You take four papers, including two compulsory Computer Science papers and at least one Mathematics paper.
The compulsory Computer Science papers cover topics including foundations of computer science (taught in ML), Java and object-oriented programming, operating systems, discrete mathematics, algorithms, and digital electronics. The algorithms, ML, Java and digital electronics topics involve laboratory work.
Most students take the Part IA Mathematics paper from Natural Sciences and one from the following:
a third Computer Science paper covering topics including computer graphics, human-machine interaction and machine learning (students not taking this paper in Year 1 must take it in Year 2)
a social psychology paper from the Psychological and Behavioural Sciences course
one of Physics, Chemistry, Evolution and Behaviour, Earth Sciences or Physiology of Organisms from Natural Sciences
Alternatively, you may take the first-year Computer Science papers alongside two of the first-year papers of the Mathematics course. This is known as Computer Science with Mathematics, and some Colleges require applicants who want to take Computer Science with Mathematics in their first year to take STEP Mathematics.
You should indicate which combination you wish to take in your first year i.e. Computer Science, Computer Sciences with Social Psychology, Computer Sciences with Natural Sciences, Computer Science with Mathematics in your Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ).