How to Apply to Computer Science at UT Arlington: Pre-Professional Courses and a 2.5 GPA in Three Categories for the Professional Program in the College of Engineering BS, Guaranteed Admission and International Scholarships, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering. 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. Degree and courses

• BS in Computer Science (BSCS): accredited since 2002 by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The 2026-2027 catalog lists 123 hours, including 42 hours of general core. The department also offers BS degrees in Computer Engineering and Software Engineering, and Fast Track paths from the bachelor’s into a master’s.
• Foundations (pre-professional): Introduction to Computer Science and Engineering, Introduction to Computers and Programming, Intermediate Programming, Object-Oriented Programming, Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming, Discrete Structures, Algorithms and Data Structures; Calculus I–III; General Technical Physics I and II.
• Professional program courses: Engineering Probability, Programming Languages, Fundamentals of Software Engineering, Professional Practices, Theoretical Concepts in CSE, Operating Systems, Database Systems and File Structures, Linear Algebra, Computer Network Organization, one information security course (from three), and the two-semester Computer System Design Project I and II.
• Technical electives: six courses (18 hours) from options including computer graphics, game design, compilers, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, neural networks and deep learning, software testing, cloud computing, data mining, parallel processing, robotics, GPU programming and unmanned vehicle systems.
• Grades: all prerequisites for professional courses must be completed with a C or better.

2. Preparation and the professional program

• High school preparation: the catalog expects math through precalculus, high school chemistry and programming in a high-level language such as C, C++, Java or Python. Students without this preparation take leveling courses, which may lengthen the degree.
• Readiness examinations: students with programming experience but no course credit may take a readiness exam once per course, before enrolling in any UTA CSE course; those who do not pass take the courses at UTA.
• From pre-professional to professional: everyone first takes general education and pre-professional courses, then applies to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering for the professional program. The department requires at least a 2.5 GPA in each of three categories: overall, required science, math and engineering courses, and required CSE courses, and no more than four unsuccessful attempts in engineering courses in total.
• College rules: all pre-professional courses with a C or better; at least 12 hours of required math, science and engineering courses taken at UTA; and the Three-Attempt Rule (any degree course may be attempted at most three times, and a W counts). Students who cannot reach a C in a pre-professional course within three attempts must move to a major outside the college or to an engineering program without that course.
• Before admission to the professional program, students need the department chair’s permission to take professional courses.

3. Admission requirements

• College of Engineering criteria for students from high school (catalog): meet UTA admission requirements; present a satisfactory SAT or ACT score; and complete the prerequisites to enroll in Calculus I (MATH 1426) and General Chemistry (CHEM 1441 or 1465).
• Guaranteed admission (international first-year page): unweighted GPA 3.25 or higher with no test minimum; GPA 3.0–3.24 with SAT 1130 (or ACT 23); GPA 2.90–2.99 with SAT 1250 (or ACT 26). Others receive an individual holistic review of the high school record, rigor, GPA, test scores and a personal statement; students admitted this way are admitted conditionally and must earn a 2.0 GPA in their first term.
• Guaranteed admission by class rank (catalog): top quartile with no other minimum; second quartile with SAT 1130 or ACT 23 and 5 advanced credits (dual enrollment, AP, IB, honors); third quartile with SAT 1250 or ACT 26 and 9 advanced credits. Students without a rank follow the GPA tiers above.
• Testing is described differently in two places: the international first-year page says UTA is currently test optional and decisions can be made without SAT/ACT, though scores can help admission and scholarships; the catalog’s international section says SAT or ACT scores are required for international freshmen with fewer than 24 hours of university coursework, with minimums of SAT 980 or ACT 19 for students educated outside the U.S. Both are listed here; confirm with admissions.

4. Timeline and documents (international first-year)

• Application: the Common App is recommended, and ApplyTexas is also accepted. The catalog lists a USD 75 non-refundable application fee.
• Priority dates (international first-year page, no year stated): fall February 15, spring October 15, summer April 1. Applications are accepted afterwards without guaranteed consideration. The scholarship deadline is March 1, with the application and documents complete by then.
• The catalog gives different dates: its priority deadline table lists international students at May 1 for fall, October 1 for spring and March 1 for summer. Both sets are listed here; plan for the earlier dates.
• Transcripts: non-U.S. transcripts are uploaded to Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) for review, which charges a USD 90 processing fee. Freshmen submit secondary school transcripts, diplomas, certificates and national examination scores as appropriate, with official English translations where needed.
• Visa documents: students needing an I-20 submit the financial statement form and supporting documents.

