Computer Science at Cambridgecreate the future

Our key aims

To give an understanding of fundamental principles that will outlast today’s technologyTo produce graduates who will create the future not merely cope with it

The Course

Part IAPart IA Part IBPart IB Part IIPart II

Programming

Foundations

Mathematics

An option (maths, science, psychology)

Theory

Systems

Hardware & Languages

Mathematics & Applications

Free choice from a wide range of advanced courses

Personalproject

The Course

Part IAPart IA Part IBPart IB Part IIPart II

Programming

Foundations

Mathematics

An option (maths, science, psychology)

Theory

Systems

Hardware & Languages

Mathematics & Applications

Free choice from a wide range of advanced courses

Personalproject

Part IIIPart III

Free choice from a wide range of research courses

Research project

First Year: CS with NST/SPS

Computer Science

Maths from

Natural Science

s

Choice from

NST or SPS

Any one of:Physics

Social PsychologyEvolution & BehaviourGeology

ChemistryPhysiology

It is possible to switch out of CST to any of these subjects in the

second year

First Year: CS with Maths

Computer Science

Half the Maths that a full maths

undergraduate would do

BUT you can’t then do maths in your

second year

Maths from Maths Tripos

First Year: NST CS Option

Computer

Science

Maths from

Natural Science

s

Choice from

NST or SPS

Half the CS a CS undergraduate would

do

It is possible to catch up the other half and switch to CST in the second year, but this

is not the recommended route

Choice from

NST or SPS

Course Content

Maths

Theory

Systems

Applications Programming

Hardware

Course components

12 one-hour lectures per (6-day) week•plus similar time in review

and private study

6 hours of practical work•More detail shortly...

2 or 3 supervisions of one hour each•plus 4 hours of

preparation each

Practical skills

•Hands-on Practicals in electronics and programming (ML, Java)

First Year

•Practicals in hardware design and Java

•Group Project (team work)

Second Year

•Individual Project

Third Year

Employability

The course is designed to give you vital skills whatever you choose to do

Good computer scientists can go on to a multitude of careers: IT, business, politics, finance, science, engineering, education, arts

Graduate employment types

IT Sector

Other

Banking & Investment

Manufacturing

Management Consultancy

Research

Media

Public Service

Teaching

Sought-after graduates

What job shortage?• Our annual Recruitment fair

attracts 50+ companies• Each looking to recruit 3 or 4

graduates• We only have 80 graduates

in total!!Some of the 2009 companies • Google, ARM, Barclays, BT,

MathWorks, RBS, Disney, Citrix, Frontier

Mathematical LaboratoThe Working Environment

The Cambridge phenomenon

Cambridge has developed rapidly over past 25 years New technology and start-up companies Many spin-offs from University research groups IT companies around Cambridge – Silicon Fen 1600 companies in 2000

Prerequisites

At least A*AA grades at A-level• further A-level or AS-levels valuable

Mathematics to A-level• is absolutely essential

Further Mathematics• to AS-level is essential if your

school offers it• to A-level is desirable• AEA or STEP is useful

Computing/CS/IT A-levels

Computer Science• is similar in character to university-level CS• but very few schools offer it so the degree

has to cover the same ground to get everyone up to speed

Computer Studies, Information Technology,…• are quite different in character to university-

level Computer Science• emphasise vocational aspects and are not

particularly relevant to us

Other A-levels

Physical Sciences• Physics, Chemistry, etc.• Very useful and desirable

Also...• Electronics can be useful but isn’t a

pre-requisite

Programming Experience

You DON’T need programming experience• You will be taught programming from the ground up• If you have experience, it might give you a small

advantage initially• Any advantage is gone by the second year

This year...

No experience (39%)

Not much experience (24%)

Some experience (18%)

Quite a lot of experience (14%)

Programming expert (2%)

Visit www.cscubed.org for more details

(and pick up a puzzle today for your chance to

win!)