Computer Science
Course overview
UCAS code: G400
Entrance requirements: A*AA including Maths, with the A* in Maths, Further Maths or Computer Science.
Course duration: 3 years (BA); 4 years (MCompSci)
Subject requirements
Required subjects: Maths
Recommended subjects: Further Maths
Helpful subjects: Not applicable
Other course requirements
Admissions tests: MAT
Written Work: None
Admissions statistics*
Interviewed: 17%
Successful: 5%
Intake: 43
*3-year average 2021-23
Contact
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 283507 / 273821
Email: [email protected]
Unistats information for this course can be found at the bottom of the page
Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.
About the course
Computer science is about understanding computer systems and networks at a deep level.
Computers and the programs they run are among the most complex products ever created; designing and using them effectively presents immense challenges. Facing these challenges is the aim of computer science as a practical discipline, and this leads to some fundamental questions:
- How can we capture in a precise way what we want a computer system to do?
- Can we mathematically prove that a computer system does what we want it to?
- How can computers help us to model and investigate complex systems like the Earth’s climate, financial systems or our own bodies?
- What are the limits to computing? Will quantum computers extend those limits?
The theories that are now emerging to answer these kinds of questions can be immediately applied to design new computers, programs, networks and systems that are transforming science, business, culture and all other aspects of life.
The course concentrates on creating links between theory and practice. It covers a wide variety of software and hardware technologies and their applications.
We are looking for students with strong mathematical ability. You will develop these skills to reason rigorously about the behaviours of programs and computer systems.
You will also gain practical problem-solving and program design skills; the majority of subjects within the course are linked with practical work in our well-equipped laboratory.
 | 'I love many things about my course. I love the fact that it’s hard, that it’s very theoretical and that we get a lot of practical work. Even when the work is a little challenging you’re never lost because there are so many people around to help you. The tutors really support you at every step and this motivates you to do well. There are so many wonderful things that I’ve learnt that I never knew existed before. There are definitely moments when, sitting in front of a problem sheet, you realise that you’re at the right place. Computer Science is everything I had hoped for.' Kamil |
Unistats information
Discover Uni course data provides applicants with Unistats statistics about undergraduate life at Oxford for a particular undergraduate course.
Please select 'see course data' to view the full Unistats data for Computer Science.
Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.
Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.
Computer Science
A typical week
During the first part of the course, your work will be divided between about ten lectures and two tutorials each week, in addition to about two practical sessions.
In tutorials you will discuss ideas in depth with an experienced computer scientist, usually with just one or two other students.
You will be expected to spend a considerable amount of time developing your own understanding of the topics covered in lectures, answering questions designed to check your understanding, and preparing for tutorials.
As the course progresses, you will also begin to work in small classes of up to ten people on more specialised topics. Class sizes may vary depending on the options you choose. There would usually be around 8-15 students, though classes for some of the more popular papers may be larger.
In the second year you will take part in a group design practical, which may be sponsored by industry.
In Years 3 and 4 about a third of your time is spent working on your chosen individual project.
Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by experts in their field, who have years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postdoctoral researchers or postgraduate students who are studying at doctoral level.
To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.
Course structure
Computer Science can be studied for three years (BA) or four years, leading to an award of Master of Computer Science (MCompSci).
The fourth year allows the study of advanced topics and an in-depth research project. Students do not need to choose between the three-year and four-year options when applying to the course. All students apply for the four-year course, and then decide by the end of their third year whether they wish to continue to the fourth year. In order to proceed into the fourth year (part C), students will need to achieve a 2:1 or higher classification at the end of their third year.
Year 1
Courses | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Four exam papers |
Year 2
Courses | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Eight exam papers. Group Design Practical is assessed by a demonstration and presentation. |
Year 3
Courses | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Six exam papers plus project report, or eight exam papers |
Year 4
Courses | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Five take-home exams or written papers plus project report |
The courses listed on this page are illustrative and may change. A full list of current options is available on the Computer Science website.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
* To be confirmed
Academic requirements
Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
A-levels: | A*AA including at least an A in Mathematics, with the A* in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Computer Science. Those taking Further Mathematics A-level or AS-level are required to achieve at least Grade A. |
Advanced Highers: | AA/AAB with an A in Mathematics |
International Baccalaureate (IB): | 39 (including core points) with 766 at HL (the 7 must be in HL Mathematics) |
BTEC: | Please visit the Computer Science website for the latest information on our standard offers for students taking BTECs. |
Any other equivalent qualification: | View information on other UK qualifications, and international qualifications. |
Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.
View further information on how we use contextual data.
Subject requirements
Essential: | Candidates are expected to have Mathematics to A-level (A* or A grade), Advanced Higher (A grade), Higher Level in the IB (score 7) or another equivalent. |
|---|---|
Recommended: | Further Mathematics A-level is highly recommended.* Those taking Further Mathematics A-level or AS-level are required to achieve at least Grade A. |
*If your school offers Further Maths A-Level we expect you to have taken it. However, we understand that not all schools offer Further Maths, and so we do consider applications from people with a single Maths A-level.
If you are based in England, and your school doesn't offer Further Maths visit the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme website as they can provide extra maths support. If you are based in Wales, visit the Further Mathematics Support Programme Wales.
Please note from 2021-24, 95% of A-level students who were offered places for Computer Science courses (including joint courses) took Further Maths to A-level.
If a practical component forms part of any of your science A‐levels used to meet your offer, we expect you to pass it.
If English is not your first language you may also need to meet our English language requirements.
Applying
All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our Applying to Oxford pages.
The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.
Visit the Computer Science department website for more information on how to apply, including advice on interviews, specimen MAT papers, and sample questions.
