Computer Science · Head to head
Every figure on this page is taken from each university's own published requirements and admissions statistics, with the source named underneath.
Both Oxford and Cambridge Computer Science use the TMUA for 2027 entry and both are heavily mathematical courses rather than programming courses. Cambridge asks for a higher headline grade profile; Oxford specifies where the top grade must sit. Oxford Computer Science is among the most oversubscribed courses at either university on published applicants-per-place figures.
Course requirements last verified for 2027 entry. Editorial review: 2026-08-17.
Oxford and Cambridge do not publish course-level competition the same way. Oxford publishes applicants per place; Cambridge publishes applications and offers, from which the offer rate below is derived. A place and an offer are not the same thing, so read each university's figure on its own terms rather than as a head-to-head score.
Sources
Entry requirements as each university publishes them for 2027 entry. Always confirm against the official course page before you apply, linked underneath.
| Oxford | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Official course name | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Degree awardeddiffers | BA (Hons) / MCompSci | BA (Hons) / MEng |
| Durationdiffers | 3 years (BA) or 4 years (MCompSci) | 3 or 4 years |
| UCAS course code | G400 | G400 |
| Admissions testdiffers | Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) | Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA). Lucy Cavendish, Peterhouse, Selwyn and Trinity additionally set the College-specific CSAT (Computer Science Admissions Test) on the day of interview. |
| Typical A-Level offerdiffers | A*AA with A* in Mathematics | A*A*A |
| Typical IB offerdiffers | 39 with 766 at HL including HL Mathematics | Not published in registry |
| Required subjects | Mathematics | Mathematics |
| Interview | 2 interviews, about 25 minutes each | 2 interviews, about 25 minutes each |
| Written work required | No | No |
Oxford
Strongly theoretical, with formal methods, logic and proof running through the degree.
Cambridge
Also theory-first, taught within a department with deep systems and architecture strength alongside it.
What this means for you: Neither is a software engineering degree. If you want to learn to build products, both will frustrate you; if you want to understand why computation works, both are outstanding.
Oxford
TMUA, following the retirement of the MAT for 2027 entry.
Cambridge
TMUA on the same timetable, plus a college-set CSAT on the interview day at a handful of colleges.
What this means for you: The pre-interview test is now shared, and it is a mathematics test at both. The Cambridge CSAT is set by individual colleges on the day, so check the requirement for the college you are applying to rather than assuming it applies.
Oxford
Not required for entry.
Cambridge
Not required for entry.
What this means for you: Both assume mathematical ability and teach the computing from the ground up. Self-taught programming is welcome but it does not substitute for mathematical fluency in either application.
Oxford
One of the highest applicants-per-place ratios Oxford publishes for any course.
Cambridge
Also heavily oversubscribed on its own published applications-to-offers figures.
What this means for you: This is a subject where the university-level offer rate is badly misleading. Use the course-level numbers in the table below.
These differences apply whichever subject you apply for.
| Oxford | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|
| UCAS institution codediffers | O33 | C05 |
| Teaching formatdiffers | Tutorial | Supervision |
| Term structurediffers | 3 eight-week terms (Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity) | 3 eight-week terms (Michaelmas, Lent, Easter) |
| If your college cannot make an offerdiffers | Reallocation | Winter Pool |
| Extra form beyond UCASdiffers | None | My Cambridge Application (supplementary questionnaire) |
| Interview policydiffers | Oxford interviews approximately 50-60% of applicants overall, though this varies significantly by subject. Most shortlisted candidates receive 2-3 interviews. | Cambridge interviews approximately 75% of applicants overall. Nearly all applicants deemed potentially competitive are invited. Interviews are typically held at the college you applied to. |
The university-level answer changes once you look at the course. Here is the same comparison for the other subjects with published data on both sides.
Free Resource
Oxbridge Application Guide
Entry requirements, test dates and interview formats for both universities, in one plan you can work from.