The Student Room Group

Computer Science: Oxford or Cambridge?

Scroll to see replies

Original post by MarkovBrain
No problem! The joint honours Maths and CS degree covers both maths and CS rigorously as subjects of their own (with a little more emphasis on pure maths and theoretical CS, but giving you a strong grounding in both subjects overall). So you will learn algebra, analysis, calculus, etc. in addition to programming, logic, etc. When there are useful connections between your courses in each subject, these are usually pointed out and explored :smile:
Check out the course descriptions for more detail!


Thank you very much - I will have a close look at the courses now :smile:
Original post by MarkovBrain
No problem! The joint honours Maths and CS degree covers both maths and CS rigorously as subjects of their own (with a little more emphasis on pure maths and theoretical CS, but giving you a strong grounding in both subjects overall). So you will learn algebra, analysis, calculus, etc. in addition to programming, logic, etc. When there are useful connections between your courses in each subject, these are usually pointed out and explored :smile:
Check out the course descriptions for more detail!


Hello! I am considering applying to Oxford for Maths & CS. The problem is that I haven't quite figured out whether I like the theoretical CS topics (automata, cryptography, etc) or the applied topics (computer vision, machine learning, AI, etc). I have noticed that Oxford mainly focuses on the former of the two, and the latter is part of the Information Engineering course. To what extent is this true?
Original post by elefjohn
Hello! I am considering applying to Oxford for Maths & CS. The problem is that I haven't quite figured out whether I like the theoretical CS topics (automata, cryptography, etc) or the applied topics (computer vision, machine learning, AI, etc). I have noticed that Oxford mainly focuses on the former of the two, and the latter is part of the Information Engineering course. To what extent is this true?


I'm so glad to hear that! It is true that the Oxford CS course is particularly thorough in theoretical/pure topics. However, there are great courses in applied areas in later years of the degree, and you will receive good grounding in calculus and probability as a Maths and CS student to benefit from them. These applied areas include computational biology, security, graphics, and machine learning. The ML/AI courses have been redesigned from this year onwards: in your third and fourth years there is an Intelligent Systems course, an intro ML course, a course on learning theory, and a course on deep learning for natural language processing.

Remember that Information Engineering is part of the Engineering Science degree, so you will spend the first two years studying a wide range of engineering topics and then specialise in Info Eng only in the third and fourth years of the degree.

If you are most interested in machine learning/AI with their specific application to computer vision or robotics, and are happy to be trained in engineering in general for the first two years, I recommend Engineering Science with the Information Engineering track.
If you are interested in topics in mathematics, computation, and both the theory and general practice of machine learning, I encourage you to try for Maths and CS.

I hope this helps! Maths and CS is the undergrad degree I took so I'm always keen to talk to interested applicants (plus I've just finished a master's thesis in automata theory and machine learning, so these are all topics that I know a bit about and are close to my heart)! I'm very happy to answer any more questions, either on here or by PM. :smile:
Reply 23
I have no idea regarding the CS at oxbridge but I will give advice regarding computer science. Start now if you havent already, use code academy to learn a language, build an application using that language and share it on github, keep building small applications or command line apps and share them publicly. Learn Python or Javascript or both. Then try out C (Learn C the hard way is a good resource although now a purchase of the book is needed) This is important in this field, open source contributions are looked upon fondly and are major factors in how an employer looks at you. It would do you no harm in your application to uni as well if you had a active github account. Best of luck in getting in, and great GCSE results btw!
Original post by ktallett
I have no idea regarding the CS at oxbridge but I will give advice regarding computer science. Start now if you havent already, use code academy to learn a language, build an application using that language and share it on github, keep building small applications or command line apps and share them publicly. Learn Python or Javascript or both. Then try out C (Learn C the hard way is a good resource although now a purchase of the book is needed) This is important in this field, open source contributions are looked upon fondly and are major factors in how an employer looks at you. It would do you no harm in your application to uni as well if you had a active github account. Best of luck in getting in, and great GCSE results btw!


