How to Apply to Computer Science at UNC Charlotte: BS and BA Concentrations in the College of Computing and Informatics, Competitive-Major Review and Change-of-Major Rules, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At UNC Charlotte, undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Computing and Informatics. Here is what you need to know, based on the university’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), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and concentrations

• BS: 120 credit hours, studied through a concentration; on-campus concentrations are AI, Robotics and Gaming; Bioinformatics; Cybersecurity; Data Science; Systems and Networks; and Web/Mobile Development and Software Engineering. The BS combines common computer science courses, concentration courses and electives in a non-computer-science discipline, which a second major or minor can also satisfy.
• BA: 120 credit hours; on-campus concentrations are Bioinformatics, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Technology and Pre-Medical Bioinformatics, with an online AI-Assisted Software Engineering concentration. The university says the BA is less theoretical and mathematical and more applied.
• BS in Artificial Intelligence: a separate major with a 67-credit core; admission is competitive and freshmen need at least SAT Math 530 or ACT Math 22; fall and spring entry.
• Other: Computer Science is the largest department in the college, with close to 40 full-time faculty; the cybersecurity page notes the university’s NSA/DHS designation as an Academic Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research. The college also has an honors program.
• Course lists: detailed requirements are in the university catalog, which blocked our request, so they are not checked here; see the catalog.

2. Getting into the major

• Competitive major: the first-year review page lists Business, Nursing, Computer Science and Engineering as competitive majors requiring an above-average profile. Applicants who are not competitive for the major but are competitive for the university may be admitted as undeclared.
• International review: no specific courses are required, but Engineering, Computer Science, Business and Nursing are more competitive and expect above-average performance, especially in math and science. Recommended: 4 courses of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, 2 of history or social science and 2 of the same foreign language (which may be English).
• Changing into the major: to be considered for Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence in a future term, students must complete 12 semester hours at UNC Charlotte, including Introduction to Computer Science I and Calculus I, with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
• Profile: middle 50% of fall 2026 admitted first-years (university-wide): weighted GPA 3.8–4.4, unweighted 3.4–3.9, SAT 1120–1340, ACT 21–28. Computer-science-specific data are not published.

3. Dates and materials (international first-year)

• Application: Future 49er Portal or Common App; the international fee is USD 80 (the domestic first-year page says USD 75). One essay; no interviews or recommendation letters for international applicants.
• Deadlines: apply by November 1 for a decision by January 30, or by February 1 for a decision by April 1; after February 1, as space allows. Documents are due within 15 days of the deadline (the domestic page says two weeks: November 15 / February 15). Decisions are non-binding. For spring, apply by November 1 with documents by November 15. The pages do not state a year.
• Tests: for fall 2027, the requirements page says SAT or ACT is required only with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or lower, while the review page says test-optional with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher at the end of junior year. The two differ at exactly 2.8; check with admissions.
• Credential evaluation: foreign high school transcripts are not evaluated by the university; a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES member agency must be sent directly.
• Other dates: University Honors Program application by December 15; university scholarships by February 15 (international timeline); confirm enrollment by May 1; no deposit required.

4. English requirements

• One of (valid 2 years): TOEFL iBT 70 (14 per section), IELTS 6.0 (5.0 per band), Duolingo 105, PTE Academic 48 (35 per section), SAT EBRW 500, ACT Reading 19, or ELTI Level 5.
• Applicants who need more English can apply for conditional admission through the English Language Training Institute (ELTI).
• Exempt: citizens currently studying in a country on the exempt list; the list includes Canada (except Quebec) but not China.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used; check with international admissions (intnladm@charlotte.edu). Students must complete their country’s pre-university curriculum before enrolling.
• Transcripts: a NACES course-by-course evaluation is required; math and science grades matter for computer science.
• A-Levels: students in British systems must complete A-Levels. Credit (grade E or higher): A-Level Mathematics for MATH 1103 and MATH 1241; Further Mathematics for MATH 1242 and MATH 2164; A-Level Computer Science for ITSC 1110 plus 3 elective credits.
• IB: up to 30 credit hours. Per the table, Computer Science HL from a 4 earns ITSC 1110; Mathematics HL from a 4 earns MATH 1241 and 1242.
• AP: Computer Science A 3 earns ITSC 1212 (4 credits), 4 or 5 earns ITSC 1212 and 1213 (8 credits); Calculus BC 3 or higher earns MATH 1241 and 1242.

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

• Grade requirements for BC and other Canadian curricula are not published. Apply as an international student; foreign high school transcripts also need a NACES course-by-course evaluation.
• Canada (except Quebec) is on the English-exempt list.

7. Transfer students

• General: at least 24 transferable hours (fewer may be reviewed on first-year criteria), a 2.0 cumulative GPA, eligibility to return to the last institution, and demonstrated math proficiency; only college-level courses with C or higher transfer.
• Computer Science and AI: a 2.5 cumulative GPA, C or higher in all previously attempted computer science courses, and C or better in college algebra (equivalent to MATH 1100) before transferring.
• International transfer deadlines: fall, apply by July 1 with documents by July 15; spring, apply by November 15 with documents by December 1; USD 80 fee. Foreign college work also needs a NACES course-by-course evaluation.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 out-of-state, on campus: tuition USD 22,018 and fees USD 3,285, for a total of USD 46,228 including housing and meals. Whether international students pay anything extra is not stated on the cost page.
• Scholarships: there is no automatic merit process; admitted students apply in the NinerScholars Portal, which opens in late October. The scholarships page does not say which awards international students can receive. Nominations for the Levine Scholars Program are due October 15.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by November 1, submit documents within 15 days, and arrange a NACES course-by-course evaluation
• Strong math and science grades; TOEFL 70 or IELTS 6.0, among other options
• If your weighted GPA is around 2.8, confirm whether SAT/ACT is needed
• Apply for scholarships in NinerScholars after admission

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

• Apply as an international student with a NACES evaluation; Canada (except Quebec) is English-exempt

Transfer students:

• 2.5 GPA, C or higher in computer science courses, and college algebra before transferring; fall deadline July 1

Sources: UNC Charlotte, College of Computing and Informatics programs; BS in Computer Science (Cybersecurity); BA in Computer Science (Human-Computer Interaction); BS in Artificial Intelligence; First-year requirements and deadlines; First-year review; International first-year admission; International deadlines and review; International timeline; English proficiency; International credit evaluation; International transfer deadlines; Transfer requirements; Majors with additional requirements; Credit for prior exams; Cost of attendance; Scholarships. The fall 2027 test policy is published; deadline pages do not state a year, and costs are 2026-27 estimates. Check UNC Charlotte’s website for the latest.