Which A Levels for Computer Science degree eventually?

If your DC is sure about Computer Science, has he considered a degree apprenticeship. In tech careers experience as well as a relevant degree will get you ahead. Have a look at Birmingham's offer to get an idea, plus zero tuition fees.

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/computer-science/computer-science-pwc#:~:text=The%20apprenticeship%20programme%20starts%20in,work%20at%20the%20same%20time.

@ErrolTheDragon Yes, there are increasingly more courses that acknowledge the overlap between engineering and CS, and to a lesser extent, design.

She likes the look of the Design Engineering (MEng) at Imperial as one option but she’s only in Y10 now. Having to nail down A-level choices though as she’s considering moving to a different sixth form and they need to know if and when she decides to register.

I mean, even washing machines are WiFi enabled these days 😂😂😂😂

I just refreshed my memory - they have it configured as the School of Electronics and Computer Science. Might be interesting to @DibbleDooDah 's DD?

When I applied for comp sci years ago I found that not all Universities needed maths. The ones that did seemed to be more hardware based.

As poster above says, Southampton has more engineering/ hardware overlap iirc (Ds had an offer from there too but less his space)

Ds is studying joint comp sci and maths, but applied for straight comp sci everywhere except where he ended up! He did maths, comp sci and physiology: further maths wasn’t an option given his choices although he did look at it. He got interviewed and pooled for Cambridge without the further maths, although didn’t get a final offe, although in retrospect he would have loved further maths. His uni course covered further maths A level content in his first term, which was fairly full on! It is (as I’m sure you’ve realised) a very competitive course. I’d also suggest he thinks about whether he is more interested in a more theoretical/maths based course or a more practical course that covers more practical content.

Southampton is in a strange situation.Some courses have come out as very highly rated, just below Oxbridge (or even top in the country). Presumably because of good research? or good teaching?

Probably both for CS and engineering. When my DD was going to open days for electronic engineering, Southampton did their EEE together with the CS (not sure if they have some overlap in hardware development there?) - it all seemed very good, and a nice atmosphere. If she'd not got an offer from Cambridge she'd definitely have gone there.

Maths is essential, Computer Science is not.

However if he wants to keep music as an option that is also pretty essential

If he can only do 3 subjects (lots of schools offer FM as a 4th A level) then why doesn’t he do Maths, Further Maths & Music.

Southampton is typically asking for A star A A for CS for 2024 entry, so it depends on your definition of undemanding. Warwick is typically A star A star A, as is Bath for 2024 (was A star A A for 2023).

Personally I think Southampton is generally underrated, and it performs well for CS in various rankings (Complete Uni, Times, TES, QS etc).

But if your son is aiming at COWI then he will need FM for CS. Imperial, for instance, recommends FM, CS and physics in addition to maths, and Warwick pretty much expects FM.

Dd is going to do a degree in computer science and her A levels are maths, further maths and computer science. No universities ask for computer science A level but I have heard some like it. Another option would be maths, further maths and physics. Your son could start off with maths, further maths, computer science and music and then drop one if necessary when he sees how he gets on.

You don't need physics for a computer science degree but I think some do it to keep their options open eg if decide to do engineering instead.

As he's kangaroo-ing, the I think maths/FM and 2 further of his choice (assuming school will allow 2x maths plus 2 others.

If he might be thinking of Oxbridge or the other high tariff courses the FM will be expected unless it's not offered by the school. And someone who can kangaroo should be up to it. And it's worth having because those courses are very mathsy and although they will cover the FM ground it's typically done at a very fast rate, and those who are learning rather than re-capping will have quite a different experience in their first term

Music is fine as the final choice, and I think it's good for sixth formers to study a subject because they love it, rather than everything being utilitarian means to an end

Is he likely to get a 8/9 in maths GCSE? If not, I wouldn't consider further maths. I think the tutor you spoke to is right in that it's a double edged sword. If you take it and get e.g. a D, it won't help you.

I would also consider whether he could start further maths alongside his other A-levels, and drop it if it becomes too much. Some sixth forms may be more supportive of this than others.

He will have lots of options for CompSci, even without further maths, and I don't believe it's a degree where going to a "top" uni necessarily makes you lots more employable.

My DD is currently deciding on A-levels but can’t decide whether to do CS or engineering for university. She has settled on maths, Further maths, DT and physics.

She can do CS at pretty much any university with just the two maths and no CS at A-level. She can’t do engineering without physics though. She is also going to do an EPQ on “something CS based”. Most universities actually don’t have CS at A-level as a requirement.

For CS at the top universities, if your school offers FM at A-level then they expect you to take it.

FM is certainly helpful but not essential for some RG uni CS courses. Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Exeter etc don’t require FM (and I’d certainly advise your son to have a good look at the Southampton courses).

Bath (popular course) wants A levels in CS and / or FM, Lancaster might also be a good back up as lower grades, doesn’t need FM and likes CS at A level.

Would school offer FM to AS level? That would give him a good grounding.

He could also boost his applications by learning coding - Python would be a good place to start.

(I’ll add that my DC has had offers from a good range of RG unis with CS, Maths and Physics at A level and FM at AS level).

Maths teacher here. For comp sci degrees, ideally a student will have done both maths and further maths at A-level. Good universities will make allowances if a student was at a school which does not offer further maths, but this is not your case. So a good university would priorities students with further maths over your son if he chose not to take it.

Less prestigious universities are more relaxed about further maths.

For other A-level choices, comp sci is helpful, but not strictly required at lots of universities. No need at all to take physics (and students with physics are not prioritised over those with music, provided he does maths and further maths).

DS did Computer Science, Economics, Maths, Higher Maths. Later dropped Economics.

I would presume that would be the min/max offer.

I know a remarkable young person who is currently studying Computer Science at Oxford who did A level Music. But also with Maths, FM, Physics and CS. And achieved 5A*s.

The best thing is to book onto a few Uni Open Days for this June/July, talk to the department staff, see what happens on GCSE results day and then decide.

Could he do four and drop either music or FM if he's struggling?

The tariff points are a guide to the A Level equivalent, ie Warwick asks for 160 which is 3A*s.

Further Maths would be very useful for Computer Science.
If he takes both he is likely to get a higher mark in maths because he's doing so much maths.
University admissions tutors know that further maths is tough and will take account of that and are also likely to prioritise a candidate with further maths over other, all other things being equal.
BUT
He should really want to do it to take further maths.