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Complete Admissions Guide

Computer Science and Philosophy at University of Oxford

Our students' Oxford acceptance rate

65%

Overall Oxford offer rate (latest published cycle)

17%

Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford is among the most selective courses in the UK. Get 1-to-1 admissions coaching from Oxford graduates who have been through the process themselves.

Last updated: June 2026

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Key Facts

  • A*AA, includi…Typical Offer
  • 8:1Applicants / Place
  • #1UK Ranking
  • TMUAAdmissions Test
  • 14Places / Year
  • IV15UCAS Code

Overview

Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford

Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford (UCAS IV15) is a 3- or 4-year joint course leading to a BA or MCompPhil. For 2027 entry, the headline offer is A*AA with Mathematics required and Further Mathematics highly recommended where available; applicants must also take TMUA.

Why study Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford?

Oxford lists Computer Science and Philosophy as a joint course combining Computer Science and Philosophy. The course structure is officially listed as BA/MCompPhil over 3 or 4 years.

A university lecture hall from the back, students taking notes

Section 01

International Applicants

Click your country on the map below for country-specific entry guidance — accepted qualifications, expected scores, English-language requirements, and any local context worth knowing before you apply.

International Applicants

Country-specific admissions requirements

CanadaUnited States of AmericaSouth KoreaIndiaChinaUnited KingdomMalaysiaJapan

Pick a highlighted country to see the admissions-test, score, and English-language requirements that apply for applicants from that country.

Section 02

Entry Requirements

  • A-LevelA*AA, including A*A in Mathematics and Further Mathematics if available, in any order
    Mathematics required. Further Mathematics recommended.If Further Mathematics is not available, Oxford lists alternative offers involving A* in Mathematics and either AS Further Mathematics where available or A*AA with A* in Mathematics. Practical components in relevant science A-levels are expected to be passed.
  • IB Diploma39 including core points, with 766 at HL; the 7 must be in HL Mathematics
    HL: Mathematics at Higher Level with score 7 required.The IB 7 at HL must be in Mathematics.
  • Advanced Placement (AP)Either four APs at grade 5 including Calculus BC and two other Mathematics or Science subjects, or three APs at grade 5 in Calculus BC and two other Mathematics or Science subjects plus ACT 32+ or SAT 1470+ with at least 770 in Mathematics
    AP Calculus BC, Two other Mathematics or Science AP subjects required. Additional Mathematics or Science AP subjects recommended. SAT/ACT: Not required with four qualifying APs; required with three qualifying APs: ACT 32+ or SAT 1470+ with at least 770 in Mathematics. Optional essay is not required; Oxford does not superscore SAT/ACT..Calculus AB and BC cannot both count as separate subjects. AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles are counted as separate subjects by the Computer Science department.
Admissions test
Pre-registered TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission). Registration closes 28 September 2026; the test sits 12–16 October 2026 at Pearson VUE centres. TMUA replaced the MAT for Oxford Maths and Computer Science course families from 2027 entry.
Interview
Two college interviews of around 25 minutes each. Subject-specific discussion or problem-solving interviews typical of Oxford tutorial teaching. Most interviews are in person at the college; many colleges still offer online interviews for international applicants.
Required Tests:TMUA

Section 03

Application Process & Key Deadlines

  1. June 2026

    TMUA registration opens

    1 June 2026 (3pm UK time)

  2. July 2026

    TMUA booking opens

    20 July 2026 (3pm UK time)

  3. September 2026

    TMUA booking closes

    28 September 2026 (6pm UK time)

  4. October 2026

    Submit UCAS application

    15 October 2026 (6pm UK time)

  5. October 2026

    Sit the TMUA

    12-16 October 2026

  6. November 2026

    TMUA results released to candidates

    16 November 2026

  7. December 2026

    Online interviews

    December 2026

  8. January 2027

    Oxford decisions released

    12 January 2027

Section 04

Admissions Test

Student working through problems at a desk with timed papers

For 2027 entry, Oxford Computer Science and Philosophy applicants must take the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA). Oxford applicants must take both Paper 1: Applications of Mathematical Knowledge and Paper 2: Mathematical Reasoning.

TMUA is delivered by UAT-UK through Pearson test centres. For Oxford applicants, the October 2026 test window is 12–16 October 2026, and booking closes on 28 September 2026 at 6pm UK time.

The test matters because it gives Oxford a common mathematical-reasoning measure across applicants taking different qualifications.

For international applicants, TMUA is one of the main directly comparable parts of the file. Plan the account setup and booking steps early enough to meet the published UAT-UK deadlines.

