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Computer Science Reading List

For applicants:

We advise you to read the Computer Science subject page thoroughly.

Many Computer Science with Maths offers include particular grades in STEP examinations. You can find the Examiners' reports for last year and the specification for papers on the STEP website (in the links below).

For offer holders:

Those with offers to study Computer Science should consult the "Preparatory reading and practical preparation page" on the Computer Laboratory website (see the links below). There are further reading suggestions in most cases if you look at the 'syllabus' section for the different Part 1A courses.

There is also a Mathematics workbook which is written primarily for Natural Sciences offer-holders but is also essential for Computer Scientists. This is updated in late July each year and you can see the date on the coversheet.

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For Offer Holders

This section is for students holding an offer to study at King's College, Cambridge. Congratulations...
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Documents for Offer Holders

This page contains links to important documents which form part of the terms of admission...
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About STEP examinations
Preparing to Study Computer Science (Departmental Website)

Recent News

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Inaugural Alan Turing Public Lecture

6 Apr 2017

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Easter Term has arrived and the College gardens are out in full bloom to welcome back our students. 🌷🌻💮 How many different types of flower can you spot? #EasterTerm #CollegeGardens #SpringBlooms #SpringInBloom #CambridgeUniversity
  
📢Calling all current King's students! Want to earn some extra money and gain valuable work experience this summer? Then look no further. Our annual Telephone Fundraising Campaign is back and we're on the look out for 13 enthusiastic King's students to form our calling team. ☎️ Applications are NOW OPEN! So head to external link to find out more and apply before 13 May. #WorkWithUs #Hiring #TelephoneCampaign #TFC2025
 
Nominations are now open for this year's University Sports Awards 🏆 Whether you want to shine a light on an 'unsung hero' or celebrate a King's sporting success, now's your chance! With nine categories to choose from, you can celebrate the breadth of King’s sporting achievements by voting in as many categories as you like 🏅 Nominations are now open with the awards ceremony taking place on 23 June. Fill out the online nomination form at: external link @kcsucambridge @CamUniSport @CambridgeUniversity #CambridgeUniveristy #CollegeSports #CollegeLife #UniversityLife #StudentLife #SportsAwards
  
“I do often think I owe Cambridge everything. I would not have the career I’ve had – or the confidence – if it weren’t for Cambridge.” British comedian and @kings.college alumnus Phil Wang returned to his old room for a chinwag with its current occupant, rugby Blue champ and Economics student, George Bland. They find they have very different approaches to life and interior decoration but they both agree: the rugby field is not so far from the stand-up stage. It's a classic 'My room, your room' in the latest edition of CAM. Tap the link in @cambridgeuniversity's bio for a chuckle. #CambridgeAlumni
 
Wishing everyone a joyful Easter from King’s. 🐇 We recently hosted our annual Easter egg hunts for staff, alumni and their families, with the Easter Bunny making an early appearance! How do you plan to celebrate today? #HappyEaster #EasterEggHunt #EasterCelebration #EasterBunny
  
Ahead of the Easter Festival, the Chapel has been undergoing its own ´Spring cleaning’. ⛪️ Walls and windows received a deep clean whilst the 17th century woodwork in the choir stalls was repaired and restored. To find out more about the project visit:👉external link #WorldHeritageDay #KingsCollegeChapel #SpringClean
 
What advice do you think Phil Wang would give his younger self? 🤔 We asked the @kings.college alumnus the question in the latest edition of CAM, the Cambridge alumni magazine, which is live now. We also showcase the rising stars of Cambridge’s literary scene, explore the joys of a year abroad (anyone used a Soviet telex system?), and learn about hacking photosynthesis from the Zhang Lab at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. And if that's not enough: catch up on the latest University news (including the launch of a new School), solve a brand new puzzle and get into all your favourite regulars. ☕️ Grab a cuppa and tap the link in @cambridgeuniversity's bio for a good read. Image: Cover of CAM by Amy Moss. Portrait of third year @Magdalene College English student, Ahana Banerji. #UniversityOfCambridge #CambridgeUniversity #Cambridge #CambridgeUni
 
Congratulations to the Light Blues on another fantastic clean sweep in this weekend's Boat Races. We're especially proud of @CUBCSquad President, King's alumnus Luca Ferraro (fourth from left), on his third victory in a row!🏆 These wins mark a fourth clean sweep for the Light Blues, in which they have won all six races (Lightweight Men's and Women's Races, Blue Boat Men's and Women's Races, and Reserve Men's and Women's races). This follows previous clean sweeps in 1993, 2018 and 2023. 📸 @row_360 and Nordin Catic #TheBoatRace #WhichBlueAreYou #OxfordCambridgeBoatRace #LightBlue
 
A rare and significant archive of Alan Turing's unpublished papers has found a permanent home at King's. 📜 The papers reveal fascinating details about Turing's 'Delilah' project, which aimed to build a portable voice encoder for short distance military transmissions. The archive was saved thanks to generous philanthropic support from XTX Markets, Friends of the Nation's Libraries, the National Heritage Fund and King's College. Learn more 👉external link @hmgccofficial @NationalHeritageMemorialFund #AlanTuring #TuringArchive @cambridgeuniversity
 
We're sending lots of luck to King's alumnus Luca Ferraro (KC 2021) who will be leading the Light Blues as they take on Oxford in this Sunday's Boat Race. Luca, pictured (in the final photo) third from left in the King's 2022 May Bumps M1 boat, graduated from King's last summer and is currently studying for an MPhil at @Peterhouse_cam alongside his role as President of @CUBCsquad. 📅 - Sunday 13 April 2025 ⏱ - 13.21 79th Women’s Boat Race 13.36 Women’s Reserve Race: Osiris v Blondie 13.51 Men’s Reserve Race: Isis v Goldie 14.21 170th Men’s Boat Race 📺 - @BBC One. For 🌎 check external link #TheBoatRace #WhichBlueAreYou #Rowing #OxfordCambridgeBoatRace @theboatraces #LightBLue 📷1+2: Nordin Catic
  
You may have spotted a new face (and top hat! 🎩) leading our graduation procession last Saturday. Introducing our new Head Porter Ian! Ian took over from Neil at the beginning of January and last Saturday led his very first graduation procession to Senate House - complete with a new hat for the occasion! Ian is no stranger to King's, having worked at the College for over 21 years, most recently as our Deputy Head Porter. Make sure to say hello when you visit the Porters' Lodge! #Graduation #HeadPorter #KingsCollege #UniversityofCambridge #CambridgeUniversity
 
How it started➡️ how its going. 🎓 Congratulations to everyone who graduated last Saturday in glorious sunshine, including the 86 members of the Class of 2018 (who had their second and third years disrupted by Covid) who collected their 'Cambridge MAs'. Keep in touch 👉external link This was also new Head Porter Ian's first time leading the procession to Senate House and he had a very special top hat made especially for the occasion. Stay tuned for a special Q&A with the new Head Porter later this week..... @kcsucambridge @kingscollegeboatclub @kcgusocial #CambridgeGraduation #CambridgeUniversity #GraduationCelebration