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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

DS computer science and maths A level dilema

39 replies

mamapama · 07/10/2021 20:05

My DS is looking at A level choices and is really interested in Computer Science and has keen interest in programming, he is not so interested in doing Maths at Alevel, would this limit his choices going forward to university if he does not do maths A level? As he is thinking about computer science at uni.

OP posts:
jonjoy · 07/10/2021 22:04

We had exactly the same dilemma with my DS. Heart set on comp sc at uni so we went through all the uni course requirements and listed those that definitely did want maths A level and those that didn't specify. In the end he chose comp sc, maths and physics A levels to keep his options open. He's currently Y13 and has had to work hard at maths but has a good predicted now. You also need to look through the individual uni course modules as we found some degrees that are very heavy maths and some that aren't so much. Also we found that software engineering courses appeared to be less maths focussed but he definitely wants comp sci rather than SEng.

Blubells · 08/10/2021 07:52

Yes Maths (and ideally Further Maths) are very useful for a Computer Science degree.

Blubells · 08/10/2021 07:54

I would recommend he looks at the detailed entry requirements of different Computer Science degrees.

Upsielazy · 08/10/2021 07:56

Yes it would limit his choices, he could still apply for some universities, but if he wants to be able to choose based on where he wants to go etc rather than just where will accept no maths, it's very useful. It also allows some flexibility, if he wanted to do a degree as sponsored by an employer most ask for maths.

stubiff · 08/10/2021 09:15

I do find the number of 'would not taking X subject limit choices' threads worrying.

OP, you (or him ideally) need to look at the entry requirements for some Computer Science degree courses.
I start at York as I live near there!
If one looks too high (e.g. requires A* at A-level) and he's predicted 6's at GCSE) then move further down the list (can use the CUG Uni rankings list, but note there won't be a completely linear link between required grades and position in the list).

York (18th on CUG), for example, requires 'AAA including Mathematics'.
Kent (50th on CUG), for example, requires 'AAB-BBB' but doesn't mention subjects.

Generally, those requiring higher grades will probably require Maths.

DoctorDonna20 · 08/10/2021 18:02

Not all CompSci degrees require maths Alevel but a lot do. If he dislikes maths he really does need to read in detail about each uni's course as there's usually a lot of maths, hence the requirement. He also needs to be aware that programming is usually only a small part of the course.

If he's more practically minded an apprenticeship may be more suitable than a degree and most don't insist on Alevel maths.

Original poster
mamapama · 08/10/2021 23:37

Thank you all for your replies, I will get him to look at detailed course requirements at various universities.

OP posts:
ChloeDecker · 09/10/2021 00:22

Hi OP. There are plenty of universities who don’t require maths A Level.
Oxford don’t require it. Neither do the Russell Group universities Kings College and Queen Marys off the top of my head.
If he then goes down the joint degree route, Manchester uni, Bath, Exeter and Warwick have joint degrees with computer science that don’t require a Maths A Level.
Then you have Sussex, Loughborough, Kent, Leeds, Brighton, UWE, and so on who all don’t require Maths A Level.
As more Sixth Forms and colleges offer Computer Science A Level when they didn’t before, more universities are not using Maths as a particular A Level requirement.
If he doesn’t want to do maths A Level and the chance of a high grade is lower, I wouldn’t worry about him taking it.

PlanDeRaccordement · 09/10/2021 00:30

There are plenty of universities who don’t require maths A Level.
Oxford don’t require it

Er, yes they do. A level maths is listed as essential to study computer science at Oxford University
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/computer-science

So OP my advice is don’t trust any posters memory, go to the university webpages and check yourself.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2021 00:35

Maths is much more widely useful.

Also v useful if doing computer science.

What other subjects is he thinking for degree?

In the end if he loves computing and is meh about maths then do computing. He will enjoy it, and be more likely to really apply himself revise etc.

If it's a narrow preference and he's not decided on degree then I'd leave it up to him having talked about the pros and cons.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2021 00:38

I looked at the syllabus quickly.

