Computer Science at Oxford

From Computer Science at Oxford

Why study Computer Science and Philosophy together?

Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, virtual reality: fascinating areas where Computer Science and Philosophy meet. But there are also many others, since the two disciplines share a broad focus on the representation of information and rational inference, embracing common interests in algorithms, cognition, intelligence, language, models, proof, and verification. Computer Scientists need to be able to reflect critically and philosophically about these, as they push forward into novel domains. Philosophers need to understand them within a world increasingly shaped by computer technology, in which a whole new range of enquiry has opened up, from the philosophy of AI, artificial life and computation, to the ethics of privacy and intellectual property, to the epistemology of computer models (e.g. of global warming).

Great scientists and Philosophers stand together
in Oxford's Museum of Natural History

Some of the greatest thinkers of the past – including Aristotle, Hobbes, Leibniz, Frege and Turing – dreamed of automating reasoning and what this might achieve; the computer has now made it a reality for those with the necessary skills, providing a wonderful tool for extending our speculation and understanding.

The study of Philosophy develops analytical, critical and logical rigour, and the ability to think through the consequences of novel ideas and speculations. It opens and stretches the mind by considering a wide range of thought and thinkers, on subjects as fundamental as the limits of knowledge, the nature of reality and our place in it, and the basis of morality.

Computer Science is about understanding computer systems at a deep level. Computers and the programs they run are among the most complex products ever created by humans; designing and using them effectively presents immense challenges. Facing these challenges is the aim of Computer Science as a practical discipline.

Although the combination of Computer Science and Philosophy at undergraduate degree level is new to Oxford, it is a well-established blend offered by universities across the globe.

What does the course cover?

This is a three or four year course, leading either to a BA degree after three years, or a Masters degree after four years. Students decide in the summer before their third year whether they are going to stay for one or two more years.

The programme is largely modelled on the Computer Science half of the “Mathematics and Computer Science” programme and the Philosophy half of the “Mathematics and Philosophy” programme. The first year of the degree covers core material in both subjects, including a bridging course studying Alan Turing's pioneering work on computability and artificial intelligence. Later years include a wide range of options, with an emphasis on courses near the interface between the two subjects. The fourth year provides you with the opportunity to study advanced topics and to undertake a more in-depth research project.

Click on the text to find out more about each part of the course:

(The percentages shown reflect the amount of time students will typically spend on each part of the course.)

What skills will I learn?

Graduates of this degree will have highly marketable skills. Computer Science teaches you how to program computers, and how to design processes that are effective and efficient. Philosophy teaches you how to analyse complex concepts and the interconnections between them and - crucially - how to express this analysis, elegantly and precisely, in written form. You will be able to program, to reason logically and formally, to analyse complex issues both technical and discursive, and to write clear and coherent prose. You will have the intellectual equipment needed for technical leadership and high-level positions in today's highly complex world.

Is it the right course for me?

Both Computer Science and Philosophy are intellectually exciting and creative right from the start: in Computer Science, through the design of computer programs, and in Philosophy, through the working out of arguments and systems of thought.

Students who enjoy logical puzzles (such as thinking through paradoxes, or code-breaking) or playing analytical games like chess are likely to enjoy both Computer Science and Philosophy.

So, if you are a student with broad interests and mathematical aptitude, who prefers intellectual exploration and discovery to learning of established theory, this combination might be just what you're looking for.

Why Oxford?

Oxford is easily the top place to study Philosophy outside the USA, ranked second in the world (only just behind New York University) by the influential Philosophical Gourmet report.

The 2010 Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked Oxford as the top place in Europe for Computer Science. (More information about our reputation can be found in the FAQ section.)

Oxford has long pioneered innovative cross-disciplinary degrees in Philosophy, including the very famous Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) programme, then in more recent years combinations with Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Modern Languages, and Theology. Everyone studying undergraduate Philosophy at Oxford is on an interdisciplinary programme.

Oxford Computer Science graduates also have excellent career prospects. A 2010 survey of Oxford Computer Science graduates by the Careers Service showed that showed that 100% had gone on to graduate level jobs or further study. We've seen our graduates become software professionals, computer programmers, enter the finance sector, and embark on academic/research careers. The average annual salary of Computing Laboratory graduates who finished their studies in the 2007/8 academic year was £31,000. (The average across the whole University was £26,100.)

Which colleges are offering the course?

Please see the list of the colleges who have confirmed that they will be accepting students for the Computer Science and Philosophy degree.