How to apply
Detailed instructions for the applications procedure are contained in the University's Digital Prospectus for Undergraduates . The information given on this webpage is intended to supplement the official information given there. For a general overview of the admissions process at Oxford see the University of Oxford's how to apply video(applicable for any Oxford course).
The following diagram shows the major steps involved in applying for an undergraduate (first) degree course here at the Department of Computer Science. Click on each step to view more information.
Dates below are for the current admissions round, subject to change, with future admissions rounds expected to have similar dates. Any updates to times will be reflected here.
1. Choose your course
Consider which of our three undergraduate courses you would like to study. There is written and video information about each of the courses below, find out more by clicking the individual links:
Do you meet our entry requirements?
Why study Computer Science at Oxford?
More information Why Oxford?
Student Experience
More information student experience.
2. Choose a college
There are over 20 Oxford colleges that accept undergraduates for Computer Science and/or joint degrees.
Does it matter which college I choose?
You need to choose a college that offers the course you would like to apply to or make an open application.
We work very hard to make sure that the best candidates are offered a place, irrespective of which college they apply for. Different people have many different reasons for choosing the college they eventually settle on.
You might want to think about the size or age of a college, the location, the costs of living there, the accommodation and facilities available. Colleges provide a wide variety of accommodation and meal options.
You can have a look at college pages to help you decide.
Open applications
You don't have to choose a college; you can make an open application, in which case you will be allocated to a college that offers your chosen course. The college that receives your application will not know that you made an open application, and you will not be asked about it at the interview. Your application will then be treated exactly as if you had directly applied to that college. There is no admissions advantage or disadvantage to making an open application, and the tutors considering your application won't even be able to tell that you made an open application.
Campus code for an open application
Open days
A tour of the Department of Computer Science is available.
If you are able to, you might want to come and visit Oxford during our open days to have a look around some of the colleges.
If you are not able to visit us in person, you can view some video panoramas in the Chemistry Department's virtual tour of Oxford.
3. Register for the Maths Admissions Test
What is the MAT?
The Maths Admissions Test (called MAT for short) aims to test the depth of mathematical understanding of a student in the fourth term of their A-levels (or equivalent) rather than a breadth of knowledge. It is set with the aim of being approachable by all students, including those without Further Mathematics A-level, and those from other educational systems (e.g. Baccalaureate and Scottish Highers).
We can't interview all our applicants in the time available, so we shortlist around three applicants for every place to interview. To help us decide who to shortlist, we set the MAT which all applicants for Computer Science, or joint honours courses, must take. There is no "pass" mark for the MAT; we use the information from the test, together with all the details of your UCAS application and information about school background to decide who to shortlist.
How do I register?
We strongly recommend that students register for their test as soon as possible. Please see the following page for guidance on registering for the MAT, and please read these instructions before booking your admissions test.
It is particularly important that you register early if you are requesting access arrangements, as this involves a few additional steps. You will be required to submit documented evidence of eligibility as soon as possible and have this accepted by Oxford.
What has changed this year?
Like all Oxford admissions tests in 2024, the MAT will be online, delivered in partnership with Pearson VUE via its established network of test centres. In 2024 there will be no charge for candidates to register for the MAT.
The format for the test in 2024 is very similar to previous years, but with a different number of questions. In 2024, the MAT consists of 27 questions. All candidates should attempt all questions. Of these, 25 are multiple-choice questions of a similar style to multiple-choice MAT questions from previous years. Each multiple-choice question is worth 2 or 3 or 4 marks, with the number of marks for each question given alongside each question.
There are two longer questions, for which candidates will type responses. Candidates are not expected to type complex mathematical expressions or use any symbols beyond those included on a standard keyboard (alphanumeric characters, + - =, and similar). As with long MAT questions from previous years, candidates should expect to justify their answers or explain their reasoning for these long questions. Each of the long questions is worth 15 marks. The responses for these questions are marked by a team based in Oxford, and partial solutions are awarded partial credit.
How to prepare for the MAT?
All applicants taking this test will be invited to practise taking a sample paper online in advance of test day. We also strongly recommend that you explore the Oxford’s Mathematical Institute's website for the MAT livestream (a weekly online event talking about maths problems and discussing problem-solving strategies), MAT Flashcards, MAT past papers and links to useful resources.
Please note that while the structure of this test does differ from previous years, all the existing resources and past papers available are still valuable preparation and we strongly recommend exploring these. For those looking for general feedback on the admissions round for each year for computer science (and joint schools), this can be found on the admissions statistics page.
Need help?
If you have any questions about the Oxford Admissions tests, check out the public FAQs or contact Oxford’s undergraduate applicant helpdesk. If you would like to make changes to your test appointment, sign into your Oxford Admissions Test user account and select 'manage appointment'.