Thanks :smile: I actually have a github account but have never got around to making anything to upload to it. I am reasonably proficient in C and C++ so would you be able to recommend something that I do for that? I was considering making a library but I am not sure if that would be the best idea. Many thanks :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile
Reply 25
Original post by some-student
Thanks :smile: I actually have a github account but have never got around to making anything to upload to it. I am reasonably proficient in C and C++ so would you be able to recommend something that I do for that? I was considering making a library but I am not sure if that would be the best idea. Many thanks :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile


Here are some project ideas that I have done and built both to just improve coding skills and for fun. There is no right thing to build it is all about challenging yourself and trying to learn that bit more. I do think projects that provide a solution to a problem you have will always be the best ones. So if for example you have an idea for a static library that you feel will be useful go ahead and do it. Here are my ideas for C inparticular:

Chip 8 Emulator (The most basic emulator you can build but gives you more thorough understand of how processors work, plenty of guides for help understanding but doesnt say exactly how to code)

Chess game for 2 players(this can be particularly interesting if you learn the relative value https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_piece_relative_value and display that for each player)

Peer to Peer Chat application

Raytracer

And then also there are places such as Project Euler which helps with the maths side of CS. Plus this site here that provides lots of possible problems and ideas you can try and solve and build

Also remember Googling how to do something isnt bad, infact using stackoverflow, the docs for the language and google is probably one of the top needed skills now. Be careful with how far you go, any code you copy and paste always make sure you fully understand why it does what it does and also try to factor the code so it is your own and fits in with your own coding style. Plus working out the problem just with pen and paper using psuedocode isnt always popular but is generally helpful.
Original post by ktallett
Here are some project ideas that I have done and built both to just improve coding skills and for fun. There is no right thing to build it is all about challenging yourself and trying to learn that bit more. I do think projects that provide a solution to a problem you have will always be the best ones. So if for example you have an idea for a static library that you feel will be useful go ahead and do it. Here are my ideas for C inparticular:

Chip 8 Emulator (The most basic emulator you can build but gives you more thorough understand of how processors work, plenty of guides for help understanding but doesnt say exactly how to code)

Chess game for 2 players(this can be particularly interesting if you learn the relative value https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_piece_relative_value and display that for each player)

Peer to Peer Chat application

Raytracer

And then also there are places such as Project Euler which helps with the maths side of CS. Plus this site here that provides lots of possible problems and ideas you can try and solve and build

Also remember Googling how to do something isnt bad, infact using stackoverflow, the docs for the language and google is probably one of the top needed skills now. Be careful with how far you go, any code you copy and paste always make sure you fully understand why it does what it does and also try to factor the code so it is your own and fits in with your own coding style. Plus working out the problem just with pen and paper using psuedocode isnt always popular but is generally helpful.


Thank you very much for this! :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by ktallett
Here are some project ideas that I have done and built both to just improve coding skills and for fun. There is no right thing to build it is all about challenging yourself and trying to learn that bit more. I do think projects that provide a solution to a problem you have will always be the best ones. So if for example you have an idea for a static library that you feel will be useful go ahead and do it. Here are my ideas for C inparticular:

Chip 8 Emulator (The most basic emulator you can build but gives you more thorough understand of how processors work, plenty of guides for help understanding but doesnt say exactly how to code)

Chess game for 2 players(this can be particularly interesting if you learn the relative value https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_piece_relative_value and display that for each player)

Peer to Peer Chat application

Raytracer

And then also there are places such as Project Euler which helps with the maths side of CS. Plus this site here that provides lots of possible problems and ideas you can try and solve and build

Also remember Googling how to do something isnt bad, infact using stackoverflow, the docs for the language and google is probably one of the top needed skills now. Be careful with how far you go, any code you copy and paste always make sure you fully understand why it does what it does and also try to factor the code so it is your own and fits in with your own coding style. Plus working out the problem just with pen and paper using psuedocode isnt always popular but is generally helpful.


This is great advice, both for before you apply and while you're in the initial years of your undergraduate degree!
For Oxford, particularly Maths and CS, it isn't *essential* to have significant development experience beforehand (the first programming courses do not assume such experience), but a little practice definitely helps, especially for projects, applying for internships, etc.!

Try out coding things that you enjoy and if there are a few projects you're particularly proud of, they can go nicely on your statement! I particularly second the Project Euler suggestion, as it's a good idea to sharpen your mathematical problem solving skills too :smile:
Reply 28
Why would your brother applying also affect your decision?
Original post by MarkovBrain
This is great advice, both for before you apply and while you're in the initial years of your undergraduate degree!
For Oxford, particularly Maths and CS, it isn't *essential* to have significant development experience beforehand (the first programming courses do not assume such experience), but a little practice definitely helps, especially for projects, applying for internships, etc.!

