- Why study Computer Science?
- Course structure and content
- Teaching
- What do our students think?
- How to apply
- Helpful resources
- Come to an Open Day or Webinar
- Want to know more?
Why study Computer Science at Christ's College?

Christ's is a few minutes' walk of Mill Lane where first-year lectures for Computer Science are held. The College also provides a modern library, a theatre, sporting facilities, playing fields, social activities and clubs and societies open to all.
Course structure and content
The Computer Science course (or ‘tripos’) is a four-year degree, and you can choose from a range of options in the first year.
Please visit the University website for full details of the Computer Science course content and structure.
Teaching

Christ’s’ Fellows possess a range of expertise that covers the full spectrum of the Computer Science course, so you can expect strong, informed teaching.
- Professor Richard Mortier: Christ’s Director of Studies in Computer Science and University Lecturer in the Systems Research Group at the Cambridge University Computer Lab
- Professor Marcelo Fiore: Professor in Computer Science and a member of the Programming, Logic and Semantics Group
- Professor Ian Leslie: Professor of Computer Science and a member of the Systems Research Group
- Professor Steven Murdoch: Professor of Security Engineering at UCL and bye-fellow at Christ's College.
Christ’s College Director of Studies in Computer Science Prof Richard Mortier can advise you on choosing options and arrange your twice-weekly ‘supervisions’. These small-group teaching tutorials offer support and tuition tailored to your personal work. As other universities usually tutor in much larger groups, this approach is a real advantage of a Cambridge education.
Our students enjoy the fact that Christ's College is just a few minutes’ walk from Mill Lane, home of first-year Computer Science lectures.
What do our students think?

