McMaster Computer Science admission requirements: the 90% range, courses and supplementary application

McMaster admits you straight into Computer Science from high school. You take five CS-specific courses in Level 1, so you don't have to win a spot in the major later. The program sits in the Faculty of Engineering, which is why it shares Engineering's supplement and co-op office.

McMaster's typical first year includes Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science, Introduction to Computational Thinking, Introduction to Programming, two practice and experience courses, Linear Algebra I and two engineering math courses, plus 6 units of electives.

About 25% of the degree, or 30 units, is open electives. McMaster says you can add one of more than 50 minors. In upper years you also pick 18 units of technical electives, such as machine learning, and finish with a capstone project.

McMaster asks for an Ontario high school diploma and six Grade 12 U or M courses, including ENG4U (English) and MCV4U (Calculus and Vectors). No science and no computer science course is required.

You normally need MHF4U (Advanced Functions) before Calculus and Vectors, even though it isn't on McMaster's list. Use our course planner to map Grade 11 and 12.

McMaster's tool shows the same 90% minimum for students from other provinces, with five Grade 12 academic courses instead of six.

From British Columbia you need English Studies 12, English 12 or English 12 First Peoples, plus Calculus 12 or AP Calculus. From Alberta you need English Language Arts 30-1 and Math 31 or AP Calculus. McMaster uses the blended mark for ELA 30-1.

Students from both provinces send first-semester grades and a list of all their courses for the year by February 15. They also send supporting documents by April 1, 2027.

If you're taking the full IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma, McMaster asks for six subjects, three at Higher Level. For Computer Science you need English and Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at HL or SL, or Applications and Interpretations at HL. Applications and Interpretations SL doesn't meet the requirement.

McMaster's anticipated range for IB students is a minimum of 36 points, and it counts the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay bonus points out of 45. The supplement and the January 28, 2027 deadline are the same. You may get up to 18 units of advanced credit for Higher Level courses with a final score of 5 or more, at the Faculty's discretion.

McMaster's requirements tool lists an anticipated admission range of a minimum of 90% for Fall 2027. It's the lowest average McMaster expects to consider, not the average of admitted students, and the supplement counts too.

The target class is 200 students, much smaller than Engineering's 1,000. McMaster doesn't publish a Computer Science acceptance rate. Work out your own average with our Top 6 average calculator.

Computer Science uses the Faculty of Engineering's supplementary application on the Kira Talent platform. If you also apply to Engineering, iBioMed or the Bachelor of Technology, you complete it once. Kira emails you an invitation within about 7 to 10 business days of your OUAC application, and not before October 1, 2026.

There are three video questions and one written question. Each video question gives you 10 seconds to read and 2 minutes to answer. McMaster's page gives 10 minutes for the written question in one place and 7 minutes in its FAQ, so plan for 7.

The questions aren't technical. They look for engagement, collaboration, innovation and creativity, and resilience. You need a computer with a webcam and microphone, and the fee is $50 through OUAC.

Co-op is optional, and McMaster says you can opt in at any point before your final year. Your first four-month work term can start as early as the summer after first year. After third year you can take longer terms of 8, 12 or 16 months.

If you join, McMaster charges a $101.20 annual co-op fee and $525 for each four-month work term you register.

McMaster's fee schedule lists Level 1 Computer Science tuition at $9,290.10 for Ontario students in 2026-27 and $9,475.80 for 2027-28. That's lower than Engineering's $12,694.70. International students pay $56,232.60 in both years. These figures are tuition only.

McMaster's automatic entrance award gives $3,000 to Computer Science students entering in September 2027 with a final admission average of 97% or higher. You don't apply for it. The Faculty of Engineering also lists more than $2.5 million in entrance scholarships and research awards through one application.

See what your marks could earn on our Top 6 average calculator, and compare costs on our McMaster financial aid page.

Computer Science at McMaster is smaller and has a higher floor than Engineering: 90% against 87%, and 200 seats against 1,000. If your child is torn, they can apply to both and complete one supplement.

Compare McMaster with other schools on our computer science admission requirements page.