oxford computer science and philosophy personal statement

Suggested Subject Resources

Whether you need inspiration for your personal statement, something to think about before your interview or whether you are simply intellectually curious, you might find the suggested reading and resources below useful and entertaining. They are intended to give you an idea of the kind of material you might engage with during a course at Oxford. We've also included links to the University's current research to give you an idea of how academic research can impact upon society. 

Remember, these are only suggestions for further reading, so please don't feel restricted to only reading what we recommend! We have also compiled the best of our cross-curricular digital resources to support learning and exploration in our Digital Resource Hub . 

You can also enjoy an insight into what it's like to study at Oxford by exploring our free podcasts and videos. These include public lectures covering a wide range of subjects, plus teaching resources, interviews with leading academics, and more. You can watch and listen on your computer, or download files via our  podcasts page .

You may also like to have a look at our Medium channel for articles about Oxford research, covering topics from the weirdest plants in the Botanical Garden to how to teach a computer to recognise your cat. 

Archaeology and Anthropology

Suggested reading for Archaeology and Anthropology .

You may also like to take a look at the website Discover Anthropology .

Oxford research: 

• Reconnecting Indigenous Nations with their Material Heritage
• Who Needs Migrant Workers
• Endangered Archaeology video  

Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)

Read the  recommended reading list for Biochemistry. 

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Biology but we encourage you to read New Scientist , National Geographic or any other Biology materials which you find interesting.

• Putting ticks on the map
• Poetry in motion
• Defeating dengue with GM mosquitoes
• The loneliness of the long-distance seabird
• Balancing conservation and commerce in the world’s forests
• The surprising uses of silk
• Bringing back the large blue butterfly - Jeremy Thomas
• Preserving Endangered Trees: A Chilean case study 
• Jatropha Curcas in the Global Race for Biofuels
• Peru's Data Collectors
• Researching the Reef: fish and coral of the Caribbean

Biomedical Sciences

Introductory Reading for Biomedical Sciences .

• Bringing together universities, industry and the NHS to benefit people in the Oxfordshire region and beyond
• Restoring Sight With Gene Therapy
• Cooling babies to save lives
• Innovative genomics
• Helping diabetes sufferers
• Transforming the diagnosis of Tuberculosis
• Mending broken hearts
• The million women study
• Helping the brain to control Parkinson’s
• Combining cultures
• Preventing strokes

Research videos: 

• The TOBY Trial - Cooling Babies  
• Tackling and tracking TB through DNA analysis
• "Bionic eye" trial in Oxford  
• Fighting Arthritis: the development of anti-TNF therapies  
• The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks 

Introductory reading for Chemistry .

You may also like to read Chemistry World magazine , and view other resources from the Royal Society of Chemistry .

• Turning orange into grapefruit
• Fuel cells inspired by nature video
• Chemistry in the garden video

Classical Archaeology and Ancient History

There is no reading list for students applying for Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, as we encourage students to engage with whatever they find interesting about the ancient world. If you are interested in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, this will include the historical and archaeological evidence through which we learn about that world.

As well as visiting your local museum, or other museums, you may wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to historical and archaeological materials, such as the British Museum or Oxford’s own Ashmolean Museum's collection highlights , or the BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome .

There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International.

• Classics for the people
• Endangered archaeology video
• Conserving by copying: 3D Printing Tutankhamun's Tomb video

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from  Ancient Greece  and  Ancient Rome .

Classics and English

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the  British Museum  or the  BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from  Ancient Greece  and  Ancient Rome .

For the English Literature element of the course, we recommend that you read as widely as possible, and think critically about all the texts – literary or not – that you read. Read more about this in our  examples of interview questions . You can find literary resources on our  Great Writers Inspire site . You may also like to look at literary websites and listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's ' In Our Time '.

• Dramatic research
• Making Britain
• Digitising Jane Austen's fiction manuscripts
• On the joy of not rehearsing Shakespeare video

Classics and Modern Languages

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the  British Museum  or the  BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from  Ancient Greece  and  Ancient Rome . There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International. 

Please view the guidance on the FAQs section of the  Modern Languages faculty website  under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages: 

• Modern Greek
• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Writing Brecht, living well

Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading.

You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the  British Museum  or the  BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from  Ancient Greece  and  Ancient Rome .

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

• BA in Arabic
• BA in Sanskrit
• BA in Persian
• BA in Turkish
• Recreating an experience of ancient Egypt
• Helping the UK understand China

Computer Science

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website.

You may also like to look at our GeomLab website which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.

• Securing the internet of the future
• Putting out ‘Digital Wildfires’ before they take hold
• The friendly face of robots
• Safety by design
• Computers at the heart of the matter
• 60 Years of Computer Science
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 1 – the Internet and Policy
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 2 – Trusted Computing
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 3 – The Academic Edge

Computer Science and Philosophy

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website.

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘Philosophy’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘An Invitation to Philosophy’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

Earth Sciences

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Earth Sciences but we encourage you to read New Scientist , National Geographic or any other relevant materials which you find interesting.

