A level choices · Oxford and Cambridge
Oxford and Cambridge do not treat A level Further Mathematics in one way. For some courses it sits inside the offer, for others it is expected, strongly advised or merely helpful, and the same word, recommended, can mean different things on different pages. This guide is written for families choosing A levels for 2028 entry. Everything cycle-specific in it is the universities' wording for the 2027 application cycle, last verified on 20 October 2026, because neither university has yet published its 2028-entry requirements.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
Taken from the course pages of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge and last verified on 20 October 2026, for the courses named. For a normal 2028-entry application, made in 2027, every statement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change. Courses not named here were not read for this guide: check the course's own page.
Oxford's Mathematics offer is A*A*A with the A*s in Mathematics and Further Mathematics where Further Mathematics is available, and Mathematics and Computer Science words its offer in the same way. Oxford says Further Mathematics is highly recommended for both.
Oxford Computer Science asks for A*AA including A*A in Mathematics and Further Mathematics, in any order, where Further Mathematics is available, and says that if your school offers Further Mathematics A level it expects you to have taken it.
For Engineering Science the A*s must be in Mathematics, Physics or Further Mathematics, and for Physics the A* must be in one of those three. Oxford says Further Mathematics can be helpful for both courses but is not required for admission.
Cambridge lists Further Mathematics to AS or A level, where the school offers it, among the subjects for Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, and says that if your school offers it you should take it. For Mathematics the A level listing is for Further Mathematics at A level only. For Computer Science, Colleges usually require A* in Mathematics and/or Further Mathematics.
After Mathematics and Chemistry, Cambridge asks for a third science or mathematics subject, which can be Biology, Physics or Further Mathematics.
Official sources
Last verified on 20 October 2026 for 2027 entry, on the course pages named above. Where a page gives a range of options or says Colleges differ, that is stated rather than resolved.
The words that matter
The pages use a graded vocabulary, and the grades matter more than the subject name. It is worth reading each course's wording before deciding, rather than relying on a general rule.
Oxford Mathematics and Mathematics and Computer Science put Further Mathematics into the A* part of the offer where it is available. That makes it part of the grades you must achieve, not an extra.
Oxford Computer Science says that if your school offers Further Mathematics A level it expects you to have taken it.
Cambridge says that if your school offers Further Mathematics to AS or A level, you should take it, for Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics. It is advice with a clear direction, though not a stated entry condition for every College.
Oxford Engineering Science and Physics say Further Mathematics can help you complete the course but is not required for admission. The A* can come from Mathematics, Physics or Further Mathematics.
If your school does not offer it
Both universities address this directly, and the answer is not to treat the absence as a closed door.
Where Further Mathematics is not available Oxford gives two alternatives: A*AAa with A* in Mathematics and an a in AS-level Further Mathematics, or A*AA with A* in Mathematics. The same wording appears on the Computer Science and Mathematics and Computer Science pages.
Cambridge asks you to contact your shortlisted Colleges before you apply. For Computer Science it says they will confirm whether you are eligible to apply to their College for the course, so ask the question early and keep the reply.
Cambridge Colleges set their own offers: for Computer Science the page says Colleges usually require A* in Mathematics and/or Further Mathematics, and it lists the Colleges that usually set offers at the minimum offer level. Read the College pages for each College you shortlist.
Choosing between courses
Further Mathematics is a two-year commitment, so the decision usually has to be made before the course choice is settled. A useful order is to list the courses you might apply to, read each one's exact wording, and see which of the four grades above it falls into.
Treat Further Mathematics as part of the plan wherever your school offers it. Read the Oxford and Cambridge Computer Science guides for the full requirements.
Read the course pages for both before you drop or keep Further Mathematics, because the wording differs.
For Oxford Engineering Science and Physics the A*s can come from Mathematics, Physics or Further Mathematics, so the choice of third subject is more open. Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology names Further Mathematics as one of three ways to meet its third-subject rule.
Planning for 2028 entry
Applying for 2028 entry means applying in 2027, under rules neither university has published for that cycle. Each item below carries one of two labels. Last verified for 2027 entry means the university published it for the previous cycle and it may change. Awaiting publication for 2028 entry means it has not yet been published.
The grades, the Further Mathematics expectations and the alternatives where it is not available are the best guide to what to prepare. Neither university has confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Check each course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear, and the Cambridge College pages for College-specific offers.
Decide your A level subjects with the 2027-cycle wording in view, and keep the course choice open as long as your school allows. If your school does not offer Further Mathematics, ask the universities early, as described above.
Support
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge, or with any College. Subject choice and course strategy sit within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor working within one advisory plan. Support is tailored to the student, and no outcome is promised.
Questions
For 2027 entry Oxford's offer was A*A*A with the A*s in Mathematics and Further Mathematics where Further Mathematics is available. If it is not available, Oxford gave two alternatives: A*AAa with A* in Mathematics and an a in AS-level Further Mathematics, or A*AA with A* in Mathematics.
Yes, where your school offers it. Oxford says that if your school offers Further Mathematics A level it expects you to have taken it.
For Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Cambridge says that if your school offers Further Mathematics to AS or A level you should take it. If it is not available, contact your shortlisted Colleges before you apply.
No. Oxford says it can be helpful but is not required for admission. The A* can come from Mathematics, Physics or Further Mathematics.
No. They are the universities' wording for the 2027 application cycle. Neither has yet published its 2028-entry requirements, so check each course page again when they appear.
Students and families
Tell us which courses the student is considering, what their school offers in Mathematics and Further Mathematics, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to plan the subjects.