Try out coding things that you enjoy and if there are a few projects you're particularly proud of, they can go nicely on your statement! I particularly second the Project Euler suggestion, as it's a good idea to sharpen your mathematical problem solving skills too :smile:


Thank so much for all the advice :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Zeumryn
Why would your brother applying also affect your decision?


I'm not too bothered but he isn't too happy with the idea :frown:

Posted from TSR Mobile
Hey! I was just scrolling through this thread and wanted to know how it is going for you? I am in a similar situation and my college is having me consider Universities to apply to now. I am doing Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and Spanish at AS level and hope to carry on all 4 next year. As of now I am considering, Imperial, Oxford and Cambridge (which is only 2 because I can only apply to 1). I also just signed up to github!
Original post by MunaFuzzyG
Hey! I was just scrolling through this thread and wanted to know how it is going for you? I am in a similar situation and my college is having me consider Universities to apply to now. I am doing Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and Spanish at AS level and hope to carry on all 4 next year. As of now I am considering, Imperial, Oxford and Cambridge (which is only 2 because I can only apply to 1). I also just signed up to github!


Hi :smile: I'm still contemplating the decision, however I am now leaning more towards taking a Maths and Computer Science degree, which is offered fully at Oxford and in the first year at Cambridge. But I'm going to go along to the open days and see how they feel for me :smile: Good luck with your studies!

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by some-student
Hi :smile: I'm still contemplating the decision, however I am now leaning more towards taking a Maths and Computer Science degree, which is offered fully at Oxford and in the first year at Cambridge. But I'm going to go along to the open days and see how they feel for me :smile: Good luck with your studies!

Posted from TSR Mobile


Hey! I received an offer for Maths & Computer Science from Oxford a couple of weeks ago. Let me know if you want any help with your decision.
Reply 34
I have no experience with Computer Science at any Uni, so I don't think I can advise on whether Oxford or Cambridge is better. However, if you wanted to get the first hand experience of a Combridge CompSci student I would recommend the YouTube channel of Jake Wright! He's been vlogging for a number of years (there's a live GCSE results opening video I once stumbled across) and has since gone on to study Computer Science at Queen's college and now works at Graze. On his channel are a bunch of videos containing advice on how to get into Cambridge (some specifically for CompSci), along with the application process, interviews, etc.
I don't mean to trash Oxford, but its Computer Science department is a steaming pile of **** compared to the one at Cambridge.
Original post by harrycompsci
I don't mean to trash Oxford, but its Computer Science department is a steaming pile of **** compared to the one at Cambridge.


Do you have any evidence to back up your assertion? Or have you been taking lessons from Donald Trump?
(edited 7 years ago)
Some non subject related factors in case they help....
Cambridge is smaller than Oxford (which I prefer but some don't). We have drier and colder weather which makes for more stunning sunny days, but the surrounding countryside is flat and less scenic. Cambridge colleges tend to accommodate undergraduates for the full duration of their degrees, or at least 3 years... Apparently Oxford colleges don't own as much accommodation and so Oxford students often live in private accommodation in their second year. Cambridge undergraduate gowns are a lot less silly looking, but then we do have the kitchen facilities charge :yucky: :p:

Also if your brother's the one with the issue then he's the one that can change his decisions based on it. You shouldn't have to.

Good luck :smile:
Original post by gavinlowe
Do you have any evidence to back up your assertion? Or have you been taking lessons from Donald Trump?


Visited both, have had lectures and tutorials in both. Oxford CompSci department is basically a small house with most of the stuff in the basement. Cambridge CompSci department was funded by Bill Gates, absolutely huge, really open, lots of natural light.
Original post by harrycompsci
Visited both, have had lectures and tutorials in both. Oxford CompSci department is basically a small house with most of the stuff in the basement. Cambridge CompSci department was funded by Bill Gates, absolutely huge, really open, lots of natural light.


I agree that the Cambridge Computer Laboratory has a better building that the Oxford Computer Science Department. However, to describe the latter as "a small house with most of the stuff in the basement" is simply wrong.

But that doesn't justify your original assertion: there is more to a department than its building.

Quick Reply

Latest