including 17 major courses.
• Other options: highly qualified students can take the integrated BA/MS for a bachelor’s and master’s in computer science on a condensed timeline; students in other majors can take a six-course CS minor. The university-wide general education program, the BU Hub, can be partly met through major courses.

3. Application plans and deadlines

• Early Decision (binding): November 2, with notification December 14.
• Early Decision 2: January 5, with notification February 8.
• Regular Decision: January 5, with the enrollment deposit due May 1.
• Merit scholarships: some require applying by December 1.
• The deadlines page does not state a year; check before you submit.
• Materials: the Common App (or QuestBridge), the Common App personal statement plus a BU supplemental essay, high school transcript, senior-year grades, counselor recommendation and school report, and one teacher evaluation; the application fee is $80, with fee waivers available.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: SAT and ACT are optional for first-year applicants through fall 2028 and spring 2029, for all schools and scholarship programs. Your choice about whether scores are considered cannot be changed after you submit; BU superscores both tests.
• English is required: international students whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic or the Duolingo English Test:
  • TOEFL: the most competitive applicants have 90 to 100 overall with at least 20 in each section, or 5.0 or higher on the new score reports from January 21, 2026;
  • IELTS: 7 or higher overall meets the English requirement for all programs;
  • Duolingo: the most competitive applicants score at least 125 to 135; the total and all subscores are required.
• BU does not accept IELTS Indicator, TOEFL ITP Plus, TOEFL Essentials or IELTS One Skill Retake. You may request an English proficiency waiver by the application deadline; the Board of Admissions decides.
• Interviews: optional InitialView or Vericant interviews can show English ability but do not replace a test.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Credentials: students in China submit the Senior High School Graduation Certificate with the final transcript and leaving exam results if applicable, plus any qualifying exams taken during secondary school. Students in their last year should state which certificate they expect and when.
• Gaokao: BU does not explain how Gaokao results are used; ask international admissions.
• Translations: documents in another language need a notarized English translation; submit both the original and the translation.
• High school courses: for most programs BU recommends 3 to 4 years of mathematics (precalculus or calculus recommended) and 3 to 4 years of lab science. The pages state that a year of calculus is required for Engineering and Business applicants; no such requirement is stated for CAS.
• Financial documents: students on F-1 or J-1 visas submit financial documentation and the sponsorship confirmation form; Early Decision and ED2 applicants must do so by the deadline, or the academic review will not proceed. A copy of the passport data page is also required.

6. International-curriculum students in China: A-levels, IB and AP

• A-levels: the UK credential is two years of A-level study; students with one year (AS levels only) may also be considered.
• IB, A-levels and other exam-based curricula: counselors must submit predicted results for both Early and Regular Decision.
• AP: the pages read do not say whether AP can replace CS courses; ask a CS advisor.

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

• Accepted credentials: the BC Secondary School Graduation Diploma, the Ontario OSSD, the Québec Secondary Leaving Certificate with one to two years of CEGEP, and other provinces’ high school diplomas.
• Grades: BU does not publish grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.
• English: Canadian citizens who are not US citizens or permanent residents are international applicants; non-native speakers submit an English test or request a waiver by the deadline.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026/27 costs (US dollars): tuition 73,024, housing 13,170 (depending on accommodation), food 7,570 and fees 1,570, for billed expenses of 95,334; books 1,000, personal expenses 1,455 and local transportation 630, for a total cost of attendance of about 98,419. 2027/28 costs have not been published. Massachusetts law requires health insurance.
• No need-based aid for international students: BU says need-based aid is not currently available to international students; meeting full need applies to US citizens and permanent residents.
• Merit scholarships: international first-year students may apply for select merit scholarships, some by December 1.

9. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer: someone who has finished secondary school and has at least one full-time semester (12 or more credits) as a degree candidate at another college or university.
• You must choose a major: transfer applicants must select a school and major and cannot apply undeclared; some programs do not offer January entry (see the majors list).
• Deadlines: March 15 for September entry, with decisions from mid-April to mid-June; November 2 for January entry.
• Scale: BU enrolls over 700 transfer students a year; for fall 2024 there were 6,728 applicants and 840 enrolled, with an average college GPA of 3.8.
• Materials: Common App, transcripts from every college, transfer report(s), high school transcript and proof of graduation, and an essay of up to 600 words; the fee is $80, and SAT/ACT are not required. Upload course syllabi early for credit evaluation.
• From universities in China: the verification report and English and Chinese transcripts must be sent directly by CSSD (Center for Student Services and Development, Ministry of Education).
• Aid: need-based aid is for US citizens and permanent residents; there are separate merit scholarships for transfer students.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to CAS with computer science as your intended major; ED November 2, ED2 and RD January 5 (check the current year’s dates)
• TOEFL 90–100 (5.0 new scale), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 125–135; an optional InitialView or Vericant interview
• Graduation certificate, transcripts and notarized translations; ED applicants submit financial documents by the deadline
• No need-based aid for international students; for merit scholarships, note December 1

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

• Submit the BC Secondary School Graduation Diploma or your province’s diploma; testing is optional
• Submit an English test or request a waiver as an international applicant, and prepare financial documents

Transfer students:

• Apply directly to Computer Science in CAS; March 15 for September entry
• Send syllabi early; all CS major courses need a C or higher

Sources: Boston University, First-year applicants; Important deadlines; International applicants; Secondary school credentials; Transfer applicants; 2026/27 cost of attendance; Scholarships and financial aid; Majors; Computer Science academic programs; BA in Computer Science requirements; Joint majors. The deadlines page does not state a year, and costs are 2026/27 figures. Check Boston University for the latest details.