Posted: 28th January 2011

New degree in Computer Science and Philosophy announced. The initial cohort will start in October 2012 – appropriately, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alan Turing.

Why Computer Science and Philosophy? First, because there are fascinating areas – most obviously artificial intelligence, information ethics, logic, robotics and virtual reality – where the two disciplines meet in fruitful ways. But there are also many others, since they share a broad focus on the representation of information and rational inference, embracing common interests in algorithms, cognition, intelligence, language, models, proof, and verification.

Secondly, graduates of this degree will have very highly marketable skills. Computer Science teaches students how to program computers, and how to design processes that are effective and efficient. Philosophy teaches how to analyse complex concepts and the interconnections between them and – crucially – how to express this analysis, elegantly and precisely, in written form. They will have the intellectual equipment needed for technical leadership and high-level positions in today's highly complex world.

Computer Science and Philosophy is a three or four year course, leading either to a BA or a Masters degree.  The standard conditional offer will be A*AA at A Level including an A* in Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Computing and including at least an A in Maths. (Or equivalents.)   Students do not need to have previously studied either Computer Science or Philosophy.

The following colleges have confirmed that they will be accepting students for the Computer Science and Philosophy degree: Balliol College, Hertford College, New College, Oriel College, St Catherine's College, St Hugh's College, St John's College, University College.

Further information can be found at: http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/admissions/ugrad/Computer_Science_and_Philosophy  

We are holding a taster day for interested Sixth Form students on March 14th – see http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/CSPhiloday/