5. English requirements

• TOEFL iBT 79 (4 on the 6-point scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100, and Duolingo 105 for applicants to any engineering undergraduate major (the BS in Computer Science is in the College of Engineering). Scores must be sent by the testing agency.
• Exemptions: graduates of secondary or post-secondary schools in listed countries, including Canada (except Quebec); SAT verbal 480 or ACT English 19; completion of an English-based IB, AP, American or British curriculum; or English Composition I and II with a C or better plus 24 more transferable hours at a U.S. institution.

6. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the catalog asks freshmen for secondary school transcripts, certificates and national test scores as appropriate for their country’s system; specific Gaokao score requirements are not published, so confirm with admissions.
• A-Level, IB, AP: completing an English-based British curriculum, IB or AP program waives the English test; IB and AP credit is listed on the catalog’s credit-by-examination page.
• Math and programming: reaching precalculus and knowing a programming language lets you start directly in the foundation courses.

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

• Graduates of secondary schools in Canada (except Quebec) are exempt from English testing.
• Specific BC grade requirements are not published; applications are reviewed against the international GPA and test tiers, so ask admissions how grades are converted.

8. Transfer students

• University requirement: a transfer GPA of at least 2.25 (2.0–2.25 may be considered as space allows); applicants with fewer than 24 transferable hours must also meet freshman requirements. Grades of D or below do not transfer.
• College of Engineering (24 hours or more, including students changing majors within UTA): a GPA of 3.0 or higher both in transferred courses that apply to the degree plan and in all transferred courses; at least the prerequisites for Calculus I, with no more than three attempts in any prerequisite; and compliance with the C-grade and Three-Attempt rules. Under 24 hours, the high school criteria apply.
• Transfer credit: only equivalent courses in ABET-accredited programs, or lower-division courses accepted by the college or department, count; credit in a continuing sequence is validated only after the next course is passed at UTA.
• Deadlines: international transfer priority dates are fall March 1, spring October 15 and summer April 1; English requirements are the same as for freshmen.

9. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 average cost for non-residents (full-time undergraduate): tuition and fees USD 27,494, on-campus housing and meals USD 12,990, books USD 1,000, transportation USD 3,280 and personal USD 2,164, for a total of USD 46,928. The cost page does not list international students separately.
• Automatic review: every incoming freshman is reviewed holistically by the Scholarship Committee using GPA, test scores (optional but encouraged) and course rigor; awards are not guaranteed.
• Freshman scholarships: Presidential Honors USD 13,000 a year; Presidential USD 10,000 a year (up to USD 40,000 over four years); Maverick Academic USD 1,000–8,000 a year for fall, renewable for three more years. Spring Maverick awards are for Texas residents only.
• Non-resident tuition waivers: in the 2026-2027 table, Presidential Honors, Presidential and the USD 8,000 Maverick Academic award are eligible for in-state tuition; the USD 4,000, 2,000 and 1,000 Maverick awards may add an International Grant of up to USD 10,000, 8,000 and 5,000 respectively. Transfer awards of USD 3,000 and below are not eligible for the International Grant. Waivers and grants depend on funding and are not guaranteed.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by the March 1 scholarship deadline; the fall priority date is February 15 (the catalog says May 1)
• Prepare TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 105
• Ask admissions whether international freshmen must submit SAT/ACT
• Plan for the FCSA transcript evaluation

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

• English testing is waived; prepare against the GPA and test tiers

Transfer students:

• GPA 3.0 for the College of Engineering at 24+ hours; 2.5 in three GPA categories for the professional program

Sources: The University of Texas at Arlington, BS in Computer Science (2026-2027 catalog); College of Engineering; Undergraduate admission regulations; International first-year students; International transfer students; Transfer students; Average cost; Maverick Academic Scholarship; Presidential Scholarship; Non-resident tuition waiver and grants. Deadlines on the application pages do not state a year; costs are for 2026-2027. Check UTA’s website for the latest.