Introducing the Bachelor of Computer Science 

The University of Toronto will introduce a new Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS), an honours undergraduate degree, effective September 1, 2027. The degree will be offered through the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus), University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), and University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). The information on this page applies only to Faculty of Arts & Science students at the St. George campus. Students in UTM and UTSC computer science programs should consult information provided by their home campus.  

The new BCS degree designation reflects the depth and breadth of computer science education at the University of Toronto. Over the past several decades, our field has grown to encompass a wide range of specializations. 

The BCS recognizes the field’s broad scope and provides students, employers, graduate schools and other audiences with a degree title that reflects advanced study in computer science and related areas.  

What is changing?  

The only change is the degree designation that students enrolled in the applicable programs receive upon graduation.   

The Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) is an honours degree that builds on the longstanding tradition of the Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) while recognizing computer science as a distinct field of study. It is awarded for the same rigorous programs and academic standards that define a University of Toronto computer science education. 

Importantly, the introduction of the BCS does not change:  

• Curriculum  

• Academic standards  

• Admission requirements  

• Program completion requirements that lead to, or may contribute to, the BCS 

When will the change take effect?  

The BCS will officially take effect on September 1, 2027. Students beginning their studies in September 2027 will be the first cohort to enrol in programs that lead to, or may contribute to, the new BCS degree designation.   

Students admitted to the Faculty of Arts & Science before September 1, 2027, who are enrolled in an eligible program and will graduate in June 2028 or later will be part of a transitional period. Beginning with the June 2028 graduation cycle, those students may choose to graduate with the new Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) or the degree designation they originally expected to graduate with (HBSc or HBA), depending on their program combination.  

Programs leading to the Bachelor of Computer Science  

The following Faculty of Arts & Science programs lead to, or may contribute to, the requirements for the BCS:  

• Computer Science Specialist  

• Computer Science Major  

• Data Science Specialist  

• Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Specialist  

In the Department of Computer Science, the Computer Science Minor and the Applied Data Science Minor remain science offerings and do not lead to the BCS. Students enrolled in those programs may graduate with an Honours Bachelor of Science or Honours Bachelor of Arts, depending on their program combination. 

Questions about Computer Science and Data Science programs  

For questions about Computer Science and Data Science programs, including program requirements, course planning and program enrolment, contact the Computer Science Undergraduate Office:  

Email: cs.undergrad@utoronto.ca 
Location: BA4207, Bahen Centre for Information Technology  

Questions about the Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Specialist 

For questions about the Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Specialist, contact the Cell and Systems Biology Undergraduate Office: 

Email: undergrad.csb@utoronto.ca  

Questions about degree requirements or academic planning  

Contact your College Registrar's Office. 

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Bachelor of Computer Science

The Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) is an honours undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto. The degree will be offered through the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus), University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), and University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). The BCS takes effect on September 1, 2027. 

Computer science has grown considerably in both depth and breadth in recent decades. Over the past several decades, our field has grown to encompass a wide range of specializations. The BCS builds on the longstanding tradition of the Honours Bachelor of Science while recognizing computer science as a distinct field of study. 

Yes. The BCS is an honours bachelor's degree. Although the word "Honours" does not appear in the degree title, the BCS meets the Faculty of Arts & Science's requirements for an honours bachelor's degree and is subject to the same degree-level expectations as other honours bachelor’s degrees. 

The Bachelor of Computer Science follows the University’s degree-naming conventions, consistent with designations such as Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc). Although the word "Honours" does not appear in the degree title, the BCS meets the Faculty of Arts & Science's requirements for an honours bachelor's degree and is subject to the same degree-level expectations as other honours bachelor’s degrees. 

Yes. The BCS is an honours-level undergraduate degree. Graduates may pursue graduate education in computer science and related fields, subject to the admission requirements of individual graduate programs. 

Yes. The BCS is an honours bachelor's degree conferred by the University of Toronto and is subject to the same academic standards and degree-level expectations as the Faculty of Arts & Science's other honours degrees. Bachelor of Computer Science and similar degree designations are used by universities across Canada and internationally. 

