Computer Science
In Oxford’s Computing Laboratory, the main research goal is to find ways of understanding computer systems through mathematical models. During the Computer Science degree, a careful combination of traditional lectures, tutorials and classes with practical and project work ensures that undergraduates gain both a sound theoretical understanding of the subject and the skills needed to apply that theory in life-like situations. In the first two years of the course, teaching consists mainly of college-based tutorials and classes which are tailored to the needs of individual students. Later, a wide range of options covers nearly every part of Computer Science, and specialist classes are run by experts in each area.
Oriel has offered Computer Science for twelve years with an expanding number of places, making it one of the Colleges where Computer Science has real momentum. The Computer Science Fellow, Dr Michael Spivey, has taken a leading role in the teaching of the Computer Science degree, and is responsible for a major part of the University’s practical courses in Computer Science. His research interests centre on the use of mathematics in describing and developing computer hardware and software and measuring its performance.
Tutorial Fellows:
College Lecturer:
Admissions:
Candidates sit a written Mathematics test in schools before being shortlisted for interview. Conditional offers: usually A*AA at A-level (or equivalent), including A* in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics or Computing.
Places: 4
Subject web pages:
http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/ (including Dr Spivey’s personal pages on Computer Science at Oxford), http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/ (including selection criteria and deferred entry policy).