• Preserving an exceptional fossil site for future generations
• Understanding oil-rich strata
• Influencing global policy on mercury
• Reducing toxic mercury emissions video
• Tracking Life 40 Degrees South video
• Volcano hunting, Italy to Peru video

Economics and Management

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis, both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘The Economist’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘Economics’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

You can find the Economics reading list and Management reading list  online. 

Oxford research:

• The value of mutuality
• Geometry to the rescue
• Research led to Supreme Court ruling on removal of UK employment tribunal fees video
• The surprising uses of auctions video

Engineering Science

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Engineering Science but we encourage you to read any relevant materials which you find interesting. Here are some online resources you may like to use to test your knowledge:

• Isaac Physics :  this website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
• British Physics Olympiad : this website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
• Next time, education centre : this website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
• I want to study Engineering : this website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
• Brilliant.org : this website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.
• Providing the technology for ‘space refrigerators’
• Improving hospitals’ ‘early warning’ systems
• Data scientists to the rescue
• Driverless cars video
• Delivering drugs better - using sound video

English Language and Literature

English and modern languages.

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the  Modern Languages faculty website  under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages: 

European and Middle Eastern Languages

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How can I prepare myself for the entrance procedure?'. This advice can be applied to both the European and the Middle Eastern elements of the course. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages:

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

Experimental Psychology

Please view the  suggested reading for Experimental Psychology. This document also includes reading suggestions for those interested in the Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics course.

Research videos:

• Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: Using evidence to change policy
• Spread the word
• How people with depression see faces
• From the Minds of Babes: New frontiers in paediatric pain

The following list is suggested as a starting point and is not exhaustive and nor does it mean that you must read these. 

• Barthes, Roland , Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography  (Vintage) 
• Crow, Thomas, The Rise of the Sixties: American and European Art in the Era of Dissent  (Everyman )
• Stallabrass, Julian, Contemporary Art: A Very Short Introductions  (Oxford University Press) 
• Smith, Terry, Contemporary Art: World Currents (Laurence King Publishing)

We strongly encourage all students to attend exhibitions and look at art works as much as possible. Public art galleries like Tate Modern, the Whitechapel, and the Serpentine in London, the Ikon in Birmingham, the Liverpool Tate, the Whitworth in Manchester, the Baltic in Gateshead, the Arnolfini in Bristol, and Tramway in Glasgow are all excellent places to see contemporary art and to find out more about it.

Other excellent resources include:

• the UK-wide exhibition listings
• the online edition of the US journal Artforum  
• the excellent repository of moving image and sound art, called UBU Web

It is also a good idea to look at journals such as:

An indispensable introduction to contemporary issues in Geography is the Royal Geographical Society 'Geographical Magazine'. Reading 'The Economist' is also highly recommended.

• Managing the risk of surface water flooding
• Smartphones become Smart Stones
• The value of a green and pleasant land
• Getting critical
• How changes to inland waters impact regional climates
• Calculating the risks of coastal flooding and cliff erosion
• How global warming is changing tropical forests
• Climate Network
• Avoiding infrastructure failure
• Stopping floods on the cheap: A success story from Yorkshire

The best way to prepare for a History degree is to read the history books which interest you, either related to your school work or ranging beyond it – and be prepared to discuss your views of those books and their arguments.  To find such material, you might want to follow up on references made in your school or college text books, or your History teacher may also be able to recommend particular works for you to read on topics that you find most interesting.

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines: History Today or BBC History , which has weekly podcasts . You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press.

You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives .

Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

• Looking back to understand the recent economic crisis

History (Ancient and Modern)

There is no reading list for students applying for Ancient and Modern History, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any period of history, ancient and/or modern, that they find interesting. (View 'History' above). For the ancient world, you may also wish to explore websites which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or Oxford’s own Ashmolean Museum , the BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time', covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome .

History and Economics

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis, both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘ The Economist ’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘Economics ’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

History and English

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines:  History Today  or  BBC History , which has  weekly podcasts . You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press. You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the  British Museum  or  BBC Radio 4 archives . Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

History and Modern Languages

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the  Modern Languages faculty website  under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages:

History and Politics

Politics is a very wide-ranging subject. In addition to newspapers and weeklies, Jonathan Wolff’s 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy' is recommended; and also, for interesting and up-to-date insights into recent political developments in a number of countries, the series of texts produced by Macmillan publishers at regular intervals called ‘Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics’ .

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines:  History Today  or  BBC History , which has  weekly podcasts . You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press.

You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the  British Museum  or  BBC Radio 4 archives .

History of Art

A reading list for prospective applicants to History of Art can be found on the History of Art departmental website .

You may also find it interesting to explore the following resources:

• BBC Radio 4 'In Our Time' - Culture archive
• BBC Arts coverage

Human Sciences

Introductory reading lists can be found on the Institute of Human Sciences website .

• Who needs migrant workers

We recommend that you start by reading the court reports in broad sheet newspapers.

As the reading lists for the degree course change each year it isn't always advisable to buy text books in advance, but you may find one or more of the books from this list useful when preparing your application Introductory reading for Law . It can be useful to look at the list of law academics on the departmental website and follow the links to their latest publications. All lecturers have their own lists, which change from year to year and include books and journal articles.

