Physics or Computer Science A level (with Further Maths, Maths & Economics)

[Cratos]

Hi Everyone,
My DS is starting College. He is indecisive about University courses at this stage but he is likely to apply to Economics, Maths or Computer Science degrees.

He chose Maths, Further Maths & Economics A levels.
He would like to do a 4th A level as well but he cannot choose between Computer Science & Physics.

All his GCSEs were 9. (He did Physics, Business & Computer Science GCSEs as well as a Level 2 Further Maths qualification)

Which combination would be easier to get high A level grades and open doors for him in the near future ?

Any experience / advice would be very much appreciated.

Ultimately, he should do the one he enjoys the most and is the best at. However, if he enjoys them equally, I would be tempted to go for physics as most computer science degrees don't require computer science A Level for entry. Physics is a useful subject to help understand a lot of concepts that will help more broadly and will go well with his other subjects, and (depending on the exam board) may also contain coding within the subject.

Hi, OP. Both Physics and CS work well for any of your DS’s proposed degree programmes. The biggest gap is possibly doing CS for an Economics degree, but in fact it is a great adjunct. Physics is intrinsically a slightly more difficult subject, but it fits especially well with Maths and FM - particularly if one specialises in the Mechanics modules. The workload is synergistic.

Also AL CS is not, please forgive my saying so, taught in the theoretical manner one gets in a strong university CS programme. Very able students may find it a bit frustrating. I don’t think DS would have difficulty with it, but there is a certain amount of keeping up that is very important.

What does DS like better? That is the most important thing. He really cannot go wrong

But although I am quite partial to CS you can tell which way I personally lean. (Former Russell Group STEM admissions tutor)

PS Agree with @Welshcake15 that few strong CS programmes require AL CS. Both CS and Physics are recommended subjects, with FM being more important IMO.

Thank you very much for your insight @Welshcake15 and @poetryandwine

Just checked and

His exam board for Physics is AQA - not sure if this is the one that includes Coding.
Computer Science - AQA
Maths - AQA
F.Maths - OCR

He seems to be a little concerned about the Coursework element of Computer Science. He also thinks Physics might be too difficult but lower grade boundaries seem to reflect this.

His favourite subject is Maths. His organisational skills have always been good and we hope that he will continue this way. It is good to hear that there is a synergy element between F.Maths, Maths & Physics.
Is this likely to make the workload of 4 A Levels more manageable ?

@poetryandwine You mentioned Mechanics modules. Do the students get an opportunity to choose the module they want to specialise in ?

Thank you so much

Hi, OP -

The OCR FM exam has, I think, 2 mandatory papers. It also has several optional papers to choose from amongst, and Mechanics is one of these. (I forget how many papers they choose, I would guess 2). That fits very well with Physics AL and the two subjects reinforce each other although the material is not identical.

Your DS is correct about the coursework element of A Level CS! BTW, although it is (much) more interesting, CS as a UG programme probably has the largest coursework element of the disciplines he is considering, FWIW

Best wishes to DS

He will probably need to do admission tests as well especially if he applies to more competitive unis. I guess work experience may make his application stronger too. These will probably take his time too. He just started doing some shifts in a pub. Not sure if this would count.

I don’t know whether UCAS will still be using the Personal Statement for applicants entering uni in 2026 and beyond. If they change it, I hope there will still be a place to indicate employment because I think it worth keeping in mind when trying to form a picture of the applicant.

However for the ultra competitive field of Economics or the very competitive field of CS, ideally DS would find an opportunity to do even unpaid shadowing for a week or two the summer between Y12 and Y13. Maths and Physics are more laid back.

But all the programmes that would require admissions tests, and more beyond these, will want super-curriculars: evidence that DS is pursuing his interest in his field independently.

Is he intrinsically interested in Economics, or is he thinking about Economics because he is interested in a career in Finance? Many strong STEM students attain that career, so the answer to this question is important.

Amongst the disciplines these A Levels will qualify DS for, I hope he will choose the one he likes best and then work at it enthusiastically. That’s the best path to success. Best wishes to him

This information is extremely helpful. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you for attracting our attention to this crucial point. This really helps us understand his interest better. Yes he is interested in a career in Finance. I think he has not yet fully grasped what Economics is but he started reading some books.