This course concentrates on creating links between theory and practice, covering a wide variety of software and hardware technologies and their applications.

The course offers the opportunity to develop more understanding of Computer Science as a subject, and focuses on the mathematical underpinnings of computer science. It offers the opportunity to gain practical problem-solving and programme design skills.

Prospectus for undergraduate entry.

Information on student experience.

1. Choose your course

The University offers three undergraduate degrees in Computer Science, Maths and Computer Science, and Computer Science and Philosophy.

2. Choose a college

Undergraduates will belong to one of the many colleges at Oxford. More general information about colleges is available in the colleges section of the University of Oxford's website.

As lectures are organised centrally by the department, there is very little difference in the Computer Science you will learn at the different colleges. When selecting a college you may wish to think about its size, location, costs of living, accommodation and facilities available.

When selecting a college you need to ensure that it offers the course your would like to apply to or make an open application. If you don’t mind which college you study at, or have spent all your decision making on choosing the right course, you can make an open application. In this case the University will allocate you to a particular college that offers your chosen course. A number of successful applicants each year are made offers by colleges that they did not apply to.

3. Register for the TMUA

More details will be available on the Admissions tests web page.

4. Submit a UCAS application

All applicants apply through UCAS by the mid October deadline. As part of the process you will be asked to nominate a referree, this will be someone that knows you academically and can comment on your suitability for higher education.

Applications open in May, so you can start work from then, but you will not be able to submit your application until early September.

The strict submission deadline for submitted your completed UCAS application is 6pm (UK time) on 15 October. Late applications cannot be accepted.

5. Sit the TMUA

To help us decide who to shortlist, we will use scores on the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) which all applicants for Maths, Computer Science, or joint honours courses must take. There is no "pass" mark for the TMUA; we will use the information about the test, together with all the details of your UCAS application and information about school background to decide who to shortlist.

From 2007 to 2025, the department organised a different test called the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT). For the 2026 admissions round, the MAT will not take place, and all applicants will take the TMUA instead. Any applicants who have already looked at MAT past papers will find that the mathematical topics covered on the TMUA are very similar to those covered on the MAT, and the spirit of problem-solving is common to both tests

Advice on preparing for the TMUA, and links to past papers from the UAT-UK website are available on Mathematical Institute webpage.

6. Interviews

Interviews happen in December via video call. Then format of the interview can vary from college to college but candidates will generally have two interviews in their first choice college and at least one interview in another college. If you are applying for a joint degree, you might have single-subject interviews for each part of the degree, or there may be an interview with tutors from both disciplines

The interview will be like a short tutorial, with you actively discussion a problem and your thought process out loud. Each interview lasts around 30 minutes, usually with two interviewers. Most of the interview time will be taken by tutors asking you to solve a Computer Science problem.

The content of the interview will be around a Computer Science problems. There are some sample interview problems and some interview questions from one of our tutors available for students to look at.

A demonstration interview is below.

How to prepare

Our tutors are not mind readers, so if you don’t say anything our tutors can’t tell what you are thinking! The best practice you can do is getting used to talking about problems out loud. You may also want to try explaining concepts from your Maths qualification or the solutions to past MAT questions to friends and family. This not only gets you used to explaining your thoughts out loud, but also helps to consolidate your knowledge of the subject.

We very much don't want applicants to feel they need special training for our admissions. The main thing is that you do mathematics, lots of it, and that you find it interesting. We advise you to do lots of problems, on and near your syllabus, so that you really understand the mathematics you are learning.

7. Decisions

Decisions are communicated to shortlisted candidates in January.

More guidance on offer types, feedback and when decisions will be communicated.

Admissions: frequently asked questions