You may also like to read the BBC's website Law in Action , and download their podcasts. Other recommendation are the Guardian's law pages and the Counsel magazine .

• Research led to Supreme Court ruling on removal of UK employment tribunal fees
• Tackling Adolescent to Parent Violence
• Research in Westminster: Human Rights law and the treatment of rape victims

Materials Science

There is no set text and students should read widely around the subject. Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Materials Science can be found on the departmental website.

Students may also wish to read the New Scientist magazine which may be available in your school or local library.

Running an internet search on Nanoscience or Nanotechnology will give useful background information in the sciences. Here are some further resources to test your knowledge:

• Isaac Physics :  This website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
• British Physics Olympiad : This website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
• Next time : This website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
• I want to study Engineering : This website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
• Brilliant.org : This website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

Oxford research:  

• A new material for reconstructive surgery

Mathematics

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website .

• Influencing HIV/AIDS policy in India through mathematical modelling
• Helping the ‘Greeks’ to run faster
• Mathematics in the design and manufacture of novel glass products
• Mathematical solutions for industry
• Sharing the beauty of networks video
• A computer model of the heart video

Mathematics and Computer Science

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the  Maths Department website .

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website. You may also like to look at our  GeomLab website  which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.

Mathematics and Philosophy

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics and Philosophy applicants can be found on page 18 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the  Maths Department website .

Mathematics and Statistics

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics and Statistics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the  Maths Department website .

• Statistical expertise in drug discovery

Prospective students for Medicine may like to start by looking at the introductory reading list below. You may also be interested in the Oxford Medical School Gazette, for more information about the Gazette and subscription offers for Sixth Form students please visit  the Medicine website .

Introductory Reading for Medicine

• The TOBY Trial - cooling babies
• "Bionic eye" trial in Oxford
• Fighting Arthritis: the development of anti-TNF therapies
• The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks

Modern Languages

Please view the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can find reading lists on the individual pages for of following languages: 

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages: 

You can also download the  Introductory reading list for Linguistics .

• Improving treatment of speech disorders
• Saving the world’s threatened languages
• Voice analysis for everyone: health monitoring by phone video

Please refer to this recommended reading list for Music .

• Medieval plainsong gets a contemporary makeover
• Composing Opera for Children
• Searching for Schumann video

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

• BA in Arabic
• BA in Chinese
• BA in Japanese
• BA in Persian
• BA in Turkish

Suggested reading lists for BA Egyptology and Near Eastern Studies, BA Hebrew Studies and BA Jewish Studies are currently in development and will hopefully be available in the near future.

Philosophy and Modern Languages

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘ Philosophy ’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘ An Invitation to Philosophy ’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘ Think ’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the  Modern Languages faculty website  under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure' for the Modern Languages element of this course. You of also find reading lists on the individual pages for the following languages: 

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

We always recommend that students read widely around their subject, deepening their knowledge and understanding, to help prepare for their application. Tutors will be looking for evidence of students' academic potential, as well as their commitment and motivation for their course, so will certainly be looking for evidence that a student has really engaged with their subject, and has a passion for studying it. This is particularly important for courses like PPE, as many students will not have studied any of these three subjects at their school or college.

The very best preparation is a reasonable grasp of the workings of the social and political world in which we live. For PPEists, reading newspapers, watching TV and listening to radio news and current affairs programmes are not optional activities – they are crucial to success at the subject. Students should read a good quality daily newspaper, and ‘ The Economist ’ weekly is also highly recommended – this offers unparalleled quantity and quality analysis of current events.

Politics is a very wide-ranging subject. In addition to newspapers and weeklies, Jonathan Wolff’s ' An Introduction to Political Philosophy ' is recommended; and also, for interesting and up-to-date insights into recent political developments in a number of countries, the series of texts produced by Macmillan publishers at regular intervals called ‘ Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics ’.

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis in use both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘ The Economist ’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘ Economics ’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

Oxford research:   

Philosophy and Theology

At present we do not produce a specific Theology reading list for people who are considering making an application, though we always advise prospective candidates to read beyond what they are reading in school and to explore areas that interest them.

• Empires of Faith video

There are many suitable sources for reading. Popular science books are normally readily available at your local library, as are copies of the New Scientist or other scientific periodicals. Anything that takes your interest will be valuable; we have no set reading list.

However, for general preparation prospective candidates can view the suggestions on the Physics department website . We also recommend maths preparation .

There is also lots of information on the internet, on sites such as www.physics.org  or through some of the excellent science blogs. The University of Oxford publishes a science blog and our department also runs a project called Galaxy Zoo which is part of the Zooniverse community of projects , which allows members of the public to contribute to astrophysics research. Large scientific organisations such as CERN and NASA publish a lot of good material online, for example the Astronomy Picture of the Day website . Here are some further resources to test your Physics knowledge:

• Isaac Physics : This website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
• Brilliant.org : This website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

iTunesU can also be a very useful resource, as it has a range of physics content, from public talks to undergraduate lectures, from a variety of reputable sources.