Read about the experiences of some of the Christ's Computer Science students:
If you’d like to hear from other Christ's students, please watch the Christ's student Q&A film, and visit our Student Profiles page.
How to Apply
Visit How to Apply for full details and a timeline of the application process. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and school types, all over the world. If you're applying from outside the UK, please read our international students section.
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Subject requirements
We particularly welcome applications from candidates with a strong background in mathematics and/or science.
- A-level, IB Higher Level or Scottish Advanced Higher Mathematics (or an equivalent) is essential. IB students must take Maths Analysis and Approaches and students in the USA system should take AP Calculus BC.
- A level candidates offering A- or AS-level Further Mathematics are likely to be more competitive than those without. If your school does not offer Further Maths, you may be able to get support from the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme. See how to take Further Mathematics and the helpful resources section below. Students in the scottish system should see the advice here.
- It is desirable to take A-level, IB Higher or Scottish Advanced Higher (or equivalent) Physics and/or Computer Science.
The university publishes statistics on the profile of recent successful applicants for Computer Science including the percentage of A level candidates taking Further Maths, Physics and Computing. To find these, go to the university Computer Science course information, click on the entry requirements tab and scoll down to the grey box at the end of the page.
Admissions Assessment (pre-registration required)
All students applying to the University of Cambridge for Computer Science sit an admissions assessment called the Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA). This takes place in your school, college or local testing centre. The same assessment is used regardless of which College you apply to, and preparation information is provided on the website above. The test forms part of our holistic admissions process: there is no set score that we are looking for. When applying, it is important to be aware of the registration and assessment dates:
1 Sept 2023 | Registration opens for the TMUA |
29 Sept 2023 (18:00 UK time)* | Computer Science applicants must be registered to take the Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA). See how to be registered. You should ask for your candidate number before the deadline as proof that you are registered. |
18 October 2023 | Computer Science applicants sit the TMUA at schools and Test Centres around the world. |
*Please note that open centres may set an earlier deadline for accepting entries, and it is your responsibility to check if this applies at your centre. There will also be an earlier deadline if you need a modified paper (e.g. enlarged print).
Information about the assessment, including sample papers and subject content, is available on this How to Prepare page, and any further information is accessible via the entry requirements tab in the university course information.
Interviews
If we invite you for interviews, these usually take place in early December. For the last three years interviews have been online and students have been interviewed either at home (in most cases) or at school (if easier). Those invited for Cambridge interviews are normally interviewed for 35-50 minutes in total. At Christ’s, we usually split the time into two interviews with academics in Computer Science.
Further, more general information about interviews (including two useful films) is available in the Cambridge interviews section, and it's worth also having a look at supervisions (short film here), as interviews are similar to what you do every week as a Cambridge student.
Offers
Christ's College does not have fixed quotas of places for different subjects and the exact numbers admitted in any one year will depend upon the strengths of the fields of applicants in various subjects.
Our typical conditional offer is A*A*A at A-level, 42 points overall in the IB with 7,7,6 in Higher Level subjects, A1,A1,A2 in three Scottish Advanced Highers, or the equivalent in other qualifications although the precise terms of each offer are assessed individually.
If you are an international applicant taking qualifications other than A-Level / IB / Scottish Advanced Highers, do look at the international students section for further information. If you will have already finished school when you apply, please see the page for post-qualification applications.
Helpful resources
Preparation for the TUMA | Information, film and past papers from the exam board. The TMUA must be taken by all Computer Science applicants and it's essential to be registered in order to take it. See the TMUA section above. |
Isaac Computer Science | A FREE online learning platform. The content is tailored to A level exam boards. You study and revise at your own pace, track your progress as you answer questions and work towards achieving better exam results. You can feel confident that you are accessing high-quality and relevant materials written by experienced teachers. |
Advanced Mathematics Support Programme |
A programme that offers advice about choosing A level Further Mathematics, revision events, enrichment materials and activities, and tuition, when it is not available through your school or college. See in particular A level Mathematics and A level Further Mathematics, as well as Resources for self-study and the Further Maths Fact Sheet. There is also help with the step up from secondary school maths to A level maths. |
Maths home study resources | NRICH Maths at home. If in sixth form, see in particular the 16-18 section. |
NRICH Mathematics | Free online resources to help you develop mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills. See in particular curriculum content, advanced problem-solving materials, prepare for university, and live problems, |
Maths transition help | Transition from from GCSE (secondary school) to A level (sixth form) maths; Transition from A level (sixth form) to university maths |
Plus Magazine | A variety of maths articles and podcasts written for sixth form students, exploring the dynamic importance of maths and its applications. You can search for articles with the Computer Science tag. |
Project Euler | Mathematical/computer programming problems - the use of a computer and programming skills will be required to solve most problems. |
Raspberry Pi | If you can get hold of a Raspberry Pi, it would be good to follow one of the many hardware and software tutorials available online for it. This will give you familiarity with the UNIX command line, which you'll find very useful on the course at Cambridge. |
Reading suggestions |
- A Kee Dewdney, The New Turing Omnibus (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) Publications such as New Scientist and Scientific American often have articles on Computer Science too. |
Oxford Computer Science talks | Research talks |
Nuffield Research Placements | Year 12 opportunity to work on a summer research project. Strict eligibility criteria apply. |
Isaac Physics | If you're studying Physics in sixth form, this website will help you develop problem-solving skills in Physics. See A-level resources and student support. There is also a mentoring scheme, events and opportunity to earn a summer school place. There's also a video lesson archive which covers the core syllabus for A level Physics. |
HE+ Computer Science | A website for students who want to explore Computer Science beyond the school curriculum. |
CamGuides | Introducing the academic and information skills that you will need during your studies, as well as how and where you would be working |
Come to an Open Day / Webinar
Our open days and events page advertises regular online opportunities as well as events you can attend in Cambridge. If you can, sign up for a College Open Day (our October, February and September events normally include a meeting with a subject specialist). Between February and August we run regular webinars:
- Subject Matters: The importance of post-16 subject choices (this one is also run Sept - Nov)
- Cambridge for Beginners
- Christ's College: A look at the Grounds and Facilities
- Personal Statements and preparing for an application
Further subject-specific opportunities you might wish to consider include Subject Masterclasses organised by Cambridge Admissions Office, and subject-specific talks in the July Cambridge Open Days. If you are a UK student from a background where there is little tradition of entry to Higher Education, you can apply to attend a Sutton Trust Summer School in Computer Science or to shadow a current undergraduate studying Computer Science via the Cambridge SU Shadowing Scheme (do be aware that there's a high proportion of applicants to places for both of these last two opportunities so please don't be discouraged if you don't get a place).
Want to know more?
For a full picture of what the course involves, please take a look at Undergraduate admissions in Computer Science on the University website and visit the Computer Science department page. If you have any queries, please send them to admissions@christs.cam.ac.uk and we’ll help however we can.
Undergraduate Admissions main page / Back to the subject list / How to apply / Why choose Christ's?
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