Computer Science

Studying Computer Science at Cambridge

UCAS Code:G400
How many are admitted to Cambridge every year:122
Minimum offer: A*A*A
Essential subjects: Mathematics, Further Mathematics
Useful subjects: Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics

The University of Cambridge was a pioneer in Computer Science. Alan Turing developed the theoretical foundations of computing here in the 1930s and since then Cambridge has been at the forefront of Computer Science research. The Department of Computer Science and Technology continues to innovate in the field with work on AI, quantum computing and computer architecture. The department has world-class facilities with the latest technology.

The Computer Science degree is a three-year or four-year course. Students graduating after three years receive the BA honours degree. Students who achieve a high standard in the third year can continue their studies for a fourth year and receive a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.

What can I do with a degree in Computer Science?

There are more than 1,000 specialist computing and advanced technology companies in the Cambridge area which is known as “Silicon Fen”. Many local firms work with us to support our teaching and offer jobs for graduates. Cambridge graduates progress to careers as programmers and software development professionals. Others continue to further study, research careers or found their own companies.

For more information, please visit the University Careers Service website at: Using your degree: Computer Science | Careers Service

What we look for

Admissions staff are looking for evidence that you have both the academic ability to thrive on our course and a real passion for Computer Science. You can demonstrate your engagement with the subject by learning a new programming language, practising solving programming problems or taking part in Computer Science challenges online. Find out more about super-curricular activities.

Studying Computer Science at St Edmund’s College

The College is ideally situated for students of Computer Science, being one of the closest to the splendid new Computer Laboratory facility on the West Cambridge site. There are usually a number of undergraduates and affiliated students, with a similar number of PhD students mixing freely in a supportive and cooperative environment. This means that there is plenty of scope for subject-specific conversation and learning from each other at College.

Our Computer Science students are well supported in College. We are able to organise supervisions (small-group tutorials) for all courses, including the more specialised ones taken in the final year of the Computer Science Tripos. The Director of Studies maintains close contact with the students and assists them throughout their degrees, including when applying for summer internships or jobs. Our undergraduate students also participate in the Computer Science Talks series (organised in collaboration with various other Colleges). This initiative not only enhances our students’ soft skills but also gives them an opportunity to explore state-of-the-art aspects of Computer Science.

The college offers lots of places where you can study, including the Paul Luzio Library building, the Norfolk library, study desks in the Mount Pleasant Halls Common room, the comfortable couches of the CR, in Edspresso, our café, or the benches in our lovely apple orchards!

We also have six study rooms (2 in the Luzio building, 2 in Norfolk building, and 1 in Mount Pleasant Halls), which can be booked by students for their private study time or group projects.

Our college also has an extremely supportive Welfare and Wellbeing Department, which is happy to lend an ear and provide support should a student feel anxious or overwhelmed with the academic year.

How to Apply

Applications for all courses are made through UCAS. You must apply by 15 October 2025 to be considered for entry in October 2026. Applications for 2025 entry have already closed.

Requirements

Tests

Interviews

You will have one interview lasting approximately 50 minutes. This will be with our Director of Studies and at least one other subject specialist. You will be asked to complete a short task on the day of your interview which will form the basis for some of the discussion in the interview.

Your interview might involve some discussion of your personal statement, motivation and working through a problem. The topics and types of problems vary but almost always require mathematical knowledge and understanding to solve. The interviewers will not expect you to know things that are outside of your school curriculum and do not expect you to fully complete all of the problems presented during the interview.

Solving a problem during your interview is a bit like a conversation:

You should explain your approach to the problem and the steps that you are taking.
Your interviewers will give you hints if you get stuck or go in the wrong direction.
It is absolutely fine to take some time to think about how to solve the problem before starting out and before talking about it.

Deferred entry

Affiliated students

If you have already completed or are in the process of completing a first undergraduate degree, you can apply for this course as an affiliated student. This means that you will complete the course in two years instead of the standard three. (Please note that this does not mean that you can go directly into the second year of the course.)

To apply as affiliate student you need to have achieved or be on track to achieve a 2.1 or higher in your first undergraduate degree. International equivalents can be found on the University website.

What is a typical Term’s work

In your first year, which is often referred to as Part IA (or 1A), you study the fundamentals of Computer Science. As well as the lectures, courses use practical classes to cement knowledge. These involve a series of exercises across a range of lecture courses, including hardware practicals and programming practicals in OCaml, Java and Python.

Often there are sessions for the programming practicals with demonstrators who can help you if you get stuck. Since we expect everyone to have different levels of experience, most practicals contain a core set of tasks, and a few optional exercises that can be used to challenge yourself.

People

Dr Luana Bulat, Director of Studies
Dr Andy Harter CBE DL FREng, Fellow, Computer Laboratory; Chair, Cambridge Network; Vice President, The Institution of Engineering and Technology