ICT A level - For Computer Science Degree

[rahulm]

Hi,
As my son school does not provide "Computer Science" but provides ICT at secondary school [GCSE only ICT, computer science option is not there]
Also in the A level, only ICT option is available
Please guide me If he can still choose computer science for his Degree.

Someone told me Computer Science at A level is needed to apply for Degree in Computers

He can do computer science with an it a level but he will find it much harder. I would look at 6th form colleges instead

Some courses might stipulate it but many won't. He can have a look at UCAS or uni websites. A level Maths is a typical requirement.

So long as he does something like maths and physics alongside the ICT he should be fine

You need to look at each individual university's entry requirements.

For example, Birmingham ask for A star, A,A with an A in maths.

Manchester is 3x A star, with maths as one of the a levels and science for the others.

Maths seems to be more important, but worth checking each uni individually.

No he won’t need it. Maths or physics is fine or even another stem subject.

Imperial disregards ICT but only requires Maths

www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/courses/computing-department/computing-beng/#entry-requirements

Someone told me Computer Science at A level is needed to apply for Degree in Computers

"Someone" is a notoriously unreliable source. Just like "they" and "the internet". Look at universities' web sites.

Not sure what part of the country or type of university he's interested in, but to pick universities in one conurbation...

University of Warwick - A-star A-star A to include maths
University of Birmingham - A*AA to include maths
Coventry University - BBB to include one from maths, physics, chemistry, further maths, computer science, computing or design technology
University of Aston - BBB no subject requirements
Birmingham City University - BBC/112 UCAS points to include technology, science, maths or computing at A-Level or equivalent
University College Birmingham - BCC-CCC no subject requirements
Newman University - CC/96 UCAS points no subject requirements

I would imagine the nature of the degree will be very different depending on whether it requires maths A-Level

"Someone" is a notoriously unreliable source. Just like "they" and "the internet". Look at universities' web sites.

Sorry, I should have said MumsNet is also an unreliable source. Get your son to look at universities' web sites, or look at computer science courses on UCAS, click on the "UCAS tariff" button and then on "View all entry requirements".

Hello, OP - I am a former STEM admissions tutor in a Russell Group university. My uni is often mentioned here for the excellence of its CS programmes.

Like most CS programmes nationwide, we do not require the CS A level. We require Maths, like most if not all of the top programmes, and encourage Further Maths.

The reason the CS A level is seldom required, at least at Russell Group universities, is that when you begin a CS degree you will be learning the CS from first principles anyway. But it will be presented in a much more sophisticated manner than the CS A level. A good grounding in mathematics is much more important. Honestly, ‘someone’ didn’t know what they were talking about.

DH used to teach CS at A level, and even he would say it's not important for a comp sci degree. Maths is far more useful.

My DC's school provides CS a-level. DC doesn't want to choose CS A-level as the syllabus is similar to the GCSE CS. I checked a few universities and only Imperial put the A-level CS as the recommended subject.

The most useful subject for CompSci by a mile is maths, with further maths if possible.

Since the new spec computer science A level was brought out (2017?) that has been worth having, but isn't AFAIK a requirement

I don't think ICT is particularly desirable (not least as it's a fairly moribund subject)

More use might be psychology (user interface) or physics (qua applied maths and problem solving) but again, these are not requirements.

More useful would be building personal statement with things like the AstroPi competition (if it's running next year) other coding competitions, Smallpeice courses, joining the coding club if there's one nearby etc

Is ICT still available as an A level and GCSE subject, I thought it had been discontinued in the A level reforms? It is therefore likely to be a level 3 BTEC rather than an A level or a level 2 alternative at GCSE.

Cambridge International(?) still do 'ICT' A level, I think?