Computer Laboratory > Teaching > Course material 2007–08 > Diploma in Computer Science Syllabus and Booklist 2007-2008 > Requirements for admission

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Requirements for admission

Candidates for admission are normally required to have a good honours degree in a scientific subject; it would be usual for that subject to be Mathematics, Engineering or Natural Sciences although applicants from other disciplines will be considered. Knowledge of mathematics to at least A-level standard is assumed. Candidates for admission will be asked to produce a short statement explaining why they are interested in the course and what they hope to achieve by doing it.

In the last two weeks of July the Computer Laboratory runs a 10-day programming course. Diploma candidates ordinarily attend a repeat of this course in October but those candidates who are able to attend the July course are urged to consider doing so.

For those without previous practical experience in programming, attendance at this course is almost essential but even those with considerable experience have found it most helpful to learn a new programming language and become familiar with a new environment without the pressures of attending numerous other courses at the same time. In some cases the July course may be used in a probationary manner to assess the aptitude of an intending candidate, before completing the admission arrangements for the Diploma course itself.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which formerly made a number of studentships available for this course, no longer does so. Cambridge home students currently in their third year of undergraduate studies who wish to continue to be eligible for support from public funds (in the form of student loans and means-tested fee support) and who are interested in the Diploma course may like to consider Computer Science Part II (General) which is essentially the written papers of the Diploma but not the dissertation. This course, like the Diploma, is intended for those who have not taken Part IB of the Computer Science Tripos. Information about the Part II (General) syllabus is given elsewhere.

Applications for admission, together with the short personal statement referred to above, must be received by 31 March. Application forms and copies of the University of Cambridge Graduate Studies Prospectus may be obtained from The Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies, 4 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RZ (telephone: +44 1223 332200). The prospectus can be seen at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/gsprospectus/


next up previous contents
Next: The curriculum Up: Introduction Previous: The Diploma course   Contents