Full TMUA preparation guide | format, scoring, strategy, and practice resources.

TMUA Guide →

Section 05

The Interview: What to Expect

Invitation → Decision: the interview timeline

Interview Invitation

Late Nov

Arrival to Interview

Early Dec

Technical Question

Mid Dec

Decision

Early Jan

Question Types You’ll See

Mathematical talentIndependent thinkingAbility to absorb and use new ideasLogical/analytical approach to philosophyClarity of argumentMotivation for both subjects

Shortlisted applicants are invited to online interviews in December 2026. The verified format is online academic discussion and problem-solving.

Oxford’s checked criteria include mathematical talent, independent thinking, ability to absorb and use new ideas, logical or analytical approach to philosophy, clarity of argument, and motivation for both subjects. Prepare by practising out loud: state assumptions, test examples, and explain why a line of reasoning does or does not work.

Do not script answers. In our experience, a good interview performance is usually less about reaching the answer quickly and more about staying precise when the interviewer changes the problem.

Practise with realistic questions from our free mock interview question bank.

Free Mock Questions →
Two people in academic discussion across a table

Section 06

How Decisions Are Actually Made

Do not treat any private percentage breakdown as official.

The verified academic evidence includes the Mathematics requirement, the TMUA, and online interviews. The interview criteria also point to independent thinking, new-idea absorption, and clarity of philosophical argument.

Build an application that is consistent across all parts. Your TMUA preparation, personal statement, and interview practice should all point to the same thing: you can reason carefully with formal systems and with arguments.

Our recommendation · weighting of admission factors

01020304035%
TMUA score
30%
Interview
20%
Predicted grades
10%
Personal statement
5%
Contextual factors
% of decisionFactor

Oxbridge Mentors recommendation, drawn from observed offer patterns. University of Oxford does not publish official weightings — exact balance varies by college, course and year.

Section 07

Personal Statement Tips

Handwritten notes and a laptop open to a draft document

A strong Computer Science and Philosophy personal statement should not read like two separate mini-statements. Use one or two examples where computation and philosophy meet: logic, proof, language, minds, decision procedures, or questions about what machines can and cannot do.

Avoid broad claims about liking technology or enjoying debate. Show the specific problem you followed, the book or project that changed your view, and the next question it raised.

It helps to include evidence of mathematical maturity. That could be a proof you worked through, a small program that forced you to think about abstraction, or a philosophical argument where the structure mattered more than the conclusion.

See a full annotated example with line-by-line expert commentary.

Computer Science and Philosophy PS Example →

Section 08

Projects

  1. 01Justification
  2. 02Project Brief
  3. 03Explain Exactly What You Did
  4. 04Difficulties
  5. 05Solutions
  6. 06Reflection

Used well, a project can still give you something concrete to discuss in the personal statement and interview.

Choose projects that force precision. A small theorem prover experiment, a logic puzzle solver, or a comparison between two arguments about artificial intelligence is usually better than a large unfinished app.

Broad project ideas: implement a small search or proof-checking tool; write a short essay comparing two arguments in philosophy of mind; build a program that models a logic puzzle and then explain the assumptions behind the model.

Open books, a notebook, and a coffee on a wooden desk

Section 08

Other Supercurriculars

Reading, programming, proof practice, and essay writing can all support this application. The point is not volume; it is whether you can explain what changed in your thinking.

These are support, not substitute.

  • Work through mathematical proofs and rewrite them in your own words.:

  • Practise programming small, exact tools rather than broad unfinished products.:

  • Read philosophy with a pen in hand and reconstruct the argument structure.:

  • Keep a short log of mistakes, false starts, and changes of view.:

  • Discuss problems with someone who will challenge your reasoning.:

Section 08

Competitions

This draft should therefore avoid naming competitions as canonical page content until those rows are verified.

  1. British Informatics Olympiad — national computing competition testing algorithms, problem-solving and formal reasoning; directly relevant to this joint degree
  2. Oxford University Computing Challenge — Oxford-run computing competition; strong preparation for the CS side of the joint degree
  3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition — global essay prize with a Philosophy track; practises philosophical argument on abstract questions
  4. Trinity College Cambridge Philosophy Essay Prize — essay competition in philosophy building conceptual precision and written argument
  5. Advent of Code — annual programming challenge with daily puzzles; builds algorithmic thinking and programming fluency
  6. UK Senior Mathematical Challenge — national mathematics competition; develops the formal reasoning foundational to both CS and philosophy

What competitions can do well is stretch problem-solving under time pressure. None are required; one or two done well beats five half-attempted.