• Near-perfect distance measurement
• Cheaper, smaller, super-resolution
• To the Zooniverse and beyond
• Particle accelerator physics for the masses
• A revolution in solar power technology
• How to be certain of uncertainty in climate and weather forecasts
• How do quantum physicists affect industry? video

Physics and Philosophy

However, for general preparation prospective candidates can view the suggestions on the  Physics department website . We also recommend  maths preparation .

There is also lots of information on the internet, on sites such as  www.physics.org . or through some of the excellent science blogs. The University of Oxford publishes a  science blog  and our department also runs a project called  Galaxy Zoo  which is part of the  Zooniverse  community of projects , which allows members of the public to contribute to astrophysics research. Large scientific organisations such as CERN and NASA publish a lot of good material online, for example the  Astronomy Picture of the Day website . Here are some further resources to test your Physics knowledge:

Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL)

Please follow this link for the suggested reading list for Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics. This document also includes suggested reading for Experimental Psychology.

• Building consensus on Developmental Language Disorder
• Voice analysis for everyone: health monitoring by phone

Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

At present we do not produce a specific Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies reading list for people who are considering making an application, though we always advise prospective candidates to read beyond what they are reading in school and to explore areas that interest them.

Theology and Religion

You may also find it interesting to explore the BBC Radio 4 archives of the ' In Our Time ' program, especially the Religion and Philosophy archives .

• Empires of Faith

Further information

• Wall of Faces
• Undergraduate Admissions on X
• Undergraduate Admissions Instagram

Staircase 12

Staircase 12 is an online hub of resources brought to you by University College . It's full of tips and ideas on how to stretch yourself beyond the school syllabus. So why not check out the  Reading Bank , and Resource Hub , or to find out why all this is important in the first place, check out the ‘Explore your Subject’ top tips page .

The Bookshelf

The Worcester Bookshelf project is all about sharing books that we love about our subjects with you. We suggest books that we love - you tell us what you think of them. Every term we will release a new list of six books that our tutors and academics would like to share with you. If you are in year 10, 11 or 12 at a UK state school and would like to find out more, simply email [email protected] .

Digital Resource Hub

We have compiled the best of our digital resources to support learning and exploration. These resources can help inspire you to think broadly as well as enable you to explore your passions and interests further, and to discover more about Oxford.

Follow us on social media

Follow us on social media to get the most up-to-date application information throughout the year, and to hear from our students.

Computer Science And Philosophy @ St Anne's, Oxford in 2019

Interview format.

MAT; 6x interviews

Interview content

Interview 1: logic questions, personal statement; Interview 2: personal statement, mathematical problem sheets; Interview 3 and 4: pre-reading, extending a question that was asked.

Best preparation

Looking over schoolwork, Algorithmic Puzzles

Test preparation

Practice questions for MAT and STEP, Mr Barton Maths

Final thoughts

Relax and be yourself

Remember this advice isn't official. There is no guarantee it will reflect your experience because university applications can change between years. Check the official Cambridge and Oxford websites for more accurate information on this year's application format and the required tests.

Also, someone else's experience may not reflect your own. Most interviews are more like conversations than tests and like, any conversation, they are quite interactive.

Test taken: Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) Number of interviews: 6 Time between interviews: From 30 minutes to 12 hours. Length of interviews: 20 minutes Online interview: No

My first philosophy interview started with some logic questions that I was given previously, as well as some general discussion about why I wanted to study Philosophy alongside some unpacking of philosophical ideas that I had included in my personal statement. The atmosphere was really comforting, there were two interviewers and they would ask me various different questions. My next two computer science interviews followed very similar structures. We started with a general discussion about my personal statement, and then worked through some very mathematical problem sheets, a lot of which included ideas about mathematical induction. My next two interviews were slightly different. I sat a test, or more like pre-reading in exam conditions, earlier that day - so my interviews (both philosophy and computer science) were essentially based on me going over some of my ideas and thoughts when taking the test, sometimes extending a question that was asked. The computer science assessment was very much algorithmic and mathematical, while the philosophy assessment had a varied range of question - some ethical, some logical and some concerning things like free will.

I mainly focused on covering information from school, surprisingly I found doing homework/mock preparations really useful as I was waiting. For maths/computer science students I really recommend a book called Algorithmic Puzzles.

Practice papers from that test, as well as STEP questions. Mr Barton Maths was good as well.

Relax! And be yourself. I was quite intimidated walking in - especially as I feel that I stood out in comparison to the other applicants. Also never be worried to say what you think, even if it is wrong, the tutors really enjoy looking at your thought process and like seeing you answer questions.

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Oxford Computer Science: Tips & Questions for Interview

In this article, we will guide you on how to best prepare for your  Oxford Computer Science interview , with guides on past Oxford Computer Science questions, interview tips, mock examples and real experiences from students who have sat the Oxford Computer Science panel interview.

This article is an excerpt from a collection of accounts from Oxbridge applicants.

The Oxford website has a useful page with a sample interview transcript which contains many Oxford Computer Science Interview Questions, which may be useful for you to read. 

What is the Oxford Computer Science interview structure?

