Computer Science at Laurier is offered as a BA or BSc, available with an optional co-op stream, at both the Waterloo and Milton campuses. Unlike Laurier's flagship BBA, which admits in the high 80s, Computer Science sits at a more moderate admission average, consistent with how Laurier evaluates each program against its own published threshold rather than a single university-wide bar.
This article covers the entry requirements for Computer Science specifically, co-op fees, cost, admission requirements, and PGWP relevance.
Entry Requirements
Laurier does not publish a Computer-Science-specific acceptance rate; like the rest of the university, admission runs against program-level admission averages. For Computer Science, the published admission average range is in the high 70s for both Ontario high school applicants and international applicants from an international curriculum, a meaningfully lower bar than Laurier's BBA, which sits in the high 80s.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Computer Science is priced in Laurier's "Science" program category, above its general Arts/Humanities rate but below Business Administration.
| Cost item | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Annual tuition (international) | $39,470 CAD (per two terms) |
| Student fees | $2,338-$3,082 CAD, or $4,224-$4,967 CAD with co-op |
| Co-op fee (per term, charged 4 times) | $942.73 CAD (from July 1, 2026) |
Laurier's International Tuition Guarantee caps year-over-year increases at 5% for continuing international students. For the full cost picture and Laurier's scholarship information, see the Wilfrid Laurier guide.
Admission Requirements
- Completed secondary education with required subject prerequisites for your intended program, assessed against Laurier's curriculum-equivalency pages (AP, IB, French Baccalauréat, British GCE, SABIS/Choueifat, or country-specific systems)
- An admission average in the high 70s for Computer Science
- Official transcripts, with certified English translations where applicable
- Proof of English language proficiency (unless exempted; see below)
- Completed online application through Laurier's application portal; up to three program choices can be listed on a single application
How to Get Into Laurier's Computer Science Programme
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Target the high-70s admission average, not Laurier's higher BBA bar. Computer Science is meaningfully more accessible than Laurier's flagship business program, so don't over-prepare against the wrong benchmark.
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Confirm your curriculum's exact course equivalencies early. Laurier evaluates applicants against country-specific curriculum pages, so get the required course list and minimum grades confirmed before your final exams.
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Decide on co-op at application time if possible. The co-op stream adds a per-term fee ($942.73, charged four times from July 1, 2026) on top of standard tuition, so factor this into your budget if you want paid work terms.
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Meet the English proficiency requirement comfortably. Laurier's official minimums (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 83) are moderate by Canadian standards, but a comfortable margin reduces friction in a technically demanding first year.
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Apply well ahead of the priority deadline, since Laurier's application review favors complete, early files.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Computer Science follows Laurier's university-wide English proficiency minimums; Laurier does not publish separate, higher thresholds for specific undergraduate faculties.
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic or IELTS Online) | 6.5 overall, minimum 6.0 in each band |
| TOEFL iBT (before January 2026) | 83 overall, minimum 20 in each section |
| TOEFL iBT (from January 2026, redesigned scale) | 4.5 overall, minimum 4.0 in each section |
| PTE Academic | 59 overall |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 |
Applicants may qualify for an exemption if they completed at least three years of full-time education delivered in English, without ESL/EAL coursework. For Laurier's conditional admission pathway, see the Wilfrid Laurier guide.
Career Outcomes and PGWP Relevance
Laurier's clearest co-op outcomes data comes from its business programs (a reported 99% employment rate among BBA co-op students), and a specific, confirmed Computer-Science-only co-op employment figure was not found in the sources reviewed for this article. Laurier does not publish a university-wide graduate employment rate covering all programs, so outcomes should be evaluated program by program.
PGWP eligibility: per Canada's official IRCC rule, bachelor's degrees carry no field-of-study restriction for PGWP eligibility, so a Computer Science BSc from Laurier is broadly PGWP-eligible regardless of specialization. Graduates whose PGWP application is submitted on or after November 1, 2024 must demonstrate CLB 7 language proficiency (roughly equivalent to IELTS 6.0 across all four bands) at the PGWP application stage. Students with a program lock-in date on or after September 1, 2024 must also complete at least 50% of coursework in person in Canada to preserve full PGWP validity.
FAQ
What admission average do I need for Laurier's Computer Science programme? A range in the high 70s, for both Ontario and international applicants, lower than the high 80s required for Laurier's BBA.
How much does the co-op stream cost on top of tuition? A per-term co-op fee of $942.73 CAD (from July 1, 2026), charged four times.
How much does the programme cost overall? $39,470 CAD/year in tuition, plus student fees of $2,338-$3,082 (or $4,224-$4,967 with co-op).
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each band) or TOEFL iBT 83 (4.5 on the redesigned scale from January 2026).
Does a Computer Science degree from Laurier qualify for PGWP? Yes, with no field-of-study restriction, since it's a bachelor's degree.