Overview
38%
Acceptance Rate?Estimated from application and admission figures in Common University Data Ontario (CUDO) reports and university publications.
88%
Competitive Average?Based on 138 user submissions.
138
Student Reports?Admission results submitted anonymously by real applicants on Uniscope. Duplicate entries and statistical outliers are filtered automatically.
view student data800+
Estimated Enrollment?Approximate annual intake for this program, based on official university publications and CUDO reports.
87%
Cutoff?Based on admission results submitted by students on Uniscope — no applicants below this average were admitted. Submissions under this threshold are not accepted.
The competitive admission average for Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University is approximately 88% for 2026 applicants, with an acceptance rate of 38%. Based on 138 real student submissions on Uniscope, accepted applicants report a median admission average of 95.7% (minimum on record: 87%), students currently in the applicant pool show a median of 91%. The program is located in Kingston, ON. It enrolls approximately 800 students annually.
Offer Timing
145 student-reported offers across 3 admissions cycles
early wave
main wave
In a typical year, half of all offers were out by Feb 14, and the busiest stretch was Jan 17 – Jan 23.
Pooled from 145 offers students reported for the 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26 cycles, grouped by where each date falls in the admissions year rather than by calendar year. Individual reports run from Nov 6 to May 15. Release dates shift year to year — treat this as a guide, not a schedule.
Heard back already? Report the date your offer landed so next year's applicants know when to watch their inbox.
Application Guide
Below is how each part of the application is weighed. Grade thresholds gate who is reviewed; the rest of the file decides who receives an offer.
OUAC Application
ThresholdRequired to be considered. All five prerequisite courses (ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, SPH4U) must be present for your file to move forward.
Top-6 Grade Average
100%The sole admission factor. Queen's Engineering uses your best six 4U/M grades, which must include all five required courses. With five required courses, five of your six counted grades are effectively predetermined.
No supplementary application is required for Queen's Smith Engineering.
Weight estimates are based on publicly available admissions guidance and community-reported outcomes. Exact weightings are not published.
Physics and Math Combination Strength
SPH4U, MCV4U, and MHF4U together predict readiness for engineering mechanics, dynamics, and the math-heavy Year 1 core. Students with strong marks in all three enter the program in the best position.
Chemistry Preparation
SCH4U is required and appears in Year 1 chemistry engineering courses. A strong chemistry mark matters both for admissions and for succeeding in first-year coursework.
Academic Breadth
Five specific prerequisites means your sixth counted course is an opportunity to show breadth. Strong performance in a humanities, social science, or arts course rounds out a profile that admissions views in a more complete light.
Preparation for Specialization Choice
Smith Engineering is common first year across all disciplines. After Year 1, students compete for specialization spots. Knowing which discipline you want, and why, tends to align course selections and extracurriculars more purposefully from day one.
- All five required courses will likely make up most of your top 6. Ensure every single one is strong before considering which 6th course to include.
- The competitive average is listed at 88%, but 89.7% of admitted students have averages above 90%. Aim higher than the stated average.
- Mid-year Semester 1 grades are used for many admission decisions. Don't fall behind in physics or calculus early.
- Both MCV4U and MHF4U are required. You must take two full math courses and perform well in both.
- Year 1 specialization selection is competitive. Students who enter with strong math and physics marks can access the most sought-after disciplines like Electrical and Computer Engineering.
These are the most common reasons competitive applicants get rejected. Audit your application against every one.
- ✕Missing any of the five required courses; even one missing prerequisite is an automatic rejection
- ✕Treating the 38% acceptance rate as permission to relax; admitted students cluster heavily above 90%
- ✕Having a strong overall average with a weak physics or calculus mark; these are the most scrutinized required courses
- ✕Not knowing which engineering discipline to pursue after Year 1; missing a specialization cutoff is difficult to recover from
- ✕Applying to Queen's Engineering without understanding the culture. Queen's Engineering is known for a distinct, tight-knit community that prospective students should research before committing
- ✕Taking MHF4U and MCV4U too close together without enough time to consolidate; they build on each other and both need to be strong
Yes: ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, and SPH4U are all mandatory. Missing any one is an automatic disqualifier. This makes Queen's Engineering one of the most prerequisite-heavy programs in Ontario.
No. Queen's Smith Engineering (Common First Year Programs) is a purely academic admission. There is no AIF, supplementary essay, or interview.
After completing the common first year, students apply for specialization in Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Engineering Chemistry, Engineering Physics, Geological, Mathematics and Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering. Competitive disciplines like Electrical and Computer have higher GPA requirements.
The competitive average is listed at 88%, but community data shows 89.7% of admitted students have averages above 90%. Aim for 90% or higher to be well-positioned; strong marks in physics and math strengthen the file even at the same overall average.
Queen's Engineering is known for its strong sense of community and tradition; the Engineering Society culture is distinct from other schools. The program has strong industry connections and a well-developed alumni network that students tap into from Year 1.
Prerequisites
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the competitive average for Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University?
The competitive admission average for Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University is approximately 88%. Applicants below this average are not automatically rejected, but admission becomes significantly less likely.
What average do you need to get into Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University?
Admitted students to Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University typically present averages around 88%; accepted applicants on Uniscope report a median admission average of 95.7%. Averages meaningfully below this make an offer less likely.
Is Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University hard to get into?
Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University is considered competitive, with a competitive average near 88% and an acceptance rate of about 38%.
What is the acceptance rate for Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs?
The acceptance rate for Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University is approximately 38%.
What are the prerequisites for Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs?
Prerequisites for Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs include: ENG4U, MCV4U, SPH4U, SCH4U, MHF4U.
How many students are enrolled in Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs?
Smith Engineering – Common First Year programs at Queen's University enrolls approximately 800 students per year.