u/GSKGalaxy

I am an A-Level student from Malaysia who sat for A2 in the MJ26 session and awaiting results. I am interested in taking Computer Science at Oxbridge/Imperial for the 2027 intake

I noticed that Further Mathematics at A-Level seems to be almost mandatory if it is provided by my school (which it is). However, the A-Level subjects I have taken are Mathematics (9709), Biology (9700), Chemistry (9701) and Physics (9702). This is because when starting A-Levels, I was unsure of the university course I wanted to pursue, and even then I wanted to pursue something like Computation Biology (for which I deemed Biology useful).

For a bit of context, I would be applying to many countries including US, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. UK and Singapore as far as I have heard almost require Further Mathematics for CS. Now, I could try to apply without Further Mathematics and just sit for TMUA, however I am wondering if they would still discard my application just because I do not take FM. In that case, I feel like I am wasting my effort when I can focus on my US application.

Upon enquiry, one Cambridge college suggested I could at least take AS Level (or preferably A Level) FM in the upcoming ON26 session and apply to the universities with my actual grades for the rest and predicted grade for FM. My friend suggested that this would be too tedious and I should just focus on the US instead. But a few other colleges said a really impressive TMUA score MIGHT still put me with the competition, though they still prefer a candidate who has taken FM.

I am really confused now and a bit let down. I wish I can go back and take FM instead of Bio for A Levels but it's too late. If anyone can give me any insight it would be greatly helpful.

I have listed my grades just in case it helps you give a bit more context about the student I am.

IGCSE: 9A* in subjects including First Language English, Mathematics (Extended), Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, ICT and Business Studies.

A-Levels: Predicted 4A* in subjects including Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

For the 2026 Intake, I was accepted into Carnegie Mellon University for Computer Science so I would say my super-curriculars for CS are above average. Though I am unsure how much consideration Oxbridge/Imperial give for this.

TLDR: I want to apply to Oxbridge/Imperial being an international applicant and unsure if the lack of Further Mathematics in my A-Level subject combination will really ruin my chances and, hence, is it worth applying if I do not have FM.

I am an A-Level student from Malaysia who sat for A2 in the MJ26 session and awaiting results. I am interested in taking Computer Science at Oxbridge/Imperial for the 2027 intake

I noticed that Further Mathematics at A-Level seems to be almost mandatory if it is provided by my school (which it is). However, the A-Level subjects I have taken are Mathematics (9709), Biology (9700), Chemistry (9701) and Physics (9702). This is because when starting A-Levels, I was unsure of the university course I wanted to pursue, and even then I wanted to pursue something like Computation Biology (for which I deemed Biology useful).

For a bit of context, I would be applying to many countries including US, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. UK and Singapore as far as I have heard almost require Further Mathematics for CS. Now, I could try to apply without Further Mathematics and just sit for TMUA, however I am wondering if they would still discard my application just because I do not take FM. In that case, I feel like I am wasting my effort when I can focus on my US application.

Upon enquiry, one Cambridge college suggested I could at least take AS Level (or preferably A Level) FM in the upcoming ON26 session and apply to the universities with my actual grades for the rest and predicted grade for FM. My friend suggested that this would be too tedious and I should just focus on the US instead. But a few other colleges said a really impressive TMUA score MIGHT still put me with the competition, though they still prefer a candidate who has taken FM.

I am really confused now and a bit let down. I wish I can go back and take FM instead of Bio for A Levels but it's too late. If anyone can give me any insight it would be greatly helpful.

I have listed my grades just in case it helps you give a bit more context about the student I am.

IGCSE: 9A* in subjects including First Language English, Mathematics (Extended), Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, ICT and Business Studies.

A-Levels: Predicted 4A* in subjects including Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

For the 2026 Intake, I was accepted into Carnegie Mellon University for Computer Science so I would say my super-curriculars for CS are above average. Though I am unsure how much consideration Oxbridge/Imperial give for this.

TLDR: I want to apply to Oxbridge/Imperial being an international applicant and unsure if the lack of Further Mathematics in my A-Level subject combination will really ruin my chances and, hence, is it worth applying if I do not have FM.

I am an A-Level student from Malaysia who sat for A2 in the MJ26 session and awaiting results. I am interested in taking Computer Science at Oxbridge/Imperial for the 2027 intake

I noticed that Further Mathematics at A-Level seems to be almost mandatory if it is provided by my school (which it is). However, the A-Level subjects I have taken are Mathematics (9709), Biology (9700), Chemistry (9701) and Physics (9702). This is because when starting A-Levels, I was unsure of the university course I wanted to pursue, and even then I wanted to pursue something like Computation Biology (for which I deemed Biology useful).

For a bit of context, I would be applying to many countries including US, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. UK and Singapore as far as I have heard almost require Further Mathematics for CS. Now, I could try to apply without Further Mathematics and just sit for TMUA, however I am wondering if they would still discard my application just because I do not take FM. In that case, I feel like I am wasting my effort when I can focus on my US application.

Upon enquiry, one Cambridge college suggested I could at least take AS Level (or preferably A Level) FM in the upcoming ON26 session and apply to the universities with my actual grades for the rest and predicted grade for FM. My friend suggested that this would be too tedious and I should just focus on the US instead. But a few other colleges said a really impressive TMUA score MIGHT still put me with the competition, though they still prefer a candidate who has taken FM.

I am really confused now and a bit let down. I wish I can go back and take FM instead of Bio for A Levels but it's too late. If anyone can give me any insight it would be greatly helpful.

I have listed my grades just in case it helps you give a bit more context about the student I am.

IGCSE: 9A* in subjects including First Language English, Mathematics (Extended), Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, ICT and Business Studies.

A-Levels: Predicted 4A* in subjects including Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

For the 2026 Intake, I was accepted into Carnegie Mellon University for Computer Science so I would say my super-curriculars for CS are above average. Though I am unsure how much consideration Oxbridge/Imperial give for this.

TLDR: I want to apply to Oxbridge/Imperial being an international applicant and unsure if the lack of Further Mathematics in my A-Level subject combination will really ruin my chances and, hence, is it worth applying if I do not have FM.