Undergraduate Courses
BA in Computer Science
The BA course in Computer Science aims to produce graduates thoroughly conversant with the principles
of modern computing science, who are able to apply those principles in the design and construction
of reliable systems.
The course at Oxford concentrates on bridging theory and practice, including a wide variety of hardware and software technologies and their applications. The course is designed to equip students with the fundamental understanding and practical skills needed by the potential leaders of a demanding profession. However, this by no means limits our graduates in their choice of career: like other courses at Oxford, it is a training in logical thought and expression, and can lead to employment in many different fields.
A sound understanding of mathematical ideas is needed throughout the degree, both for potential applications such as scientific computation, and for reasoning rigorously about the specification and behaviour of programs. Practical skills must also be developed, and the majority of subjects within the course are linked with practical work which contributes marks towards the final examination. The laboratory has a large network of up-to-date workstations for practical work, and the network is accessible from colleges and many student rooms, and from the global internet.
The course lasts three years with exams at the end of each year.
Entry to the course is via the usual undergraduate admissions
procedure for Oxford. Candidates apply to one of the colleges that offer Computer Science as a subject
and are interviewed and selected by that college.
A typical weekly timetable
During the first part of the course, your work is divided between lectures (about 10 a week),
tutorials (1 or 2 a week) and practical classes (about 2 afternoons a week). As the course progresses, you will begin to work in small classes on more specialised topics, and you will spend a substantial amount of time in your third year working on a project that counts towards your degree.
Year 1
Core courses
Assessment
Four written papers, plus practicals.
Year 2
Core courses:
Years 2 and 3
Options including:
Assessment Year 2:
Written papers on core courses and five options, plus practicals.
Assessment Year 3:
Written papers on six options, plus practicals and projects.
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