Contact Pearson VUE customer service if you have queries about their test centre booking.
4. Submit a UCAS application
You'll need to make an account on the UCAS website, and fill in details of your academic history.
You need to apply a year before you plan to study at Oxford (unless you are applying for deferred entry). You can start working on your application anytime but you can only submit from early September. Please remember the strict submission deadline for applications through UCAS above.
You can register for the MAT and submit your UCAS form in any order, as long as they are done by the relevant deadlines.
UCAS form
For advice on filling in your UCAS form, see the UCAS website.
More general guidance is available on the University of Oxford UCAS application page.
- G400 (Computer Science)
- GG14 (Mathematics and Computer Science)
- IV15 (Computer Science and Philosophy)
More about what our tutors are looking for.
Personal statement
See the following for advice on writing your personal statement for Computer Science.
There is also some more general advice from UCAS on writing your personal statement.
Reference
All applications must include an academic reference. An application will be deemed incomplete without one and may not be considered. A reference will come from a teacher or someone else who is qualified to comment on your academic ability is an essential part of your UCAS application. Whilst one person completes the reference for each students, they are welcome to quote teachers from other subjects within this too. References cannot be from an employer even if you employment is related to your chosen degree subject.
UCAS provides guidance for references.
UCAS have published sample references which may be useful.
Predicted grades should be included in the Education section of a candidates UCAS application, not in the applicants reference.
Predicted grades
Students often apply to UK universities with predicted grades. Most applications that we see to our undergraduate degrees, are from students in their final year at school, and are therefore unable, at the point of application, to submit all of their final qualification scores. Using predicted grades means you can apply to study at Oxford before you have finished school (or equivalent) and you don't have to wait until all your exams are complete and your results are known.
A predicted grade is the grade of qualification an applicant’s school or college believes they’re likely to achieve in positive circumstances. Predicted grades are used in the admissions process to understand an applicant’s potential.
Please ensure that your UCAS form details all the qualifications you hold or are in the process of taking, failure to so breaches UCAS rules and could invalidate your application.
If you are made an offer of a place, it will be conditional on your achieving the required grades.
We appreciate that many educational systems around the world do not usually predict a student's grades in this way; however without these predictions from your teacher we are unable to consider your application.
Guidance on writing references and predicting grades are available from UCAS.
5. Sit the MAT
The MAT will be online, delivered in partnership with Pearson VUE via its established network of test centres. The deadline for registration is Friday 4 October.
The test lasts 2½ hours. Candidates who receive extra time in other examinations should receive extra time in the MAT. Please be aware that no calculators, formula sheets or dictionaries are permitted during the test.
You can read more about the MAT in section 3. Register for the MAT
We will mark the MAT and make shortlisting decisions in November. MAT scores will be sent to candidates in January.
6. The Interviews
An Oxford interview is deigned to assess your academic potential, they want to see you thinking independently and to engage with the material.
In Computer Science we interview around 2 to 3 candidates per place. The format varies between colleges but generally students will have two interviews at their first choice college and at least one other interview at another college. We give candidates multiple interviews so that each person gets a chance to demonstrate to our tutors what they are capable of, especially if nerves are getting the better of you for one or two interviews. Interviews will happen over a period of a few days.
Since 2020 interviews have been online, and you will join the interviewers via video call.
Interviews are most commonly 30 minutes in length and usually with two interviewers. Sometimes one interviewer will ask all the questions, whilst the other takes notes, or sometimes they might share the questioning and note-taking between them. 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.
Sometimes our tutors start with a general question discussion, perhaps taken from your personal statement, to get to know you better, and to understand what motivates you. However most of the interview time will be taken by our tutors asking you to solve a problem, either one that you have been asked to think about in advance or one that is asked at the start of the interview. Sometimes candidates may be asked to undertake a pre-interview exercise. The interviewer may then discuss some of the questions from the exercise, with you, during your interview.
The interview will act like a short tutorial, with you actively discussing and exploring a problem (and your thought processes) out loud.
Demonstration Interview for Computer Science
See University of Oxford's webpage for more on Oxford interviews.
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 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.
Sample interview questions from one of our tutors
More sample interview questions
7. Offer
Shortlisted candidates for 2025 entry (or deferred) will be told whether or not their application has been successful in January 2025. Decisions will be released via UCAS Track early in the morning. This will be followed by direct communication from the college considering your application.
Feeback on your application
If you wish to request feedback, you must contact the college you applied to or were allocated to. There are more details on requesting feedback.
8. Start course
By the end of August you will have completed your qualifications and got your results. Assuming you have met the conditions of your offer, you will join us in Oxford for the start of your course in October - almost a year after you first applied (or later if you applied for and received a deferred entry offer).
Congratulations!
Over the summer you are welcome to look at recommended reading for candidates with offers.