HD in Computer Engineering Technology - Computing Science at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Canada is a higher diploma in Computer Sciences programme. The programme runs for 3 years, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 8,699 per semester (CAD 1,389 per semester for local students).
This three-year advanced diploma builds the analytical and problem-solving skills used in programming and software development, preparing graduates for information technology work in either the private or public sector. Students learn multiple programming languages and operating systems, along with the development and debugging tools used to build and test both integrated and embedded software systems.
In the final year, students work in teams on projects sponsored by outside organisations to build a full application as part of the software engineering component of the program, with elective options in areas such as game programming, legacy business programming, or business intelligence and data analytics. The bulk of study covers systems programming, software development, testing and maintenance, rounded out by technical communication and math courses. Graduates typically move into programming, systems integration, testing or technical support roles, with further opportunities in game and multimedia development, cybersecurity, or technical positions across government.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission needs an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature-student status (19 or older without a diploma), subject to Algonquin's own assessment. Program eligibility on this page adds Grade 12 English (ENG4C or equivalent) and one of: Grade 12 MCT4C, Grade 11 MCR3U, Grade 12 MAP4C at 80% or higher, or Grade 11 MCF3M at 70% or higher; prior programming experience is not required. English: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band under 5.5; TOEFL iBT 80 overall with 20 in each of reading, listening, speaking and writing for tests sat before 21 January 2026, or 4 overall with 4 in every component for tests sat after that date; or a Duolingo English Test score of 110 overall with 110 in Literacy and nothing under 95. If applications exceed the seats available, Algonquin selects on proficiency in English and mathematics rather than a fixed cutoff.
Application Details
Start Date:Intake terms Algonquin lists for this program, read from its own availability table on 6 September 2026: Fall 2026 (AC Day 1 orientation 8 September 2026; Fall term classes start 9 September 2026); Winter 2027 (most classes start 11 January 2027); Spring 2027 (most classes start 10 May 2027). Term start dates come from the Registrar's Important Dates page, which also gives 11 January 2027 for the Winter 2027 term and 10 May 2027 for the Spring 2027 term. Availability changes as seats fill and an intake already under way may be closed, so check the program page before applying. Algonquin's academic year runs September to August.
Application Deadline:DOMESTIC APPLICANTS (Canadian citizens and permanent residents). Algonquin publishes no deadline unique to this program; the dates below are the college-wide Ontario colleges cycle and apply to every full-time day program. Applications go through ontariocolleges.ca, where 1 February is the equal consideration date each cycle: apply by then and your application is assessed alongside every other one received by that date, while applications arriving later are handled first-come, first-served for as long as places remain. For entry in Fall 2027 the ontariocolleges.ca application opened on 26 September 2026, colleges may begin issuing offers on 1 November 2026, the equal consideration date is 1 February 2027 and an offer must be accepted by 1 May 2027. The equal consideration date that governed the Fall 2026, Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 intakes was 1 February 2026 and has already passed, so those three starts are now first-come, first-served while seats last.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS. Apply directly to Algonquin on the International Application Form in its International Application Portal (AC360) rather than through ontariocolleges.ca, with a CAD 135 application fee. There is no single fixed international deadline: Algonquin asks you to confirm the program is open before applying, warns that a program's status can change to waitlisted or closed before an admissions officer reviews the file, and publishes a closing-date sheet for each intake. For the Fall 2026 intake that sheet gives this program's own dates: 9 September 2026 is the last day to apply on the International Application Portal and receive an acceptance, and 14 September 2026 is the last day to register.