Each candidate will typically have three interviews. Two of these will be in the college you have chosen (or, in the event you were pooled or made an open application, whichever college is hosting you), the other in a second college, to ensure that all colleges get an even number of applicants to review. Sometimes, you may have another additional interview at a third college. The interviews allow you to showcase your skills over a few opportunities. so if you are nervous in an interview, this will hopefully not impede your chances. Suppose you are applying for a joint degree (such as Mathematics & Computer Science, or Computer Science and Philosophy). In that case, you will either have separate interviews in each subject, or a joint interview with tutors from both subject areas. Sometimes, colleges ask you to complete a pre-interview assessment. This is simply for the interviewer to use and discuss with you in the interview.

What are the Oxford Computer Science interview dates?

The Oxford Computer Science interview dates will occur in the first two weeks of December. After this, someone will inform you about any follow-up interviews, which will occur in the second week of December.

Example Past Questions from Oxford Computer Science Interview

General questions:.

• Why do you wish to study Computer Science at Oxford ?
• What was it about computer science that sparked your interest? 
• What do you know about the course for computer science at Oxford? Someone asked me questions on the syllabus and what I expected to be on it. 
• Someone asked me questions on my personal statement linking to computer science. A current student states that in the interview they were asked 2 different problems relating to topics in their personal statement. These problems continued with lots of follow-up questions, and the tutors asked difficult questions until they could no longer answer. 

Computer Science Interview Scenario Questions:

• Tidying boxes:  10 boxes large enough to contain exactly 10 building blocks, and 100 blocks in 10 different colours. So, how can you pack the blocks into the boxes so that each box contains a maximum of two different colours. (There may not be equal numbers of each colour).
• Lily pads:  There are 11 lily pads, numbered 0 to 11. A frog is sitting on pad 0, and wants to end up on pad 10. Each jump the frog takes moves him forward by one or two places. There are many ways and movement orders to get to pad 10. How many different ways can the frog take?
• Dying by chocolate:  You and your nemesis are locked in a room. There is a table with a bar of chocolate on it. Green paint marks one square of chocolate as a square containing poison. You must take turns breaking off at least one square of chocolate (breaking it off in a line) and eat whatever you break off. If the green square is left, you must eat it and die. You can decide who goes first/second. What’s your strategy?
• Monkey beans:  Inside a box, there are 23 black beans and 34 white beans. A monkey takes two beans out. If these beans are the same colour, the white bean is returned to the box. Otherwise, someone puts a new black bean into the urn. This repeats until there is one bean left. What colour is the last bean?
• Missing number:  You have a list of just fewer than 1,000,000 numbers. These are different and are between 0 and 999,999. What is your strategy to find a number between 0 and 999,999 that isn’t in the initial list?
• Scribble : a game involving word problems. Further information is on the Oxford official website.

Other Computer Science Questions:

• Questions on knowledge of logarithms and exponentials , including graph sketching. Also, in the past, they have asked a series of follow up questions to Computer Science Aptitudes Test the way the candidate could handle new concepts and difficult scenarios.
• Questions on recursions (mathematical or visual based puzzles) and iterations . Within the questions, they asked me to apply concepts in more difficult scenarios. 
• Discussion on binary searches and their efficiency  
• Proofs by induction , and algebraic references linked to summation formulae 
• Question about automation of human roles by technology
• Question on security and how to ensure security between two individuals

The Oxford YouTube channel has a useful walkthrough of interviews:

Insider Guides: Oxford Computer Science Interview

What happens on the day of your oxford computer science interview .

They share a timetable with your initial interview schedule at the beginning of your Oxford Computer Science interview process. This will contain at least three interviews. Additionally, these interviews will be two at your main college and one somewhere else. After the process, someone may inform you of an additional interview. My interviews were in person, but yours will be online. If you are an online interviewee, the admissions tutors send you links to a Microsoft Teams meeting for each of your interviews.

For each of my interviews, two tutors who were interviewing me together introduced themselves. At one college, I had a pre-interview exercise to complete. I had around half an hour to do this, and the tutors used it as a jumping off point for discussion within the interview.

What do you have to bring to your Oxford Computer Science interview?

I didn’t bring anything except for a pen. Also, calculators are not allowed. In terms of dress, I wore what I usually wear every day. This included nothing too unprofessional, but still informal and comfortable.

What is the interview setting and how long is it?

All my interviews were in a small room in the college, with two tutors. Within the interview, It was me on one side of the table, and the two tutors/interviewers sitting on the other side. The interviews all ran from around 30 minutes to an hour.

All of the questions were problem-solving style maths questions. For one college I had a pre-interview test that I had to work through, and then discuss in the interview. For the other they simply gave me new questions on the spot to work through in front of them.

What are the Oxford Computer Science interviewers like? 

My interviewers were all quite friendly. They all seemed to want to help me reach the answers to the questions they were giving me. It felt like a tutorial, rather than simply a straightforward interview.

What questions did they ask you?

They asked many follow up questions. I had a question and I would talk through it as I tried to work it out. If I got stuck, they would give me hints or ask me follow up questions to try and get me to work out the answer myself. Occasionally, they would have to help me to reach the answer to a part of the question, before continuing to the next part. Every question they asked had multiple parts that you could work through. But the interviewer’s questions were quite flexible. Rather than simply moving from one part of the question to another, the follow up questions followed on from what I had said, and how I was working through the question. Although there were a few questions I didn’t finish, we just moved on to a different question rather than sticking to those. The official Oxford website cites that the Oxford Computer Science interview will be like a tutorial, with the candidate often being asked questions to think about beforehand.

