Entry requirements
A-levels
We will normally make an offer of A*AA on three A-levels, regardless of how many A-levels a student is taking. We generally would expect students who have had the opportunity to take Further Maths A level to do so, but understand this may not be available to some students.
The table below shows our standard A-level offers:
| If you're taking A-level in Further Maths | If you are taking Further Maths to AS-level | If you are not taking Further Maths | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science or Computer Science and Philosophy |
A*AA, including Maths and Further Maths, with the A* in Maths, Further Maths or Computer Science | A*AAa with the A* in Maths, and a in Further Maths AS | A*AA with the A* in Maths |
| Maths and Computer Science | A*AA including A*A in Maths and Further Maths | ||
| If a practical component forms part of any of your science A-levels used to make the offer, we expect you to pass it | |||
The Mathematical Institute have some extension material for single A-level Mathematicians, however we do strongly recommend that students intending to study Computer Science at the University of Oxford take Further Maths as a full A-level. 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 you are based in England, and your school or college doesn't offer Further Maths you may wish to contact the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme website as theymay be able to help you learn Further Maths.
If your school schedules maths lessons such that you study a full Maths A-level in Year 12 and a full Further Maths A-level in Year 13, we will accept the grade obtained in the Maths A-level as part satisfying the offer.
BTEC and other vocational qualifications
Competition for places at Oxford University is extremely strong, and all courses are academic in nature. Although Computer Science may suggest a more vocational style of learning, the courses are strongly academic in their focus. Academic qualifications such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate or any other academic equivalent are strongly recommended as the best preparation for any course of study at Oxford. For students wishing to meet the offer with BTEC qualifications we would typically be looking for the following combinations of BTEC AND A-level qualifications:
- BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in any subject with minimum grades of DDD. You would also need an A* in Maths A-level. We would strongly recommend also taking Further Maths at A-level (in which at least an A would need to be achieved), though this is not a requirement.
- BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in any subject with minimum grades of DD. You would also need A* in Maths A-level. We would strongly recommend also taking Further Maths at A-level (in which at least an A would need to be achieved), though this is not a requirement.
- BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in any subject with minimum grade of D. Plus at least A*A between Maths and Further Maths A-levels. If your school is unable to offer Further Maths at A-level, students would need to be studying another relevant science subject at A-level.
- BTEC Level 3 National Extended certificate in any subject with minimum grade of D. Plus at least A*A between Maths and Further Maths A-levels. If your school is unable to offer Further Maths at A-level, students would need to be studying another relevant science subject at A-level.
- We don’t make offers based on the BTEC certificate.
We also recognise the achievements of students who hold vocational, professional or other qualifications,
and these will be taken into account during the admissions procedure.
Scottish Highers
Students with Scottish qualifications would usually be expected to have AAAAB or AAAAA in their Scottish Highers. Supplemented by Advanced Highers: AA/AAB, which should include Mathematics to Advanced Higher (A grade).
International Baccalaureate
39 points, including core points. Higher Level grades of 7 6 6 with the 7 in Maths. We will accept candidates who are taking either of the new IB Mathematics courses (HL Mathematics: applications and interpretation or HL Mathematics: analysis and approaches), without preference between the two courses.
American qualifications
- a score of 32 or above in the ACT or
- 1470 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT with a score of at least 770 in Mathematics.
We do not require the optional essay for either the ACT or the SAT.
Please note that Calculus AB and Calculus BC cannot be counted as two separate subjects for the purposes of meeting your offer, whether taken as separate tests or by receiving the AB sub-score when taking Calculus BC. We count AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles as two seperate subjects.
For those taking Physics the following combinations of Physics courses can be counted as two separate qualifications for the purposes of meeting your offer:
You do not have to have achieved these grades prior to applying. Since our application deadline is (usually) 15 October in the year before candidates intend to start the course, it is perfectly normal for students to apply midway through their school-leaving qualifications. In that case, it is normal for us to make offers in January that are "conditional" on candidates making the required grades in their remaining qualifications (you must make the grades to start the Oxford course). As part of our process, your UCAS referee (usually a teacher) will be asked to predict grades for you in any qualifications that you haven't completed, so that we have an idea of whether you are on track to meet the standard above.
Indian qualifications
Candidates should achieve the Year XII qualification, studied with either the CBSE (All-India SSC) or CISCE (ISC) examination boards, with grades as follows:
- CBSE: Grades A1 A1 A1 A2 A2, with grade A1 in Mathematics
- CISCE: Overall grade of at least 90%, with grades of at least 95% in three subjects (including Mathematics) and 85% in the other two subjects.
For the CBSE board, we are aware that students will not know their grades at the point when they are applying. As an indication, therefore, we will be looking for marks of 91 or above for A1 and 81 to 90 for A2.
We do not require the JEE-Advanced (formerly known as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)) entrance examinations as a pre-condition for entry.
Other qualifications
Please see the following for more information on other international qualifications
All non-native English speakers must satisfy the University of Oxford's English language requirements.
Philosophy
Computer Science and Philosophy can be studied at Oxford without requiring any previous qualifications in either subject. Recent experience of writing essays, though by no means essential, would be helpful.
Further information is available on the Faculty of Philosophy admissions webpages.
Resits
We would prefer not to see resists, but if there are contextual reasons/extenuating circumstances surrounding a dropped grade(s) please make sure the referee includes these in their reference. It can help us tell which grades are a true reflection of your ability, and how much weight to give to predicted grades where they are at odds with your achieved ones.
A-levels taken early
We would discourage students from sitting A-levels early (earlier than Y12) unless the student is very confident of achieving top grades. Whilst Oxford is in favour of stretching students, we would not want to see this at the expense of levels of achievement.
Gap year or deferred entry
We will consider deferred entry applications from those that have planned structured activities in their gap year (but remember to keep up your maths skills during this time).
Structured activities could include technical employment relevant to the subject(s) being applied for, teaching abroad, or a gap year programme. More guidance on deferred entry candidates.
GCSEs
For those that have taken GCSE’s, will be taken into account but they are just one aspect we look at. Whilst we would certainly expect to see good results amongst Maths and Science subjects there are no fixed requirements. On average successful applicants with GCSEs would usually have around 8 or 9 top grades (8/9/A*).