Section 09

Course Structure

  1. Year

    01 / 04

    1

    Year 1

    Foundation year across the joint course, building the mathematical, computing and philosophical habits needed for later specialisation.

  2. Year

    02 / 04

    2

    Year 2

    Intermediate study develops both sides of the course and prepares students for more specialised choices.

  3. Year

    03 / 04

    3

    Year 3

    Third year can complete the BA route or prepare for continuation to the fourth-year MCompPhil, subject to the required standard.

  4. Year

    04 / 04

    4

    Year 4

    Fourth-year MCompPhil route for students who continue after meeting the required standard by the end of third year.

Section 10

Building Computer Science and Philosophy Knowledge

The resources field is marked as editorial guidance rather than official Oxford endorsement. For this course, the safest preparation pattern is to build three habits: proof-based mathematics, small exact programming, and careful argument reconstruction.

Keep a short notebook. For each topic, write the problem, your first attempt, where the reasoning failed, and what changed after correction. That habit is useful for TMUA preparation and for interview discussion.

Make the preparation course-specific by linking formal and philosophical questions. For example, compare how a proof, a program, and a philosophical argument each depend on definitions; or explore how logic, computability, artificial intelligence, or philosophy of mind changes the way you think about what machines can and cannot do.

Do not try to collect resources for their own sake. It is better to understand one proof, one program, and one philosophical argument properly than to list ten things you cannot discuss.

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid By Douglas Hofstadter explores the deep connections between formal systems, logic, music and consciousness. It is not a textbook but a sustained argument that models the kind of cross-disciplinary thinking Oxford CS&P rewards. The Philosophical Computer By Grim, Mar and St. Denis shows how computation illuminates problems in logic, mind and language.

For the computer science component, CS50x: Introduction to Computer Science From Harvard builds programming fundamentals through problem sets in C and Python. Computerphile On YouTube covers algorithms, languages, cryptography and AI in a way that connects directly to interview-level technical questions.

For the philosophy component, Philosophy Bites Delivers short, precise interviews on problems in logic, language, mind and ethics. In Our Time: Philosophy has episodes on Gödel's theorem, Turing, the philosophy of language and free will, all directly relevant to CS&P topics.

A study planner, highlighters and a stack of revision cards

Section 11

College Choice & Reallocation

30 colleges offer this subject. Nearly one fifth of applicants submit an open application. Around one third of successful applicants receive an offer from a college they did not specify of places come through the pool.

Applicants may choose a college or make an open application; nearly one fifth make open applications.

Oxford uses reallocation, and around one third of successful applicants receive an offer from a college they did not specify. That is why college choice should not be treated as a back-door admissions strategy.

Choose a college for practical reasons: accommodation, location, atmosphere, and whether it offers the course.

Stone college quadrangle viewed through an archway

Section 12

Career Prospects

Oxford describes graduates moving into technical, managerial, academic, financial, and commercial roles. Discover Uni says IV15-specific employment data is too small to publish, so the sector chart should be labelled as Oxford Computer Science subject-group data rather than course-specific Computer Science and Philosophy data.

Section 13

Contextual Circumstances

Oxford considers prior attainment in context where possible. This matters if your school context, disruption, or subject availability affected what you could take.

The course-specific Mathematics and Further Mathematics expectations still apply. If Further Mathematics was not available at your school, make that clear through the appropriate school or reference context rather than trying to hide the gap.

Watch & Learn

Helpful Videos for Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford

Student vlogs, mock interviews, lecture tasters, and admissions advice.

Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford University

Computer Science at Oxford University

Thinking Machines, Computational Models, and Moral Robots

All videos are the property of their respective creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

The UCAS course code is IV15. The course can be studied for three years leading to a BA or for four years leading to the MCompPhil.
Yes. For 2027 entry, Oxford lists TMUA for Computer Science and Philosophy. Applicants must take both TMUA papers in the October 2026 sitting; booking closes on 28 September 2026 at 6pm UK time under the published UAT-UK timetable.
No. Oxford states written work is not required.
No portfolio requirement was found on the checked Oxford course page.
Mathematics is required. Further Mathematics is highly recommended and expected where available.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to online interviews in December. Oxford looks for mathematical talent, independent thinking, capacity to absorb new ideas, enthusiasm, and critical/analytical ability in philosophy. Exact number and duration were not verified in checked official 2027 sources.
Oxford says applicants may choose a college or make an open application, and candidates may be reallocated to balance applications. Around one third of successful applicants receive an offer from a college they did not specify.

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