Admissions test
Test: | MAT |
|---|---|
Test date: | 31 October 2024 |
Registration window: | 15 August to 4 October 2024 |
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) as part of their application.
All the information you need to arrange to take your test as well as how best to prepare can be found on your test page.
Written work
You do not need to submit any written work when you apply for this course.
What are tutors looking for?
We look for proven mathematical talent, the ability to think and work independently, the capacity to absorb and use new ideas, and enthusiasm. We use these criteria alongside the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) results to decide whom to interview.
At interview, we explore how you tackle unfamiliar problems and respond to new ideas; we are more interested in how you approach problem-solving than the solution. We don’t require any previous formal qualification in computing, but we do expect a real interest in the subject.
View the Computer Science website for more detail on the selection criteria for this course.
Careers
We don't want anyone who has the academic ability to get a place to study here to be held back by their financial circumstances. To meet that aim, Oxford offers one of the most generous financial support packages available for UK students and this may be supplemented by support from your college.
Fees
For more information please refer to our course fees page. Fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on likely increases to fees and charges.
Living costs
Living costs at Oxford might be less than you’d expect, as our world-class resources and college provision can help keep costs down.
Living costs for the academic year starting in 2025 are estimated to be between £1,425 and £2,035 for each month you are in Oxford. Our academic year is made up of three eight-week terms, so you would not usually need to be in Oxford for much more than six months of the year but may wish to budget over a nine-month period to ensure you also have sufficient funds during the holidays to meet essential costs. For further details please visit our living costs webpage.
Financial support
Home | A tuition fee loan is available from the UK government to cover course fees in full for Home (UK, Irish nationals and other eligible students with UK citizens' rights - see below*) students undertaking their first undergraduate degree**, so you don’t need to pay your course fees up front. In 2025 Oxford is offering one of the most generous bursary packages of any UK university to Home students with a family income of around £50,000 or less, with additional opportunities available to UK students from households with incomes of £32,500 or less. The UK government also provides living costs support to Home students from the UK and those with settled status who meet the residence requirements. *For courses starting on or after 1 August 2021, the UK government has confirmed that EU, other EEA, and Swiss Nationals will be eligible for student finance from the UK government if they have UK citizens’ rights (i.e. if they have pre-settled or settled status, or if they are an Irish citizen covered by the Common Travel Area arrangement). The support you can access from the government will depend on your residency status. |
Islands | Islands students are entitled to different support to that of students from the rest of the UK. Please refer the links below for information on the support to you available from your funding agency: |
Overseas | Please refer to the "Other Scholarships" section of our Oxford Bursaries and Scholarships page. |
**If you have studied at undergraduate level before and completed your course, you will be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification student (ELQ) and won’t be eligible to receive government or Oxford funding
Additional Fees and Charges Information for Computer Science
There are no compulsory costs for this course beyond the fees shown above and your living costs.
Contextual information
Unistats course data from Discover Uni provides applicants with statistics about a particular undergraduate course at Oxford. For a more holistic insight into what studying your chosen course here is likely to be like, we would encourage you to view the information below as well as to explore our website more widely.
The Oxford tutorial
College tutorials are central to teaching at Oxford. Typically, they take place in your college and are led by your academic tutor(s) who teach as well as do their own research. Students will also receive teaching in a variety of other ways, depending on the course. This will include lectures and classes, and may include laboratory work and fieldwork. However, tutorials offer a level of personalised attention from academic experts unavailable at most universities.
During tutorials (normally lasting an hour), college subject tutors will give you and one or two tutorial partners feedback on prepared work and cover a topic in depth. The other student(s) in your tutorials will be doing the same course as you. Such regular and rigorous academic discussion develops and facilitates learning in a way that isn’t possible through lectures alone. Tutorials also allow for close progress monitoring so tutors can quickly provide additional support if necessary.
Read more about tutorials and an Oxford education
College life
Our colleges are at the heart of Oxford’s reputation as one of the best universities in the world.
- At Oxford, everyone is a member of a college as well as their subject department(s) and the University. Students therefore have both the benefits of belonging to a large, renowned institution and to a small and friendly academic community. Each college or hall is made up of academic and support staff, and students. Colleges provide a safe, supportive environment leaving you free to focus on your studies, enjoy time with friends and make the most of the huge variety of opportunities.
- Each college has a unique character, but generally their facilities are similar. Each one, large or small, will have the following essential facilities:
- Porters’ lodge (a staffed entrance and reception)
- Dining hall
- Lending library (often open 24/7 in term time)
- Student accommodation
- Tutors’ teaching rooms
- Chapel and/or music rooms
- Laundry
- Green spaces
- Common room (known as the JCR).
- All first-year students are offered college accommodation either on the main site of their college or in a nearby college annexe. This means that your neighbours will also be ‘freshers’ and new to life at Oxford. This accommodation is guaranteed, so you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere to live after accepting a place here, all of this is organised for you before you arrive.
- All colleges offer at least one further year of accommodation and some offer it for the entire duration of your degree. You may choose to take up the option to live in your college for the whole of your time at Oxford, or you might decide to arrange your own accommodation after your first year – perhaps because you want to live with friends from other colleges.
- While college academic tutors primarily support your academic development, you can also ask their advice on other things. Lots of other college staff including welfare officers help students settle in and are available to offer guidance on practical or health matters. Current students also actively support students in earlier years, sometimes as part of a college ‘family’ or as peer supporters trained by the University’s Counselling Service.
FIND OUT MORE
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RELATED PAGES
FEEL INSPIRED?
Why not have a look at the introductory reading list for prospective students on the Computer Science website?
