Queen's University — Admissions FAQ
A mid-sized Ontario university known for its Commerce program and strong student experience. Uses supplementary assessments for several programs.
General Admissions
What average do I need to get into Queen's University?
It depends on the program — Queen's Commerce and Engineering are its most competitive programs, typically requiring averages in the low-to-mid 90s, while many Arts and Science programs admit at meaningfully lower averages. Queen's also weighs personal statements and extracurriculars more heavily than a grades-first school like UofT, so check both the average range and the supplementary requirements for your specific program.
Does Queen's require a personal statement or supplementary application?
Yes, for several programs — Queen's uses a personal statement (sometimes called the Personal Statement of Experience) for a number of its programs, and Commerce specifically has additional supplementary components. This makes Queen's more holistic than UofT for the programs that require it, though not every Queen's program has a supplementary component, so check your specific program page.
When is the Queen's application deadline?
Queen's generally follows the province-wide OUAC deadline of January 15 for most programs, though Commerce and some other competitive programs may have earlier deadlines or additional supplementary application deadlines, so check your specific program page rather than assuming one date applies everywhere.
What scholarships does Queen's offer to incoming students?
Queen's offers automatic entrance scholarships based on your admission average, generally starting in the low-90s range and increasing at higher thresholds, along with a smaller set of more prestigious, separately-applied-for scholarships that typically require additional essays or nominations.
What is Queen's known for academically and socially?
Queen's is known for its strong Commerce program (through the Smith School of Business), solid Engineering program, and a particularly strong campus culture and student experience — school spirit, residence life, and a close-knit undergraduate community are frequently cited by students and alumni as a defining part of attending Queen's.
Is Queen's harder to get into than UofT?
It depends on the specific program being compared — Queen's Commerce is considered one of the most competitive business programs in Canada and can be harder to gain admission to than several UofT programs, while many other Queen's programs are less competitive than UofT's most selective offerings like Computer Science or Engineering Science. Compare specific programs rather than the schools overall.
Business & Commerce
What average do I need to get into Queen's Commerce?
Queen's Commerce (Smith School of Business) is one of the most competitive undergraduate business programs in Canada, with admitted averages typically in the mid-90s, and its supplementary application process means grades alone don't guarantee admission even at that level.
What does the Queen's Commerce supplementary application involve?
The Commerce supplementary application typically includes short written responses about your experiences, activities, and interest in business, reviewed alongside your grades — this holistic component is a genuine differentiator among the large pool of academically strong applicants Commerce receives each year.
How important are extracurriculars for Queen's Commerce specifically?
Very important relative to many other Canadian business programs — because Commerce uses a supplementary application and receives applicants with very high average clusters, demonstrated leadership, business-related experience, or relevant extracurriculars described specifically can meaningfully strengthen an application beyond grades alone.
Does Queen's Commerce have internship or exchange opportunities?
Yes, Smith School of Business offers strong recruiting pipelines into finance, consulting, and corporate roles, along with international exchange opportunities and case competition involvement, which are commonly cited strengths of the program's overall student experience.
What are career outcomes like for Queen's Commerce graduates?
Queen's Commerce has a strong reputation and recruiting relationships with major finance, consulting, and corporate employers across Canada, and its tight-knit cohort structure and active alumni network are frequently cited as strengths for landing competitive internships and full-time roles.
Engineering
What average do I need to get into Queen's Engineering?
Queen's Engineering is competitive, with admitted averages typically in the high-80s to low-90s depending on the specific discipline and cycle, and it also weighs a personal statement component alongside grades for some or all applicants, so check current requirements.
Do I choose my specific engineering discipline when I apply to Queen's, or later?
Queen's generally has students enter through a common first-year engineering program before choosing a specific discipline, similar to UBC's model, which differs from schools like Waterloo where you apply directly into a specific discipline from the start.
Does Queen's Engineering require a personal statement?
Yes, generally — Queen's typically requires a personal statement component for Engineering applicants, reviewed alongside grades, which is a meaningful difference from grades-only engineering admissions at some other schools.
Does Queen's Engineering have co-op or internship options?
Queen's Engineering offers internship and co-op options for students who want to gain work experience during their degree, though it isn't structured as the fully mandatory, alternating co-op model used at Waterloo — many students pursue self-arranged internships alongside these formal options.
What are career outcomes like for Queen's Engineering graduates?
Queen's Engineering has a solid national reputation and an active, engaged alumni network, and graduates go into a range of engineering disciplines and industries, with the program's strong campus community often cited as helping build professional networks that carry into students' careers.
Computer Science
What average do I need to get into Queen's Computer Science?
Queen's Computer Science is competitive but generally somewhat more accessible than Waterloo or UofT CS, with admitted averages commonly in the high-80s to low-90s, though this shifts year to year with applicant volume.
Does Queen's Computer Science require a supplementary application?
Requirements vary — check the specific current-year requirements for Queen's Computer Science, since some Queen's programs require a personal statement component while others rely primarily on grades, and this can be updated between application cycles.
Is Queen's a good school for Computer Science compared to Waterloo or UofT?
Queen's CS is a solid, well-regarded program, though it doesn't carry the same specific national reputation for CS that Waterloo (co-op-driven) or UofT (research-driven) do — it can be a strong option for students who want a smaller program within a university known more broadly for campus experience and other strong programs like Commerce.
Does Queen's Computer Science offer co-op or internship opportunities?
Queen's offers internship and work-experience options for Computer Science students, though not with the same scale or mandatory structure as Waterloo's co-op program, so many students supplement this with self-arranged internships.
What are career outcomes like for Queen's Computer Science graduates?
Queen's CS graduates go into a range of software and tech roles, and while the program's industry recruiting pipeline isn't as extensive as Waterloo's, Queen's overall strong alumni network and career services support students in finding relevant opportunities.
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