A lot of data things. Database structures etc etc.

That's very different to coding does that interest him as well?

Also if he has a keen interest in coding anyway. He can learn / progress with the common languages at home like he is already. And do maths. Then he'll be in a really good position if he does computing at uni.

ChloeDecker · 09/10/2021 07:51

Data things and Data Structures are ‘coding’ through and covered completely in the Computer Science A Level, programming and the theory of arrays/lists, dictionaries, stacks/queues, A* algorithms, graphs etc. Programming using SQL is also covered.
The Computer Science A Level is pretty much most universities’ first year syllabus, so he would be well prepared.

ChloeDecker · 09/10/2021 07:52

@PlanDeRaccordement

*There are plenty of universities who don’t require maths A Level. Oxford don’t require it*

Er, yes they do. A level maths is listed as essential to study computer science at Oxford University
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/computer-science

So OP my advice is don’t trust any posters memory, go to the university webpages and check yourself.

You might want to re-read that Plan. Your link says ‘Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Computer Science’
ChloeDecker · 09/10/2021 07:54

(I had two of my A Level students gain places at Oxford colleges this summer with no Maths A Level)

Blubells · 09/10/2021 08:07

You definitely need Maths A level for a Computer Science degree at Oxford.

Blubells · 09/10/2021 08:08

And Further Maths is highly recommend.

ragged · 09/10/2021 08:16

There are still a lot of computing/BSc courses (or other after-A-level options) that don't require math.
Don't do math if he dislikes it so much that he'll get a bad grade.

Yummypumpkin · 09/10/2021 08:21

You need to think beyond getting accepted onto a uni course. To do well in the course and to be able to access the best jobs, he will need strong maths. I'd encourage him to keep up with his maths...even if he thinks a full a level is beyond him explore options like getting a tutor, or taking a different maths qualification, or taking online maths courses because he won't be able to avoid probability, logistic regression, equations etc etc

MarchingFrogs · 09/10/2021 08:41

Your link says 'Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Computer Science'

That is in the Overview, but if you expand the Admission requirements tab, the first sentence reads:

A, A, A including* at least an A in Mathematics, with the A* in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Computing/Computer Science.

Also the reference to BTEC / T levels also includes the information that the requurement for A level Maths still stands.

PlanDeRaccordement · 09/10/2021 08:42

@ChloeDecker
I think you need to re-read it.

It says AAA are the grades needed with the A in Maths, Further Maths or Computer Science. This is just talking about where the A* can be to be eligible to apply.

However, on the right, they have a red dot to indicate which A levels are essential and an orange dot to indicate which A levels are recommended. The red dot says Maths, and the orange one Further Maths.

So, this means you HAVE to have A level Maths to apply to Computer Science at Oxford. That A level Further Maths is recommended. It is Computer Science that is not required.

MarchingFrogs · 09/10/2021 08:42

Was going to add, so a little misleading, to have the first thing you see not actually giving the complete picture...

PlanDeRaccordement · 09/10/2021 08:47

@ChloeDecker

(I had two of my A Level students gain places at Oxford colleges this summer with no Maths A Level)
Cannot have been for Computer Science though. I’d double check what course they are on.
Blubells · 09/10/2021 08:48

@ChloeDecker

(I had two of my A Level students gain places at Oxford colleges this summer with no Maths A Level)
For which degree? Computer Science?
PlanDeRaccordement · 09/10/2021 08:54

@MarchingFrogs

Was going to add, so a little misleading, to have the first thing you see not actually giving the complete picture...
Oh yes, and there is no one consistent way that U.K. universities display their eligibility criteria. It can be frustrating! Especially for me as English is not my first language. But one of my DC had heart set on studying in UK, so I joined MN to keep my English up and get good advice. :)
ChloeDecker · 09/10/2021 09:13

Your links also say ‘normally’, even at the top of the second one. One of the students was straight Computer Science and the other Computer Science with Philosophy. Neither had Maths A Level. They did of course, pass the MAT. My students were also from disadvantaged backgrounds, which may have also played a part but they did get places.

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