WHAT IS COMPUTER SCIENCE?
Computer science is concerned in the broadest sense with the study of computation and applications of computing. Collaborations with many areas, including engineering, the physical and life sciences, mathematics and statistics, and commerce have stimulated its development.
Course offerings in the Computer Science program are intended to serve a wide variety of students, ranging from those whose primary interest is in information processing to those interested in applying computing to other fields.
ADMISSION ELIGIBILITY
The Academic Calendar contains the requirements for entry into all CS programs. The CS major, CS specialist, information security specialist and CS minor are all restricted enrollment programs that require minimum marks in particular courses (CSC148H5 and MAT102H5). The CS major, CS specialist, information security specialist also require a minimum CGPA. Please note:
- Entry to the Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics admission category is gained directly from high school. Applicants who have completed any postsecondary studies (including studies at other divisions at the University of Toronto) are not eligible for admission.
- We do not include CR/NCR grades when calculating CGPA.
- Note that only CSC148H5 and MAT102H5, taken at the UTM campus, will be accepted for the purposes of program enrolment.
- Note: We will refuse students with a pending Academic Offense Case. If you meet the entry requirements once the case is resolved and any penalties have been applied, please contact us.
Visit this page to see the program application and acceptance deadline. (In ACORN, you will see an option to request programs with program codes ending in “X.” Please select the program codes without the X.)
2025 POSt ENROLMENT PROCESS
***More information about the supplemental application will be provided by October, 2025. For POSt applications in May 2025 or August 2025, there is no supplemental application.***
For the May 2025 enrollment round, we previously guaranteed for the CS Major and CS/IS Specialist programs that the requirements will not exceed 85 percent in CSC148H5, 80 percent in MAT102H5, and a 3.3 CGPA.
The actual requirements that we will use for the May 2025 round are 80 percent in CSC148H5, 73 percent in MAT102H5, and a 3.0 CGPA.
For the CS Minor, which now has entry requirements: the requirements that we will use for the May 2025 round are 60 percent in CSC148H5 and 60 percent in MAT102H5.
We will announce the cutoffs for the August round in August 2025. We will aim, but can not yet confirm, to use the same cutoffs for August as we are using for May.
(In ACORN, you will see an option to request programs with program codes ending in “X.” Please select the program codes without the X.)
POSt ADMISSION FAQ:
Q1. What are my chances of being admitted to a CS program? What marks will make me a competitive applicant? How many students will be admitted to each program?
This information could change yearly depending on the number of applicants, so it’s hard for us to provide a specific answer. The minimum CGPA and grade required in CSC148H5 and MAT102H5 are determined annually. Generally speaking, admission to CS Specialist, IS Specialist and CS Major programs is very competitive, so you should have a plan to complete your degree that does not involve enrolling in these CS programs (see Q4 below for further suggestions).
In other words, about 40-45% of students who meet the requirements to apply to a CS program have been admitted to a CS program (excluding the CS Minor) in the past few years.
300 students are admitted to CS Specialist, IS Specialist and CS Major programs each year, with additional students admitted to the CS Minor.
Q2. Can I still apply if I defer my exam or term work in courses, or have an ongoing academic integrity case?
Yes, apply during the current program admission cycle following deadlines for that cycle, and you will be considered for program admission once your petition or academic integrity case is resolved, provided space is available in the program at that time. Please contact us when your case is resolved to ask us to review your application.
Q3. Can I repeat courses as ‘Extra’ to improve my chances of getting into the computer science program?
Students may repeat a course they have already passed to attempt a higher grade for admission to a computer science program. Students may only repeat a passed course only once.
For more information on repeating passed courses and making SAC requests, please see the Academic Calendar or MCS FAQ.
Q4. What if I am not admitted?
It is possible to reapply to a Computer Science program by retaking CSC148H5 and/or MAT102H5 or improving the CGPA.
However, this can delay your graduation, so we recommend exploring all your options before you decide to reapply. If your goal is entry to a CS Major or Specialist in your first year but you do not meet the requirements, you may also consider a CS Minor (but note that the Minor itself has entry requirements).
You are encouraged to choose alternative programs, perhaps in combination with a CS Minor if you meet the Minor requirements, so that you will stay on schedule to graduate. For more UTM program options, please check here.
SATISFYING THE COMPUTER SCIENCE WRITING REQUIREMENT
All CS majors and specialists have a half-credit writing requirement to satisfy by taking ISP100H5. As of 2021-2022, this course is required for program entry (not just program completion).
Students who entered UTM before the 2021-2022 academic year can satisfy the writing requirement with any of ISP100H5, CSC290H5, CCT110H5, ENG100H5, HSC200H5, HSC300H5, LIN204H5, WRI203H5, WRI173H5.
NON-MAJORS ENROLLED IN UPPER-YEAR COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES
Students not enrolled in a computer science major or specialist program are limited to 1.5 credits of computer science courses at the 300/400 level. Every term, the department removes these students from courses that exceed this limit.
MORE QUESTIONS?
For more information about course selection or CS program requirements, please see the MCS FAQ or contact yvette.ye@utoronto.ca
Last updated 27-March-25