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Possible to do Computer Science WITHOUT A level Mathmatics?
I'm just keeping my options available at the momment. Being in the first year of college I have taken up Computing and was considering doing a degree in Computer Science - although, everywhere i've looked mentions you need an A or B in Mathmatics at A level.
So, as topics title reads is it really possible? If so at which uni?
I'm currently studying (AS levels atm):
-Computing
-Media Studies
-English lit & lang
-Graphics
And I attained a B in Maths at GCSE level with all other GCSE's passed above C.
So, as topics title reads is it really possible? If so at which uni?
I'm currently studying (AS levels atm):
-Computing
-Media Studies
-English lit & lang
-Graphics
And I attained a B in Maths at GCSE level with all other GCSE's passed above C.
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Most top univerisities (such as Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL, York, Kings, Bath, Manchester, Southampton, Nottingham, Bristol etc) will require either Maths, Statistics or Physics for their Computer Science degrees.
However, there are quite a number of universities that will accept your Computing A-Level for their computer science degrees, such as Kingston, Brunel, City, Oxford Brookes (to name a few).
Another alternative for you could be to do a degree in IT or similar, instead of Computer Science. For instance Queen Marys does a degree in 'IT in Business', and Southampton has a degree in 'IT in Organisations' and there are several others, which im sure ull be able to find on the UCAS website.
The maths required for a computer science degree is tough, especially at top unis, therefore you might struggle if you dont have a mathematical background. In the first year you will cover many aspects of A-level maths, such as integration, binomials, vectors, induction, trig functions and differentiation - which will then be followed by very intensive logic and discrete maths.
However if you are willing to work hard, then the maths shouldnt be a problem, but it will definately be an advantage to have A-Level Maths or a physical science.
However, there are quite a number of universities that will accept your Computing A-Level for their computer science degrees, such as Kingston, Brunel, City, Oxford Brookes (to name a few).
Another alternative for you could be to do a degree in IT or similar, instead of Computer Science. For instance Queen Marys does a degree in 'IT in Business', and Southampton has a degree in 'IT in Organisations' and there are several others, which im sure ull be able to find on the UCAS website.
The maths required for a computer science degree is tough, especially at top unis, therefore you might struggle if you dont have a mathematical background. In the first year you will cover many aspects of A-level maths, such as integration, binomials, vectors, induction, trig functions and differentiation - which will then be followed by very intensive logic and discrete maths.
However if you are willing to work hard, then the maths shouldnt be a problem, but it will definately be an advantage to have A-Level Maths or a physical science.
KingsComp
Most top univerisities (such as Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL, York, Kings, Bath, Manchester, Southampton, Nottingham, Bristol etc) will require either Maths, Statistics or Physics for their Computer Science degrees.
If I recall correctly Kings College does not require A-level Maths although they do recommend it. On the entry profile on the UCAS website their subject requirements are "Mathematics or Computing or Electronics or Statistics or Physics".
Most universities will probably provide detailed entry requirements if you do a search on the UCAS website. Just click on the bit that says 'entry profile' for each course.
If I recall correctly Kings College does not require A-level Maths although they do recommend it. On the entry profile on the UCAS website their subject requirements are "Mathematics or Computing or Electronics or Statistics or Physics".
Funny, I can't remember Electronics or Computing being in the entrance requirements, although I did apply 3 years ago
. Well in that case Barton, its worth checking King's Computer Science out as well!
You could do computer science without A-level maths actually. Depends which university you choose. Obviously, you need GCSE maths at grade C or above though.
The degree course contains maths obviously, but not too hard though. It's usually discrete mathematics.
The degree course contains maths obviously, but not too hard though. It's usually discrete mathematics.
I think its important to note that the level of mathematical understanding required for computer science varies widely from university to university. I would look at all the options. Some require only a grade C at GCSE Maths, whilst others like Imperial will want an A, probably along with two science-based subjects such as Physics and Chemistry.
The main reason why they ask for Maths is because it shows you are good at problem solving. Perhaps if you can prove you are good at problem solving in another way or have some good experience in the subject area, then some of the better universities may be more willing to accept you.
The main reason why they ask for Maths is because it shows you are good at problem solving. Perhaps if you can prove you are good at problem solving in another way or have some good experience in the subject area, then some of the better universities may be more willing to accept you.
discrete maths in warwick wasn't too bad. However I know of several who failed it and even more who did **** in it so maybe it was.
I got a 2.1 in it though
Doing CS without alevel maths would be a nightmare though unless the course is very programming orientated and less computer science.
I got a 2.1 in it though
Doing CS without alevel maths would be a nightmare though unless the course is very programming orientated and less computer science.
Surrey, Kent, UEA and Birmingham are definitely worth a look if you want to do Comp Sci but don't have Maths at A Level. I have first hand experience of the Comp Sci course at Kent, and the maths wasn't too hard. Most universities will run special modules (or extended seminars/lectures) for students who do not have maths to offer.
I was so bored and I made a list of uni's offering CS without A-level maths:
Aberwysth (sp?)
