How to Apply to Computer Science at Miami University (Ohio): BS vs BA in Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computing, Courses and International Merit Scholarships, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Miami University is in Oxford, Ohio, and is not connected to Miami, Florida. Undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computing. 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 courses

• Two degrees: the BS in Computer Science is accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission; the BA in Computer Science requires a minor, co-major or second major outside the department. The Bulletin says requirements look roughly the same for the first two years, and advisors can help keep both options open. You cannot double major in the BS and BA.
• BS vs BA: according to the Bulletin, the BS adds 3 more computer science electives (7 in all), 3 math or statistics electives and 2 science courses designed for science majors.
• BS major requirements (2026-2027 Bulletin): listed as 92 semester hours, with the course list totaling 92–98. The core covers problem solving and programming, software engineering, object-oriented programming, data structures, systems programming, algorithms, operating systems/concurrency/virtualization/security, web application programming, comparative programming languages, a two-semester senior design project and introduction to cybersecurity, plus 21 hours of CSE electives. Math and science include Calculus I, discrete math, statistics, three math/statistics electives, two natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics) and one more math/statistics/science elective, plus a public speaking or communication course.
• BA major requirements: listed as 80 semester hours, with the course list totaling 80–94, including 18–30 hours for the minor, second major or co-major outside the department.
• College policies: a minimum 2.00 GPA in required departmental courses; major courses in the college and in math and science must be taken for a grade. Students entering the college in fall 2025 or later take the zero-credit Career Foundations course (CEC 190) every semester.
• Combined bachelor’s/master’s: students can apply in their junior year; contact the department for details.
• Other majors in the department: BS degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Cybersecurity and Software Engineering (accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission).
• Total degree hours: not checked here; see the Bulletin.

2. Admission

• Testing: ACT/SAT are not required for first-year applicants; international students can use them to meet the English requirement.
• Program criteria: whether computer science has separate first-year admission criteria is not published. The deadline page lists the Honors College, nursing and Farmer School of Business majors as its most competitive opportunities.
• Recommendation: the international application page calls it optional, but the international scholarship page asks for a complete application including transcript and recommendation by the priority deadline. Both are given here; if you want scholarship consideration, send one.
• Changing into computer science: requirements for internal transfer into the major are not published; ask the department (cseAdvising@MiamiOH.edu).

3. Dates and materials (international first-year)

• How to apply: Common App, Coalition Application or Miami’s International Application (no essay), with a USD 70 fee. The international page says selecting “Miami Fee Waiver” waives the fee for applications by April 1 “for Fall 2026”; ask admissions whether this continues for 2027.
• Deadlines (no year stated): fall priority December 1 (priority for scholarships and the Honors College) and international regular April 1 (extended if space remains), both with rolling decisions and a May 1 reply date; spring December 1. December 1 is a firm deadline for the Presidential Fellows scholarship.
• Materials: all secondary records from 9th grade on; English proof; a copy of your passport or national ID; and the Financial Estimate Form on your status page after applying. Final official transcripts and proof of graduation are due before enrolling; students who finished secondary school two or more years ago also send external exam results such as IGCSE or GCE.

4. English requirements

• Minimums for direct admission: TOEFL 80 (before January 2026) or 4.0 (after); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 110; PTE 53; SAT EBRW 550; ACT English 21; Gaokao English 125/150 or 100/120; or C in GCSE/IGCSE/O-Level English Language (not ESL).
• Exemptions: citizens of listed countries (including Canada, except Quebec); non-native speakers with three or more years at a U.S. or Canadian high school; enrollment in AP English Language and Composition or AP English Literature; or IB English A (HL or SL) as part of a full IB program.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: a Gaokao English score of 125/150 or 100/120 meets the English requirement. How overall Gaokao results are used for admission is not published; ask international admissions (GoGlobal@MiamiOH.edu).
• Records: send all high school records from 9th grade; credentials are evaluated within your country’s education system.
• A-Level: C or better in IGCSE/GCSE English Language meets the English requirement; A-Level credit rules are not checked here.
• IB: IB English A in a full IB program waives English testing, and the scholarship table uses IB totals (see below).
• AP: enrollment in AP English Language or Literature waives English testing; AP credit rules are not checked here.

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

• Citizens of Canada (except Quebec) are exempt from English testing, as are non-citizens with three or more years at a Canadian high school.
• Grade expectations for BC curriculum are not published; apply through the international process. Miami converts your GPA to a U.S. 4.0 scale for scholarships.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: international transfers June 1 for fall and December 1 for spring; domestic transfers August 1 for fall and January 1 for spring.
• Students in their first university term are encouraged to send a midterm report or a recommendation from a university instructor.
• Credit from non-U.S. universities is evaluated subject by subject by departments and needs transcripts plus course descriptions or syllabi.
• International transfers are considered for transfer scholarships. Computer-science-specific transfer requirements are not published (the international application page mentions additional transfer requirements only for some College of Creative Arts majors and the Farmer School of Business).

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 estimate: for non-Ohio residents, tuition and fees USD 42,882 and housing and food USD 17,668, for a total of USD 60,550; international students are not listed separately. College of Engineering and Computing majors pay an extra USD 643.49 per semester.
• Tuition Promise: for first-time undergraduates, tuition, housing, food and most fees are frozen for up to four years.
• International Merit Scholarship (fall 2027): automatic, based on converted GPA or IB total, with no separate application: GPA 3.25+ or IB 36+ up to 50% of tuition; 3.00–3.24 or IB 32–35 up to 40%; 2.75–2.99 or IB 29–31 up to 30%; 2.50–2.74 or IB 25–28 up to 20%. Applying by December 1 gives priority; awards are not guaranteed. Renewal requires full-time enrollment on the Oxford campus and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Presidential Fellows: 15 Honors College students a year receive tuition, fees, housing and food plus a one-time USD 5,000; apply by December 1 and indicate your interest.
• #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship: two international students a year, covering at least 50% of tuition; apply separately by January 1 after admission.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For scholarships, submit a complete application (including a recommendation) by December 1; the regular deadline is April 1
• Prepare IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80/4.0, or use Gaokao English 125/150 or 100/120
• The BS needs calculus, statistics and science, so build strong high school math

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

• Canadian citizens (except Quebec) are exempt from English testing; follow the international deadlines

Transfer students:

• International transfers apply by June 1 for fall; prepare course descriptions for credit evaluation

Sources: Miami University, Computer Science and Software Engineering programs; BS in Computer Science (2026-2027 Bulletin); BA in Computer Science; College of Engineering and Computing; International application requirements; International eligibility; English proficiency; Undergraduate deadlines; Cost of attendance; International scholarships. The deadline page does not state a year. Check Miami University’s website for the latest.