Dr Michael Spivey
Emeritus Fellow (2024) | MA, DPhil (MA Camb)
A careful combination of traditional lectures, tutorials and classes with practical and project work ensures that undergraduates reading Computer Science at Oxford gain both a sound theoretical understanding of the subject and the skills needed to apply that theory in life-like situations.
In Oxford’s Department of Computer Science, the main research goal is to find ways of understanding computer systems through mathematical models. In the first two years of the Computer Science 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’s 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.
The functional programming in Computer Science is perhaps one of the most satisfying I have ever learnt.
Candidates sit a written Mathematics test in schools before being shortlisted for interview. Conditional offers: usually A*AA at A-level (or equivalent), including Mathematics and Further Mathematics if taken, with the A* in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Computing/Computer Science.
Number of places4
DepartmentsGraduate Teaching & Research Scholar in Computer Science
Fellow & Professor of Computer Science
College Lecturer in Computer Science