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Computer Science

Computer Science: A Churchill Perspective

Churchill Computer Science Website

Computer Science is a rapidly changing and exciting field where systems can develop from research ideas to global deployments in a matter of months. The course is constantly updated to include cutting-edge topics: in the last few years Quantum Computing and Bioinformatics have been introduced alongside existing coverage of emerging topics in Artificial Intelligence, electronic security, and very high speed networking.

The Churchill Advantage

Churchill is the biggest college for Computer Science in Cambridge in terms of current undergraduates. Churchill aims to offer 12 to 16 places each year to students who will thrive on a combination of teaching in the Computer Laboratory and within the college. Churchill consistently ranks highly in the exams and its graduates can be found leading research and industry around the world.

Teaching at Churchill is supported by the broad experience and expertise of Computer Laboratory staff, the College's own Fellows, PhD students and graduates. This gives every student the opportunity to discuss topics in Computer Science with the researchers defining the subject and with those practicing it every day in industry at companies such as Google and Microsoft. In many cases students develop this into summer internships with one of the Cambridge- and London-based companies with which Churchill maintains close contact, and often leads to gainful employment after graduation in their "favourite" field of Computer Science.

Admissions in Computer Science at Churchill

We like Computer Scientists at Churchill! We've always admitted lots of students to study the Computer Science Tripos and it's among the biggest subjects at Churchill. Churchill's Computer Scientists are reliably among our best performing students in the exams each year so we want more.

How many students do we want to admit?

We don't have a fixed quota of places for Computer Science versus the other subjects. We will respond to every good application and good interview with an offer. Typically this results in 12-16 new undergraduates reading Computer Science each year – naturally highest in exciting years when we met lots of intelligent and enthusiastic people at interview, so they all get a place. Our typical applications-per-place ratio is between 3:1 and 2.5:1 applications per place.

What AS/A2 subjects are we looking for?

Typically, someone embarking on Computer Science at Churchill would have...

  1. grades A and A* at GCSE (or Scottish/international equivalents)
  2. three or more AS/A2 subjects at grade A or A* (or equivalents):
    • A2 Mathematics is essential
    • Further Mathematics or Double Mathematics will help your application
    • a physical science (usually Physics or Chemistry), Latin, Philosophy or a modern language

It is not at all necessary to have taken any AS/A2 course or exam in Computer Science before applying to Churchill. If you have never written a computer program, be assured that you will not be at a disadvantage, either at interview or when studying the course.

AS/A2 Computing and ICT

If your school has a timetable clash between Further Maths and Computing/ICT, please choose Maths! We cannot make you an offer using ICT so that is a waste of one of your AS/A2 subjects (and we'll teach you more between October and Christmas than ICT covers in a whole year!). The syllabuses for some Computing AS/A2 courses are now acceptable: we urge everyone to contact us directly to check that we will be able to make you an offer based on the Computing course that your school is offering, before you commit to your AS/A2 choices. On rare occasions we have hugely regretted rejecting an excellent application simply because the candidate was offering two subjects plus ICT at A2 and we had no way to make a 3-subject offer (which the University demands as a minimum requirement).

All candidates who have already taken AS module examinations at the time of their application will be asked to supply module scores.

How to find out more

If you have decided to apply for Computer Science at Churchill, or you are looking for more information, the best thing to do is to come and see us at an Open Day at the College, and the one which coincides with the Computer Laboratory's own Open Day (usually the first Friday in July) is especially recommended.

Not taking AS/A2 examinations?

Applicants offering Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, those applying with qualifications obtained overseas, and those who have taken the International Baccalaureate (IB) are especially welcome at Churchill. The Churchill community benefits greatly from its international make-up. The College has, for many years, encouraged international applications and has substantial experience of the schooling and examining schemes around the world. We can make offers in terms of virtually any country's examination system so please don't ever be put off by your lack of familiarity with Cambridge, or fear that we might be unfamiliar with your school system.

Fellows in Computer Science at Churchill

The three main teaching Fellows are:

Churchill Computer Science Website