Degree Requirements and Student Experience

No. The BCS is associated with existing academic programs. Its introduction does not change the curriculum, learning outcomes, academic standards, admission requirements or completion requirements of those programs. 

No. The BCS encompasses existing academic programs, and tuition does not change because of the new degree. 

No. The BCS does not change the length, level or academic requirements of your program, and it does not affect eligibility for financial aid or awards. Students with questions about financial aid should contact their College Registrar's Office. 

No. Co-op, internships and work-integrated learning opportunities are unchanged. The eligible programs remain part of the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP).  

Students who graduate with the BCS will have that degree designation recorded on their diploma and transcript. 

The BCS does not change the length, level or academic content of your program. Immigration eligibility is determined by the Government of Canada. Students with questions should contact the Centre for International Experience. 

Prospective Students and Applicants 

The BCS takes effect on September 1, 2027. Students entering the University of Toronto in September 2027 will be the first incoming cohort to begin their studies under the new degree framework. As of June 2026, the new degree appeared on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) application for students applying for September 2027 admission.  

No. The introduction of the BCS does not change the admission requirements for computer science programs at the Faculty of Arts & Science. 

You do not apply directly to a degree. You apply to study within one of the three divisions that offer it: the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus), University of Toronto Mississauga, or University of Toronto Scarborough. 

When you apply, you select an admission category that guides your first year of study. At the end of first year, you enrol in specific programs. If you enrol in an eligible computer science program and meet all degree requirements, you will graduate with the BCS. 

The introduction of the BCS does not change supplemental application requirements. Applicants should consult the admissions website for requirements and deadlines for their admission cycle. 

Students admitted beginning in September 2027 who enrol in an eligible computer science program and meet all degree requirements will graduate with the BCS.  

Yes. Students can continue to combine computer science with other areas of study. Students completing the Computer Science Specialist, Data Science Specialist or Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Specialist may also complete additional programs. Students completing the Computer Science Major must complete additional program(s) to satisfy degree requirements. 

Current Students and the Transition Period

Students who graduate before June 2028 are not eligible for the BCS degree designation. 

Faculty of Arts & Science students admitted before September 1, 2027, who are enrolled in an eligible computer science program and who will be graduating in June 2028 or later, may choose to graduate with either the new Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) degree designation or the degree designation they originally expected to graduate with (HBSc or HBA), depending on their program combination. 

If you were admitted to the Faculty of Arts & Science before September 1, 2027, are enrolled in an eligible program and graduate in June 2028 or later, you will be eligible for the BCS, subject to applicable degree requirements and regulations. 

Yes. Students admitted before September 1, 2027, who are eligible for the transition period may request to graduate with an HBSc or HBA (depending on their program combination) instead of the BCS, subject to applicable degree requirements and regulations. Contact your College Registrar’s Office for guidance. 

No. The BCS is available only to students graduating in June 2028 or later and will not be awarded retroactively.  

No. The BCS cannot be conferred retroactively and is available only to students graduating in June 2028 or later. 

Each U of T division offers its own academic programs that lead to the BCS degree. If you transfer between campuses, your degree requirements will be determined by the program and regulations of your new division. Students should consult their Registrar's Office before transferring. 

Choosing Your Degree

In some cases, yes. The degree you receive depends on your program combination and applicable degree requirements. Some combinations allow students to choose between the BCS and the degree designation they originally expected to graduate with (HBSc or HBA), depending on their program combination. Degree requirements for the BCS will be published in the 2027-28 Academic Calendar, available in Spring 2027. Students should consult the Academic Calendar and their College Registrar’s Office for guidance. 

No. Students admitted on or after September 1, 2027, who complete a program that leads to the BCS and meet all graduation requirements will receive the BCS. Students admitted before September 1, 2027 will also receive the BCS by default if they complete an eligible program and graduate in June 2028 or later. Students who are eligible to choose a different degree designation should contact their College Registrar’s Office. 

Where degree choice is available, students who wish to graduate with a degree other than the default designation should contact their College Registrar's Office. 

Contact the College Registrar's Office to discuss available options and applicable deadlines.