You apply to MIT, then choose a course
MIT says all first-year students begin undeclared and can choose any course of study without additional requirements or admission procedures. Majors are called courses and numbered.
Undergraduate · MIT
MIT Course 6-3 or 6-4: choosing after you arrive, not when you apply
MIT admits students to the whole university and every first-year student begins undeclared, free to choose any course of study afterwards without additional requirements or admission procedures. Course 6-3, Computer Science and Engineering, and Course 6-4, Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making, are two EECS degrees available to them. They share fundamentals but differ in structure: 6-3 centres on algorithms, systems and computation with a computer science track, and 6-4 requires subjects in four areas of AI and decision-making. This guide describes the degree charts as MIT publishes them, not as application tracks, and notes that MIT requires the SAT or ACT.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What MIT says about MIT Course 6-3 and 6-4
Taken from MIT Admissions' Majors & Minors, First-year eligibility and Tests & scores pages, MIT EECS's Undergraduate programs page and the MIT Course Catalog degree charts for Courses 6-3 and 6-4, read on 31 October 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check MIT's pages for the 2028-entry details.
6-3: Computer Science and Engineering
A Bachelor of Science with computer science requirements including programming, algorithms, mathematics for computer science and computation structures, plus subjects from a Computer Science track.
6-4: Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making
A Bachelor of Science requiring five subjects drawn from four areas: data-centric, model-centric, decision-centric and computation-centric.
Shared foundations
Both charts include Mathematics for Computer Science, Introduction to Algorithms and Fundamentals of Programming, and a probability or inference subject.
The SAT or ACT is required
MIT requires the SAT or ACT for first-year and transfer students, with no cutoff or recommended scores. The pages read do not mention A-levels or the IB by name.
Official sources
- MIT Admissions: Majors & Minorsmitadmissions.org
- MIT EECS: Undergraduate programseecs.mit.edu
- MIT Course Catalog: Computer Science and Engineering (SB, Course 6-3)catalog.mit.edu
- MIT Course Catalog: Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making (SB, Course 6-4)catalog.mit.edu
- MIT Admissions: Tests & scoresmitadmissions.org
Read on 31 October 2026 on MIT Admissions' Majors & Minors, First-year eligibility and Tests & scores pages, MIT EECS's Undergraduate programs page and the MIT Course Catalog degree charts for Courses 6-3 and 6-4, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The full degree charts' footnotes and electives, MIT's A-level and IB guidance, English-proficiency scores, deadlines and financial aid were not read, and the pages do not mention A-levels or the IB by name and are not stated.
How admission works
A university application, then a course chosen from the first year
MIT says its first-year programmes, academic fairs, lectures and seminars help students determine which major suits them, after which they are free to choose any course of study with no additional admission procedure. The terminology can confuse: majors are courses, credits are units. The pages read describe no separate application for Course 6-3 or 6-4, so this guide does not present them as first-year application tracks.
Course 6-3 against Course 6-4
What the degree charts require
The 6-3 chart requires Fundamentals of Programming, Software Construction, Mathematics for Computer Science, Introduction to Algorithms, Computation Structures and a probability or inference subject, a systems subject and computability or design and analysis of algorithms, with elective subjects from a Computer Science track. The 6-4 chart requires Fundamentals of Programming, Mathematics for Computer Science, Introduction to Algorithms, linear algebra and optimisation, and a probability or inference subject, then five subjects from four centres: data-centric (such as Introduction to Machine Learning), model-centric (such as Signal Processing or Computer Graphics), decision-centric (such as Optimization Methods) and computation-centric.
6-3 if
you want depth in algorithms, systems and computation, with a computer science track.
6-4 if
you want to study learning, modelling and decision making across computer science and electrical engineering.
Either way
You choose after arriving. MIT EECS lists other EECS degrees, including 6-5 and 6-9, that you may also consider.
Testing and qualifications
SAT or ACT required; A-levels and the IB are not named
MIT says it requires the SAT or the ACT for first-year and transfer students, does not require the ACT writing or science sections or the SAT optional essay, and has no cutoff or recommended scores. The pages read do not mention A-levels or the IB by name, and this guide states no score. International applicants should ask their school how its results will be reported.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not MIT's.
Does the algorithms or the decision-making side attract you?
6-3 and 6-4 emphasise different areas, and you do not have to choose now.
Is your mathematics ready?
Both charts include mathematics for computer science and a probability or inference subject.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT?
MIT requires one of them.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
MIT's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check MIT's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The university-level application, the 6-3 and 6-4 degree charts and the SAT or ACT requirement: read 31 October 2026 with no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. MIT has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, English-proficiency requirements, A-level and IB guidance and financial aid: not stated here
This guide has not read them. Check MIT for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Plan mathematics and programming, read the two degree charts and plan the SAT or ACT.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with MIT. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Do I apply to Course 6-3 or 6-4?
No. MIT says you apply to the entire university and all first-year students begin undeclared.
What is Course 6-3?
Computer Science and Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in EECS.
What is Course 6-4?
Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making, a Bachelor of Science in EECS.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
MIT says it requires the SAT or the ACT for first-year and transfer students.
Does MIT name A-levels or the IB on these pages?
No. The pages read do not mention them by name.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are MIT's wording with no entry-year label. Check MIT's pages again when MIT publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about MIT Course 6-3 and 6-4
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics and programming, their interest in algorithms against learning and decision making and the SAT or ACT, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.