Ontario Tech University's Computer Science program sits within the university's broader AI and Technology cluster, alongside related degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Development, and Software Engineering, and it benefits from Ontario Tech's newer School of Artificial Intelligence and its identity as a technology-first public research university. For international students comparing a Canadian computer science degree against larger, more expensive programs at Canada's biggest research universities, Ontario Tech offers a smaller cohort, direct-entry co-op access, and a straightforward path into Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit system.
This article covers what it takes to get into Ontario Tech's Computer Science program: acceptance realities, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and career outcomes.
Acceptance Rate
Ontario Tech does not publish a Computer Science-specific acceptance rate, and no university-wide acceptance rate is published either. Ontario Tech's general admissions guidance states that "the specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year" and that selection weighs school marks, subject distribution, and performance in subjects relevant to the intended program, rather than a single fixed cutoff.
Because Computer Science sits in Ontario Tech's higher-demand technology cluster (alongside Software Engineering and the newer AI programs), it is reasonable to expect a more competitive effective bar than Ontario Tech's general Arts or Science programs, but Ontario Tech has not published a specific figure to confirm this, so treat any exact percentage you see elsewhere as an unverified third-party estimate.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Ontario Tech publishes a distinct tuition rate for Computer Science, separate from its general-program rate. The 2026-2027 estimated figures (based on 10 courses per year, or 30 credit hours) are:
| Cost item | Estimated annual amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition, international (Computer Science / Computer Science & Management) | $37,831.43 |
| Ancillary fees | Billed separately; not included in the tuition figure above |
Ontario Tech's registrar notes these fees are "subject to change without notice." Ontario Tech's international student services did not publish a specific total living-cost figure on its main living-expenses page at the time of this research; it instead points students to a cost-of-living comparison tool for groceries and meals in the Oshawa area and to on-campus residence rate pages. Budget for tuition plus Canada's federal study-permit financial-support requirement (a separate, periodically updated IRCC figure, not an Ontario Tech number) when planning your total cost.
Admission Requirements
Ontario Tech's Computer Science program follows the university's general international undergraduate admission process, since a Computer Science-specific prerequisite course list was not published on the general admissions pages checked for this article:
- Official secondary school (or post-secondary, for transfer applicants) transcripts
- WES (or equivalent) authentication for non-Canadian post-secondary credentials, where required
- Proof of English language proficiency (unless exempt; see below)
- For Early Application Programs, midterm or final marks for prerequisite courses by the program's stated deadline (historically late January)
Ontario Tech's admissions guidance emphasizes that performance in subjects relevant to the program matters more than a flat overall average; for a Computer Science applicant, this typically means strength in senior secondary mathematics is weighed heavily, though Ontario Tech did not publish an exact required course list or minimum grade on the pages available for this research. Confirm the exact prerequisite courses and minimum grades directly with Ontario Tech Admissions (admissions@ontariotechu.ca) before applying.
How to Get Into Ontario Tech's Computer Science Program
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Prioritize strong senior secondary mathematics grades. Ontario Tech's general admissions criteria explicitly weigh performance in subjects relevant to your intended program, and mathematics is the most directly relevant subject area for a Computer Science application.
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Confirm the exact prerequisite courses for your curriculum with admissions. Ontario Tech did not publish a Computer-Science-specific Grade 12 (or equivalent) course list on the pages available for this research, so verify directly rather than assuming a generic STEM prerequisite set applies.
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Get non-Canadian transcripts authenticated (WES or equivalent) well ahead of your deadline. This step can take several weeks and is a common bottleneck for international applicants.
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Watch for an Early Application Programs deadline. If Computer Science falls under Ontario Tech's Early Application Programs cycle for your intake year, missing the earlier deadline (historically late January) means competing under the later general OUAC deadline.
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Clear English proficiency early. Ontario Tech's thresholds (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 4.5 redesigned scale) are moderate by Canadian standards, so finish this requirement well before your application deadline.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Ontario Tech's Computer Science program uses the university's standard undergraduate English proficiency thresholds; there is no separate, higher bar published for Computer Science specifically:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no sub-score below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT (redesigned scale): 4.5 overall, no section below 4.0 (institution code 7178)
- PTE Academic: 58
- Duolingo English Test: 120
Waivers apply for IB diploma holders with a minimum grade 4 in IB English A, and for applicants with 3 or more years of full-time study at an English-medium secondary or post-secondary institution.
For the full breakdown of Ontario Tech's English-test policy, waivers, and living-cost caveats, see Ontario Tech University's full admissions guide.
Career Outcomes
Ontario Tech reports that 80% of graduates overall are employed within their field, and the university offers more than 100 direct-entry co-op programs and 500+ industry partners for work-integrated learning across its faculties, including its AI and Technology cluster. Ontario Tech was ranked Canada's #1 undergraduate research university by Research Infosource in 2025.
PGWP relevance: Ontario Tech's Computer Science degree is a full-time bachelor's program that, under Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit rules, qualifies for a PGWP of up to 3 years for programs of 2 years or more. Per IRCC's own published rules, "there are no field of study requirements for graduates with a bachelor's degree," so a Computer Science degree is broadly PGWP-eligible regardless of field, unlike many college diploma and non-university programs. Degree graduates must also demonstrate CLB 7 English or French proficiency for PGWP applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024. Confirm current PGWP rules directly with IRCC before relying on this, since federal immigration policy is separate from and can change independently of Ontario Tech's own program structure.
Ontario Tech's official pages did not surface Computer-Science-specific starting salaries or named employer partners beyond the university-wide 80% field-employment figure, so confirm program-level outcomes directly with Ontario Tech's Faculty of Business and IT or the School of Artificial Intelligence if this level of detail matters to your decision.
FAQ
Does Ontario Tech publish a Computer Science acceptance rate? No. Ontario Tech does not publish an acceptance rate for Computer Science specifically or for the university overall. Admission depends on a competitive review of grades, subject relevance, and English proficiency, with the exact bar varying by year and applicant pool.
How much does Ontario Tech's Computer Science program cost for international students? Tuition is $37,831.43 CAD/year for 2026-2027 (subject to change), not including ancillary fees or living costs.
What Grade 12 courses do I need for Ontario Tech Computer Science? Ontario Tech's general admissions pages emphasize strong performance in subjects relevant to your program (mathematics, for Computer Science) but did not publish an exact required course list on the pages checked for this article. Confirm directly with Ontario Tech Admissions for your specific curriculum.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for Ontario Tech's Computer Science program? IELTS 6.5 overall (no sub-score below 6.0), or TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall (redesigned scale, no section below 4.0). PTE 58 and Duolingo 120 are also accepted.
Is co-op available for Computer Science at Ontario Tech? Ontario Tech publishes a university-wide figure of 100+ direct-entry co-op programs and 500+ industry partners, but a Computer-Science-specific co-op guarantee was not confirmed on the pages available for this research. Confirm current co-op availability for this specific program with Ontario Tech's Faculty of Business and IT.
Is Ontario Tech's Computer Science degree eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit? Yes. As a full-time bachelor's degree program of 2 years or more, it qualifies for a PGWP of up to 3 years, Canada's maximum permit length, with no field-of-study restriction on university degree programs. You will need to meet a CLB 7 English/French language requirement if applying on or after November 1, 2024.