How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Kentucky: The Pigman College of Engineering BS in Computer Science, the First-Year Engineering Program and Engineering Standing, a 3.0 GPA and the 1 December Scholarship Deadline for International Students, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Kentucky (UK), undergraduate computer science is the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering and accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The department also offers an Artificial Intelligence major, plus an AI certificate open to all students and a cybersecurity certificate for engineering students. Here is what you need to know, based on UK’s website, 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. Getting into the major

• Engineering is selective: admissions says most majors admit students directly (or as pre-majors) with general admission, but some colleges have a separate process; the Pigman College of Engineering is on the selective list. Applicants to a selective major may be placed in an alternate major until a final decision.
• Automatic engineering admission for international freshmen (engineering international page): an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher; ACT Math 25 or SAT Math 590 or above recommended, with other ACT/SAT scores above UK’s Academic Preparation Placement standards; test-optional pathways exist for those who do not submit scores.
• First-Year Engineering (FYE): the college says FYE is mandatory for all nine undergraduate engineering degrees; the page does not say separately whether computer science is included. You can choose a pre-major or stay undeclared in the first year and declare in spring when registering for sophomore courses.
• Engineering standing: needed to continue in upper-level courses and to earn an engineering or computer science degree. For computer science (curriculum from 2024-25):
  • a cumulative UK GPA of at least 2.5 and completion of all pre-major courses;
  • a GPA of at least 2.5 across CS 215, CS 217, CS 218, CS 275 and MA 114 (best grade counts if repeated).
  Before 2024-25 the list was CS 215, CS 216, CS 275 and MA 114. Requirements depend on your entry year; see the UK Bulletin for that year.
• Changing majors: many sophomore courses are shared, and advisors help determine extra courses; standing in one program does not carry over to another.

2. Curriculum

• The department says electives let students specialise in areas such as databases and data mining, networking and systems, artificial intelligence, security or software engineering.
• First-year common courses include CIS/WRD, CHE 105, PHY 231 and calculus; some majors also take CS 215 in the first year.
• The full BS requirements and total hours are in the UK catalog, which this guide could not check (the catalog site refused the request); see the catalog link in the sources.
• The college has a cooperative education (co-op) program.

3. Dates and materials (international applicants)

• Deadlines: international freshmen have a priority deadline of 1 December for fall (August start) and 15 October for spring; 1 December is also the international freshman scholarship deadline. The admissions freshman page lists early action on 1 December and regular decision on 15 February for fall 2027, and applicants after 1 December may not be considered for the Lewis Honors College or scholarships.
• Application: the UK international undergraduate application or Common App, a USD 60 non-refundable fee, and official transcripts in English.
• Tests, two statements: the international requirements page lists ACT/SAT as optional but “required for engineering programs”; the engineering international page calls ACT/SAT recommended and offers test-optional pathways; admissions says UK is test-optional for admission and scholarships through 2028-29. Both are given; computer science applicants should confirm with the college.

4. English requirements

• TOEFL iBT 71 if taken on or before 20 January 2026, or 4 (overall and subscores) from 21 January 2026; TOEFL Essentials 7.5, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105.
• The college says students with TOEFL 71 to under 100 (IELTS 6.0 to under 7.5) must take English for Academic Purposes (EAP).
• Students below the requirement can attend ESL, complete EAP and the appropriate math course, retake the test to reach TOEFL 71 or IELTS 6.0, and then apply to change into engineering.
• Exempt countries are listed on the international requirements page.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: UK does not publish how the Gaokao is used or a score. The engineering international requirement is an unweighted 3.0 GPA; ask engineering international admissions (coe_international@uky.edu) how your grades are converted.
• A-levels, IB and AP: no scores are published; credit by exam is on the admissions credit-by-examination page.
• Tests: for engineering, ACT Math 25 or SAT Math 590 is recommended (see section 3 for the two statements on whether tests are required).

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

• UK does not publish requirements for Canadian provincial curricula; the general international rule is an unweighted 3.0 GPA.
• Check the exempt-country list on the international requirements page for English testing.

7. Transfer students

• International transfers: a 2.0 college GPA; those with 23 or fewer credits also send high school transcripts. Deadlines are 15 May for fall and 15 October for spring.
• Into engineering: English test scores or two completed English composition courses at a US institution, and MA 109 and MA 112, or MA 110 (or equivalent), with a B or higher. Students from partner institutions can contact coe_international@uky.edu.
• Credit: up to 67 hours from two-year institutions and unlimited hours from four-year institutions. Transfers with a major can take EGR 215 in their first semester; those who have taken a programming course such as CS 115 do not need EGR 102.
• Transfers must also meet the engineering standing requirements in section 1.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027: the minimum funding requirement for the I-20 for international undergraduates is USD 57,800, including USD 18,234 for living expenses and books and USD 3,720 for health insurance; tuition and fees are on the tuition page and may vary by program.
• International freshman scholarships (fall entry only, renewable and combinable):
  • Bluegrass Scholarship: USD 6,500 a year (3.0 GPA) up to USD 16,000 (3.8 GPA, or 3.5 GPA and SAT 1360), deadline 1 December;
  • William C. Parker Scholarship: variable, holistic review with a minimum 3.0 GPA, no separate application;
  • International Ambassador Scholarship: USD 3,000 up to 50% of tuition, minimum 2.5 GPA plus supplementary materials, priority deadline 15 February.
• The college offers merit- and need-based engineering scholarships that can be stacked; its page says renewable scholarships for international freshmen can combine up to 100% of tuition.
• International transfers can apply for the International Ambassador Scholarship (15 May) and the USD 4,000-a-year Transfer Achievement Scholarship (3.0 GPA, 15 June).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 December (fall priority and scholarship deadline) with English transcripts and TOEFL 4, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105
• A 3.0 high school GPA or higher; prepare SAT Math 590 or ACT Math 25 and confirm with engineering whether it is required
• After enrolling, earn a 2.5 GPA across CS 215, 217, 218, 275 and MA 114 for engineering standing

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

• Apply under the general international rules; confirm grade conversion and English exemption with admissions

Transfer students:

• Complete MA 109 and MA 112 (or MA 110) with a B or higher, and apply by 15 May for fall

Sources: University of Kentucky, Computer Science major; CS undergraduate students; Catalog: CS major requirements; Engineering admissions; Engineering international admissions; Application for engineering standing; First-Year Engineering Program; Freshman admission; Selective majors; Test-optional policy; International admission requirements; International tuition and costs; International scholarships. Costs are 2026-2027 estimates and dates are for fall 2027 entry. Check UK’s website for the latest.