APU
Aston (i GCSE math at grade B not offered, A-level maths is preferred (it's optional)
Bangor
B'ham
Bradford
Brighton
UWE
Brunel
Coventry
De Monfort
Durham
UEA
Essex
Greenwich
Hertfordshire
Huddersfield
Hull
Keele (Maths OR Science - probably you would choose a science if you don't have maths)
Kent
Kingston
Lancaster
Leicester (computing OR math - probably you would choose computing if you don't have maths)
London Met
Luton
Newcastle
Nottingham Trent (any maths OR science OR technology)
Oxford Brookes
Portsmouth
Reading
Robert Gordon
Salford
Staffordshire
Stirling
Sussex
Swansea
Teeside
Westminster
Wolverhampton
Aberwysth (sp?)
APU
Aston (i GCSE math at grade B not offered, A-level maths is preferred (it's optional)
Bangor
B'ham
Bradford
Brighton
UWE
Brunel
Coventry
De Monfort
Durham
UEA
Essex
Greenwich
Hertfordshire
Huddersfield
Hull
Keele (Maths OR Science - probably you would choose a science if you don't have maths)
Kent
Kingston
Lancaster
Leicester (computing OR math - probably you would choose computing if you don't have maths)
London Met
Luton
Newcastle
Nottingham Trent (any maths OR science OR technology)
Oxford Brookes
Portsmouth
Reading
Robert Gordon
Salford
Staffordshire
Stirling
Sussex
Swansea
Teeside
Westminster
Wolverhampton
chaoscomplex
Someone mentioned IT -- please remember there's a big difference between IT and Computer Science, they're very different courses! Computer Science is to do with writing the programs for the computer, IT is about using them.
I know there is a great difference between the Computer Science and IT, I was merely giving an alternative option, as Computer Science is more mathematics related than IT.
But yes, IT is a totally different subject, IT focuses greater on the theoretical and business organisation aspects of computers, while computer science focuses much more greatly on the numerical and programming aspects.
Chris87
trev, I'm sure there's many other universities that don't ask for A-level Maths for Computer Science. My advice would be to look at anywhere you think you'll be happy at and then find out if they will let you in without A-level Maths rather than the other way round.
I know, that is from the UCAS site. I'm just helping people out. In addition, I'm not applying for a CS course.
pig
Can't speak for the others but at Newcastle yes you can do CS without A level maths but if you don't have it you'll have to do extra maths work in the first year to catch up, and the first year already comprises around 30% of pretty hard maths (pure and stats) if you do have A level maths, and thats apart from the discrete maths content of some core modules, and then later more pure maths in modules (graphics, neural nets etc). In short, I wouldn't want people to think you can do CS if you're really no good at all at maths, or you'll seriously struggle.
I saw 2 math modules in newcastle. One for people who have done A-level maths and the other who have done GCSE maths.
Prince21
Man maths is boring, the boring site of computing, people who enjoy computing shouldnt be bogged down with mathematical forumulas. Microsoft make something simple
Whether or not you believe maths is boring, it is one of the best ways to prove you can think logically - a skill needed for Computer Science. Your comment about Microsoft "make something simple" just goes to show that you don't know what Computer Science is about. Computer Science is about how computers work, the theory behind them, and not so much about how they're used.
Chris87
Whether or not you believe maths is boring, it is one of the best ways to prove you can think logically - a skill needed for Computer Science. Your comment about Microsoft "make something simple" just goes to show that you don't know what Computer Science is about. Computer Science is about how computers work, the theory behind them, and not so much about how they're used.
Exactly - listen to the man. As a hobby hacker who is fairly weak with regards to the mathematical side, it is vitally important that you do well in GCSE and A-level maths if you have the intention to go on to do CS. Out in the real world, you will feel the pain if you don't have the maths. I still lament the fact that my maths isn't as strong as it could be (I have a B in GCSE maths).
That said, if you really want to do CS, and you can demonstrate to an interviewer that you are the candidate for the course, and you've got solid hacking experience under your belt - the more the better (and, by hacking, I don't just mean the sort of fiddling around I do, I mean building applications - either for yourself, for the Open Source community, for industry, for school), you could do it.
OK i got it man. One thing can you specialise in a computing field. Can i do like computer science but networking side. DO you get what iam saying or the designing side eg webpages stuff like that. Do you need a lot of maths for that. I dont want to spend 3 years doing straight programming and mathematical formulas. I heard there so many jobs linked. Anyway nevermind..
Prince21
OK i got it man. One thing can you specialise in a computing field. Can i do like computer science but networking side. DO you get what iam saying or the designing side eg webpages stuff like that. Do you need a lot of maths for that. I dont want to spend 3 years doing straight programming and mathematical formulas. I heard there so many jobs linked. Anyway nevermind..
Ask the universities. And check out some of the other courses. Some schools and VI forms offer Cisco networking courses, A+ and various other things. The vocational side might be more useful.
Of course, you could do a joint degree with something else. A lot of my friends who are involved in things like blogs, social networking, messing around with the Google API all day long and so on include lots of non-mathsy people - people who have studied arts subjects: artists, interaction and multimedia designers, old-school hackers with either CS degrees or other interests, economists and so on. There the focus is on thinking up cool stuff and hacking stuff together, not necessarily being the Top Java Programmer Ever (or whatever).
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