What are the best tips for planning my trip for my Oxford Computer Science interview?

You should wear whatever makes you feel comfortable – if this means a great suit, but if it means jeans and a t-shirt that’s ok too! It should also make you feel productive – staying in your pyjama bottoms for your online interview will probably not put you in the right mindset to excel.

Ensure you have your revision notes on hand for those few days, a pen, and maybe a book or something else to help you relax. Also, make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before your interviews!

Are there any academic or challenging Computer Science questions at the Oxford interview?

All of the Oxford Computer Science interview questions were academic and quite challenging. Firstly, they were very similar to the later MAT questions, specifically for computer science applicants. Moreover, they were mathematics-based problem-solving questions, which required knowledge from the first year of maths A-levels.

Are there any personality, work experience or extracurricular based Computer Science questions at the Oxford interview? 

I didn’t get asked questions concerning my interests, extracurriculars, or personal statement. So, apart from cursory questions about how I was doing that day, all were maths questions. The Oxford website cites that whilst interviewers may ask you about extra-curricular activities, admissions tutors will only use these to judge your performance if they help to showcase selection criteria for the specific course you are applying for.

Top Tips for the Oxford Computer Science Interview

• Practice talking through your thought process of MAT style questions  – not just figuring out the answer in silence. Furthermore, they want to know HOW you are reaching the answer! Not just that you can get the right answer.
• Connected to the above, but  practice talking to people about maths and computer science . Importantly, you need to get comfortable explaining yourself in these subject areas.
• Try to  think of it as a tutorial /very small class (with just you and multiple teachers!). This will help you relax and perform better.
• Remember that  it is ok if you forget how to do something  or don’t know how to solve a certain part of the question. Therefore, it is better to tell them so that they can help you move on to the next part, showing that you can learn on the spot and pick up new information. 
• Finally, just  practice maths a lot ! To this end, do more MAT style past papers as this will be the style of question you encounter.
• Don’t stress about questions on non-technical books.  The Oxford website cites that the interview will not focus on non-technical books or news topics. 

Top Tips for the “Why Oxford” interview question

• Research Oxford and think about why you really want to go there – this cannot be simply because it is one of the world’s top universities. Rather, you should find something unique or rare about Oxford that makes you want to study there.
• You must also think about your specific subject. For example, in Computer Science, you should research the various courses on offer , making sure to have a few in mind which you would love to come to Oxford to study.

My Favourite Things about Studying Computer Science at Oxford University

The highlight of my time here was the tutorial system. It is amazing to have these great academics give you one-to-one help in their specialty throughout your degree. It is a great opportunity to learn and grow. As well as this, you get to meet so many other students who are just as brilliant and interested in the subject as you! As well as this, I really enjoyed the range of choice we had in our third year for our finals. Moreover, there was so much freedom to delve deeper into particular areas of Computer Science.

Tips for Preparing for the Oxford Computer Science Interview

• Read books on computer science . It can be useful to do some wider reading on computer science, including books and key advanced research and news topics. 
• Revise your basic knowledge of computer science . Moreover, it can be useful to brush up on your core computer science knowledge before the interview. 
• Do Mock interviews for computer science interview preparation . Practice makes perfect, and thus it is definitely useful to practice mock computer science interviews with a tutor or family member. 
• Make sure you are familiar with any areas of computer science mentioned in your personal statement . They may try to ask questions relating to areas they already know you have learnt about before.

→What is Oxford Computer Science?

Oxford Computer Science is a department within the University of Oxford that focuses on teaching and research in the field of computer science. Moreover, it is one of the leading computer science departments in the world and is known for its world-class faculty and research.

→How can I prepare for an Oxford Computer Science interview?

To  prepare for an Oxford Computer Science interview , it is important to have a strong understanding of the fundamental concepts of computer science, as well as an in-depth knowledge of your specific area of interest. Secondly, you should also be familiar with the research that the department conducts and be prepared to discuss your own research interests.

→What is the interview process for Oxford Computer Science?

The interview process for Oxford Computer Science typically involves two rounds of interviews. The first round is usually conducted remotely and consists of a technical interview and a general interview. After this, the second round is conducted in person and is more focused on your specific research interests and experience.

→What kinds of questions can I expect in an Oxford Computer Science interview?

The questions asked in an Oxford Computer Science interview will vary depending on your area of interest and the faculty member conducting the interview. However, tutors may ask questions about fundamental concepts in computer science, as well as questions about your specific research interests and experience.

→What are some common mistakes that candidates make in Oxford Computer Science interviews?

Common mistakes that candidates make in Oxford Computer Science interviews include not preparing to discuss their research interests in depth. Also, many do not having a strong understanding of fundamental computer science concepts, and not being able to think critically and creatively.

→What resources are available to help me prepare for an Oxford Computer Science interview?

There are many resources available to help you prepare for an Oxford Computer Science interview, including online forums, books, and practice interview questions. Also, you may want to consider reaching out to current students or faculty members within the department for advice and guidance.

