The main University website for admissions has lots of useful information about applying to Cambridge, in particular, please see the Computer Science page. This page is intended to supplement the guidance found on the main website.
This timeline shows the main parts of applying to study Computer Science at Cambridge. Each point is described by the relevant section below.
Choosing a course
At Cambridge we offer a three year course in Computer Science that leads to a BA honours degree. You can also choose to stay on for an extra year leading to a Master of Engineering. Please see the following page for the entry requirements for this course.
If you'd like to learn more about the Computer Science course at Cambridge, please see the course overview page.
Choosing a College
Computer Science is offered by all Colleges at Cambridge. A College is your home for the duration of your undergraduate degree. It provides you with academic and pastoral support, as well as other facilities, including places to eat, socialise and meet new people. To find out more, please see What is a Cambridge College?
There is no College that is “Best” for Computer Science. All Computer Science students attend lectures and practicals that are run by the Department. Your College is responsible for organising your supervisions, which are regular small-group teaching sessions, and assigning you a Director of Studies, who provides you with academic support. You can find out more about the responsibilities of Colleges and university departments here.
Colleges vary quite a lot, and it is worth thinking about what matters most to you, so you can decide which College might suit you best. You can find more advice about picking a College here. It is worth noting that if you have no preference at all, you can submit an open application.
Register for the TMUA
Applicants for admission in 2025 are required to register for the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) by 16 September 2024. Please note that you can still book over the phone until 1 October 2024. Please see this page for detailed guidance on registering for the TMUA.
The TMUA tests your mathematical thinking and uses maths that you will have already learned at school. The best way to prepare for the TMUA is to work through practice papers under timed conditions. It is also recommended that you read the test specification and notes on Logic and Proof, so that you can know which topics to revise. You can find the materials mentioned for free on the TMUA website. You can learn more about how your results will be used alongside the rest of your application here.
Some Colleges require you to sit an additional admission test (such as the Computer Science Aptitudes Test (CSAT)) while you are at Cambridge for your interview. You can see which Colleges require additional assessment on the University admissions assessment page.
Please note that there is typically no pass or fail mark for any of these assessments, and in particular your performance on the TMUA (or other admissions tests) will not make or break your application. All parts of your application are considered holistically.
Submit your UCAS application
The following page has a lot of useful advice about submitting your UCAS application, including how to write a great personal statement.
If you’re interested in what you can do to make your application stand out, please look at our Super-Curricular activities page. This page outlines some of the things you can do to learn more about Computer Science and that can be really useful to mention in your application to show your passion for the subject.
The UCAS application deadline is 15 October 2024.
The UCAS course code for Computer Science is G400.
Complete My Cambridge Application form
When applying to study an undergraduate degree at Cambridge, you are required to submit an additional form called My Cambridge Application. This form asks for additional details relevant to your application.
The deadline to submit the My Cambridge Application form is 22 October 2024.
Pre-interview admission test (TMUA)
This year the TMUA is taking place on 16 and 17 October. As part of your application, you are required to take the TMUA on one of these dates at an authorised test centre.
Interviews
Cambridge interviews assess your academic potential. The interview process varies from College to College, so if you have any specific questions about interviews, please contact the admissions office at the relevant College.
The interviews will take place in December, and can be online or in-person depending on the College. For more general information about interviews and to find out which Colleges offer in-person interviews, please see this page about what to expect at your Cambridge interview.
To find out more about Computer Science interviews, please see our Interviews page.
Outcome
If you applied by the UCAS deadline in October 2024, you will find out the outcome of your application on 30 January. If you received an offer, you’ll see this in the UCAS hub and will also get an email or letter from the College making the offer.
To find out more about the different types of offers and what to do if you didn’t get an offer, please see the university page about application outcomes. This page also discusses how to request feedback on your application.
To find out more about how Cambridge decides who to give an offer to, please see this page, which explains the pooling system. This system ensures that the best applicants are always offered a place regardless of which College they applied to.
