Apply to the university, not a department
Princeton says students apply to Princeton University, not to individual departments, programmes or schools.
Undergraduate · Princeton
Princeton A.B. or B.S.E.: you apply to the university, not to a degree
Princeton does not admit students to an individual department, programme or school. You apply to Princeton University, and once enrolled you pursue either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, choosing among 37 concentrations, with computer science available in both degrees. For an A-level or IB applicant interested in engineering, the practical questions are what preparation Princeton recommends, how it reads your qualifications, and the fact that Princeton says applicants seeking to enrol in fall 2028 will need to submit SAT or ACT scores. The pages read do not state when the A.B. or B.S.E. choice is made.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Princeton says about Princeton A.B. and B.S.E.
Taken from Princeton Admission's Degrees & Departments, Before You Apply, Standardized Testing and International Students pages, 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 Princeton's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Two degrees, 37 concentrations
Once enrolled, students may pursue the A.B. or the B.S.E. Computer science offers both. There are over 50 minors and certificate programmes.
Four years of mathematics, with calculus for engineering
Princeton's recommended course of study, which is not a list of requirements, includes four years of mathematics, with calculus for students interested in engineering, and at least two years of laboratory science.
A-levels and the IB are read in context
Princeton says it evaluates the IB, A-levels or another diploma in the context of the programme's curriculum, and expects predicted or achieved results from your school.
SAT or ACT for fall 2028
Princeton says first-year applicants seeking to enrol in fall 2028 will need to submit either SAT or ACT scores.
Official sources
- Princeton Admission: Degrees & Departmentsadmission.princeton.edu
- Princeton Admission: Before You Applyadmission.princeton.edu
- Princeton Admission: International Studentsadmission.princeton.edu
- Princeton Admission: Standardized Testingadmission.princeton.edu
Read on 31 October 2026 on Princeton Admission's Degrees & Departments, Before You Apply, Standardized Testing and International Students pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Princeton's department pages for each concentration, the graded written paper requirements, English-proficiency scores, deadlines and financial aid details were not read, and the pages read do not state when the degree choice is made and are not stated.
How the degrees work
One admission, then the A.B. or the B.S.E.
Princeton describes a curriculum that encourages exploring many disciplines and developing deep understanding in one area of concentration. Students apply to the university, and once enrolled pursue the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science in Engineering. The B.S.E. concentrations include Chemical and Biological Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Operations Research and Financial Engineering; computer science can be taken in either degree. The A.B. includes concentrations in Public Policy and in Architecture. The pages read do not state when students choose between the A.B. and the B.S.E., so this guide does not.
Preparation
A recommended course of study, not a requirement list
Princeton says it expects, where possible, four years of English, four years of mathematics including calculus for students interested in engineering, four years of one language, at least two years of laboratory science including physics and chemistry for engineering, and at least two years of history, with some study of the arts. It stresses that this is not a list of admission requirements and that it gives full consideration to students without access to all of these courses. It evaluates the IB, A-levels or another diploma in the context of the curriculum.
Testing and records
SAT or ACT for fall 2028, predicted results and no GPA conversion
Princeton says it will return to requiring standardized testing for the 2027-28 admission cycle, and that first-year applicants seeking to enrol in fall 2028 will need to submit either SAT or ACT scores. For international applicants, the academic record should include internal grades or marks from external exams, and the school should submit predicted or achieved results as they become available. Princeton does not expect a conversion or GPA where this is not standard in the school's system. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Princeton's.
Which degree structure suits you?
The B.S.E. is the engineering degree; the A.B. is the liberal arts degree, and computer science is in both.
Does your preparation include calculus and physics?
Princeton recommends calculus, physics and chemistry for students interested in engineering.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT?
Princeton says applicants for fall 2028 will need one of them.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Princeton'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 Princeton's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The university-level application, the A.B. and B.S.E. structure and the recommended preparation: read 31 October 2026 with no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Princeton states the SAT or ACT requirement for fall 2028 but has not confirmed the rest.
Deadlines, English-proficiency requirements, the graded written paper details and financial aid: not stated here
This guide has not read them. Check Princeton for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Plan mathematics, physics and chemistry, decide how you might weigh the two degrees 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 Princeton University 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 Princeton. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Do I apply to Princeton Engineering?
No. Princeton says students apply to the university, not to individual departments, programmes or schools.
What is the difference between the A.B. and the B.S.E.?
The A.B. is the Bachelor of Arts and the B.S.E. the Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Computer science is offered in both.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Princeton says first-year applicants seeking to enrol in fall 2028 will need to submit either SAT or ACT scores.
How does Princeton read A-levels and the IB?
It evaluates them in the context of the programme's curriculum and expects predicted or achieved results from your school.
When do I choose between the degrees?
The pages read do not say, so this guide does not.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Princeton's wording with no entry-year label. Check Princeton's pages again when Princeton publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Princeton A.B. and B.S.E.
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics and science preparation, how they would weigh the A.B. against the B.S.E. and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.