→How important is the Oxford Computer Science interview in the admissions process?

The Oxford Computer Science interview is an important part of the admissions process and is used to assess a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and potential. However, it is just one component of the overall application, and tutors will also consider other factors such as academic achievement, research experience, and letters of recommendation.

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Successful Personal Statement For Physics At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Physics applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Physics Course at Oxford is concerned with the study of the universe from the smallest to the largest scale.

Read on to see how this strong Personal Statement covers such a broad range of intricate topics. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

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With our  Oxford Physics Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

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Physics Personal Statement

An incessant curiosity about the laws of the cosmos has always attracted me to the study of physics. I am especially intrigued by theoretical physics and how its concepts are the foundations of all visible reactions one witnesses daily. My fascination with physics has led me to pursue my subject beyond the school curriculum and I have had a range of experiences which have confirmed my desire to study physics at university.

This summer I was selected for the Senior Physics Challenge at Cambridge University which enabled me to experience the level and pace of undergraduate classical mechanics, quantum mechanics and lab-work. In preparation for the course, I studied a quantum mechanics primer and familiarised myself with previously untaught mathematics. During the week, we tackled the Schrodinger equation, square well potential problems, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and learnt new aspects of mathematics such as eigenstates and SHM. The course was demanding thus highly engaging, and this encounter with higher-level physics has made me eager to extend my knowledge of quantum mechanics.

Selected to visit CERN with school on the basis of an essay competition on dark matter and dark energy, I attended lectures on particle physics and saw the LHCb experiment. The highlight of the trip being the coding activity organised by Liverpool University where, using real LHC data of a decaying kaon, we chose cuts to make in the data to improve the efficiency and purity of the signal. Gaining an insight into aspects of the research work undertaken by particle physicists was inspiring. Likewise, at a “Particle Physics Day” at Birmingham University, I had the opportunity to use computer software to identify different particles and collisions in detectors. Last summer, I attended the “Physics Experience Week” organised by Birmingham University that combined lectures, lab-work and a rocket-building session. I was fascinated by an experiment where, collaborating in a team with pupils from different schools, we counted cosmic ray muons using a scintillation detector and took down readings together.

Having chosen to study GCSE Astronomy independently, I learnt to use the Faulkes Telescopes to take photographs of Messier objects in order to determine the ages of 3 planetary nebulae. My interest in space has been enhanced by a 2-week trip to NASA with ‘Space Education Adventures’, visiting the Johnson and Kennedy Space Centres. I was astounded by the immensity of the space projects and their contribution to science and history. A work experience placement in a hospital Medical Physics department demonstrated to me the application of physics in medical diagnostic imaging and the importance of physics research for advances in medicine. The Engineering Education Scheme (year 12) enabled me to work with 3 other girls to design a hypothetical football training academy with engineer mentors from ARUP. We researched and presented a business case and technical plan to a panel of engineers from other companies, gaining the Gold Crest Award in Engineering as well as valuable presentation skills.

In complete contrast, this summer I attended the Joint Association of Classical Teachers’ Greek Summer School. In addition to intensive lessons, we performed Aeschylus’ Agamemnon in the original text; I was cast as Cassandra. This term I am giving a talk on Ancient Greek mathematics at my school’s Classical Society, having researched the topic over the summer. I enjoy performing arts: I belong to the Birmingham Young REP Theatre and I have performed in the Symphony Orchestra, a chamber music group and the Choral Society at school. Balancing academic work with other activities requires organisation and discipline. Physics is a demanding and highly rewarding field. The prospect of an unsolved problem which may not have an immediate answer is captivating. My wish to understand nature and the academic challenge this poses is the reason I aspire to study physics.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

Successful personal statement for economics at cambridge, successful personal statement for land economy at cambridge, successful personal statement for chemistry at oxford, successful personal statement for geography at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at oxford, successful personal statement for law at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at cambridge, successful personal statement for engineering at cambridge, successful personal statement for philosophy at cambridge, successful personal statement for veterinary medicine at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychological and behavioural sciences at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychology at oxford, successful personal statement for history at oxford, successful personal statement for cambridge mathematics and physics, successful personal statement example for computer science at oxford, successful personal statement for english at cambridge, successful personal statement for oxford english language and literature, successful personal statement for medicine at oxford university, successful personal statement for modern languages at oxford, successful personal statement for engineering at oxford, successful personal statement for natural sciences (biological) at cambridge, successful personal statement for economics & management at oxford, successful personal statement for ppe at oxford, successful personal statement for law at cambridge, successful personal statement for dentistry at king’s college london, successful personal statement for medicine at cambridge.

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is a very well written, structured and excellent statement. The student has a clear motivation for physics and has achieved many things through extra hard work. The statement is easy to read, and the student describes their achievements yet does not brag. All points and experiences are expanded on and clearly explained. The final paragraph adds individuality to the statement, and all non-physics related interests are kept within this paragraph which is very good.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student uses the word ‘I’ a lot. Whilst it is important to emphasise personal achievements, using the same words over and over again makes the statement sound repetitive. The student mentions learning mathematics beyond the A-level syllabus prior to the Senior Physics Challenge at Cambridge University, however, does not expand on what this involved. The student has missed an opportunity to describe how they gained mathematical skills independently. The student does this again by failing to describe what they learned through writing their essay on dark matter. A sentence on each of these points would have added yet more value to this excellent statement.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

This is an excellent statement. It is easy to read, well-structured and the student comes across as a very likeable individual.

This Personal Statement for Physics is a great example of a well written and effectively-structured Statement. The candidate’s interest and achievements are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

There are plenty more successful personal statements and expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford Physics application.

With our  Oxford Physics Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , score highly on the PAT and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

Discover our  Oxford Physics Premium Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

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Mathematics and computer science personal statement example.

When asked why I like Mathematics, I realised that it is all down to my personality. Being a composed, explicit person, I enjoy the challenge of questions with unequivocal answers.

My character’s orderly side draws me enthusiastically towards neat solutions, my creativity gives rise to my acceptance of new ideas and my positive mind results in my wish to succeed.

All questions have definite answers; we just need to construct ways of reaching them.

Mathematics at AS Level opened my mind to several new areas of algebra, sequences and series, and functions. I keenly welcomed the new techniques and enjoyed all aspects of the course.

Some of my favourite areas, however, were trigonometry and calculus; it was fascinating to see how trigonometric functions come together in a few simple identities!

Being new to the methods of differentiation and integration, I spent extra time going over examples, which soon became clear in my mind. I look forward to investigating these topics further in the A2 modules.

In addition to retaining a strong interest in Mathematics, my fascination for computers has grown. Nevertheless, I was unsure of whether or not I wanted to pursue a joint honours course of Mathematics with Computer Science, or a single degree course of Mathematics.

My decision to apply for the joint course was confirmed after I attended a number of Computer Science Summer School courses in London.

Joining Dubai College has given me the chance to explore new horizons. Responsibilities, such as being a prefect and Year 7 liaison, have made me realise our importance in the school as sixth formers.

I am currently in the process of completing my Duke of Edinburgh Gold award, for which I successfully finished an 80km expedition through the mountains of Mauritius. I will never forget the feelings of pure enjoyment and adventure; it was truly a challenging experience!

Although A Levels take up a great deal of time, I manage to maintain personal fitness by horse riding daily. I routinely enter dressage and show jumping competitions throughout the U.A.E., where I frequently achieve a medal place. Riding horses brings on a sense of freedom and allows me socialise out of school.

I have also obtained an understanding of what it is like to work amongst a large group of people through working in various companies around Dubai.

These included Barclays Bank, Prolab Digital and Palms Nursery. I particularly benefited from my experience at Barclays, as it introduced me to many fields, such as trading, accountancy and exchange, and taught me to appreciate the evident need for teamwork.

Although I am still unsure of the path I will take after graduating, I know that having a Mathematics and Computing degree will give me many transferable skills.

I am currently investigating a number of regions that appeal to me, which include actuarial science and further postgraduate study.

For now, I intend to approach the future positively and have many exciting thoughts. I hope to encounter new opportunities, make new friends and rise to the challenge of university!

Profile info

This personal statement was written by weirdo for application in 2003.

weirdo's university choices University of Bristol Imperial College London Oxford University The University of Warwick King's College London University College London

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Degree Mathematics and Computer Science at Oxford University

Related Personal Statements

This statement is very good.

Mon, 03/01/2005 - 00:00

this statement is very good and i recon this person would achieve good things in future.. good luck coz

its really good man. cant

Sun, 11/09/2005 - 00:00

its really good man. cant believe you have got so many work experiences thought..ive got none. neway good luck

man absolutely fantastic

Tue, 20/09/2005 - 00:00

man absolutely fantastic couldnt have done better myself good luck chase your dreams.

Brilliant personal statement

Fri, 07/10/2005 - 00:00

it's very good, especially

Mon, 28/08/2006 - 00:00

it's very good, especially the 1st paragraph!

this needs improving

Fri, 06/10/2006 - 17:59

Probably the best first

Wed, 03/10/2007 - 12:42

Probably the best first paragraph I've ever seen mate. No wonder they all wanted you!

that last message was by one

Wed, 10/09/2008 - 09:45

that last message was by one Oliver Sheffield

wow! this is just about

Thu, 11/09/2008 - 20:28

wow! this is just about perfect! Hopefully mine will be as good as this (im in the process of writing one...)

Sat, 31/10/2009 - 17:51

This statement is fake.

the person above should learn

Sat, 09/10/2010 - 11:07

the person above should learn how to spell before they go around swearing at other people.

Got chills just reading the

Wed, 13/10/2010 - 17:09

Got chills just reading the first paragraph

Too many Commas for my liking

Thu, 21/10/2010 - 16:16

Too many Commas for my liking and I don't like the use of exclamation marks in formal writing like this.

Stating that you are unsure about course choice (joint honours vs single) cannot be a good thing IMO. It doesn't demonstrate commitment or certainty about your choice of subject.

Otherwise I quite like it but I'm not an admissions tutor so what do I know.

The thing that stands out

Wed, 23/11/2011 - 06:05

The thing that stands out about this letter is that the applicant rides horses for a hobby; this is a clue to what really lead to their acceptance.

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