Over 80 majors, no core curriculum
Yale says students select from over 80 majors without the restrictions of a core curriculum, and for most students the major is about a third of their coursework.
Undergraduate · Yale College
Yale engineering and computer science: interests, not an application track
Yale College admits students without a declared major: every student begins undeclared and has until the end of sophomore year to choose one. Engineering and computer science majors, from Biomedical to Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science and Mathematics, are chosen from over 80 options inside that model. For an A-level or IB applicant interested in STEM, the practical questions are how to show academic fit in a liberal-arts admission process, what Yale says about international applicants, and that Yale requires the SAT or ACT. This guide makes no claim that Yale admits directly to an engineering department.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Yale says about Yale Engineering and Computer Science
Taken from Yale Undergraduate Admissions' Majors & Academic Programs, Standardized Testing and International 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 Yale's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Undeclared until the end of sophomore year
Yale says every student begins undeclared and has until the end of sophomore year to choose a major.
Engineering and computer science majors are on the list
Majors listed include Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Science and Mathematics and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science.
International applicants meet the same requirements
Yale says students applying from secondary schools outside the U.S. complete the same applications and fulfil the same requirements, and all applicants are considered through the same whole-person process.
The SAT or ACT is required
Yale's testing policy requires scores from either the ACT or SAT, with no preference between them. A-level or IB results do not replace them on the pages read.
Official sources
- Yale Undergraduate Admissions: Majors & Academic Programsadmissions.yale.edu
- Yale Undergraduate Admissions: International Applicantsadmissions.yale.edu
- Yale Undergraduate Admissions: Standardized Testingadmissions.yale.edu
Read on 31 October 2026 on Yale Undergraduate Admissions' Majors & Academic Programs, Standardized Testing and International pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Yale's department and School of Engineering & Applied Science pages, the catalogue requirements for each major, Yale's 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 the model works
Interests shown now, a major chosen later
Yale's majors page describes a liberal-arts model: students enrol in four or five courses a semester to complete 36 courses, with the major making up only a third for most. Because everyone begins undeclared, the application does not ask you to name an engineering or computer science department, and this guide does not claim any direct first-year admission to one. Engineering and computer science students show their interest through their record, activities and statements, and choose a major once they have taken courses.
STEM within Yale
What Yale lists and what it does not say here
The majors listed include Applied Mathematics and Applied Physics, Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and combined majors with Economics, Mathematics and Psychology, and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. The pages read do not say what preparation Yale expects for those majors, so this guide does not set out a list of prerequisite courses; check each department's page. Yale also offers five-year and four-year bachelor's and master's pathways in several schools and departments.
Testing and qualifications
SAT or ACT required; A-levels and the IB are not named
Yale requires first-year applicants to include ACT or SAT scores, may be self-reported on the application, with official scores required before enrolling, and has no preference between the tests. The international page says applicants from outside the U.S. complete the same application with the same requirements. The pages read do not mention A-levels or the IB by name, and this guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Yale's.
Are you comfortable choosing the major later?
Yale students are undeclared until the end of sophomore year.
How will your record show STEM strength?
Admission is whole-person; your coursework, activities and statements carry the evidence.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT?
Yale requires one of them for first-year applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Yale'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 Yale's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The undeclared-until-sophomore-year model, the list of majors and the SAT or ACT requirement: read 31 October 2026 with no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Yale has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, English-proficiency requirements, department prerequisites and financial aid: not stated here
This guide has not read them. Check Yale for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the department pages for the majors you are considering 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 Yale College 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 Yale. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Yale Engineering?
The pages read do not describe a separate engineering admission. Yale says every student begins undeclared and chooses a major by the end of sophomore year.
Which engineering and computer science majors does Yale list?
Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, among others.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Yale's testing policy requires scores from either the ACT or SAT, with no preference between them.
Do international applicants have different requirements?
Yale says they complete the same application and fulfil the same requirements as all other applicants.
Does Yale 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 Yale's wording with no entry-year label. Check Yale's pages again when Yale publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Yale Engineering and Computer Science
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics and science, how they would prepare for engineering or computer science 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.