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Life in CS

Choose from a range of activities both within CS and in the wider UCL community, to augment your technical education or to meet new people and have a good time

Student testimonies

Life at CS

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Gauri Desai and Deji Ijishakin tell us what it’s like to be a student at UCL Computer Science. Learn about their journeys, interests, key skills, student societies and experiences.

Meet our graduates

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Leandros, Dilan, Adriano, Sadhbha, Andres and Yuxin reflect on their student experience, and told us about the amazing careers they have gone into since graduating.

Hear more from our alumni  


Computer Science Student Ambassador Scheme

Are you enjoying your studies in the Computer Science Department at UCL? Then why not apply for our brand-new Student Ambassador scheme?! All current undergraduate and postgraduate students are eligible to apply, whether you recently started or have been in the Department for a while. Applications for all Computer Science Student Ambassador schemes (2024) are now closed.

Find out more about the scheme


Student societies

There are a number of UCL societies focusing on technology, computing and engineering, which are run by students, for students. You can find a full list of these on the UCL Engineering website.

TechSoc and the Data Science Society organise and deliver a packed programme of TechTalks, hackathons, competitions and socials each term, and work with the Department of Computer Science to help its students make the most of their time at university.

Society presidents and officers are elected each year by students, and the societies’ activities are governed by their constitutions.


Careers in Computer Science

Our graduates are particularly valued as a result of the Department's international status, strong reputation for leading research and numerous links with industry partners. Leavers go on to secure careers in a wide variety of organisations; with global IT consultancies, as IT analysts with City banks, as IT specialists within manufacturing industries, or starting up their own companies. 

Find out where our graduates go on


Bespoke Careers Support

Computer Science students have access to tailored careers support from the Engineering Faculty’s Careers team whilst they are studying at UCL and for 3 years after they graduate.

The team’s experienced Careers Consultants offer one-to-one career coaching, applications advice, practice interviews and support with sourcing internships and graduate roles. Throughout the academic year the team organise a programme of departmental and faculty level careers events with a variety of employers. These events offer students and recent graduates the opportunity to build their professional network, gain insight into a wide range of sectors and understand different company’s recruitment processes.

Find out about careers support


Departmental research internships

The departmental runs a programme of paid research internships during the summer holidays, offering students a chance to try research in a university setting, with one of the department's research teams. 

The project lasts for between eight and ten weeks and can take place between the end of the exam period and the start of the new academic year (by arrangement between student and supervisor). Students will be provided with necessary software and equipment to undertake the work.

Interns are employed and paid in accordance with UCL Internship Policy.


Student prizes

We have a growing number of industry sponsored prizes, awarded to outstanding students every year at graduation. We are grateful to the following sponsors for their ongoing support.

  • IBM: BSc & MEng Computer Science - Best Individual Project Prize
  • SAS: MSc Business Analytics - Best Student Prize
  • BCS: MSc Software Systems Engineering - Best Exam Performance Prize
  • Winton: MSc Computational Statistics & Machine Learning - Best Individual Project & Best Overall Academic Achievement 

 

Helping you settle in when you come to UCL

Here in Computer Science we place great store by providing a supportive environment for our students and one of the ways in which we do this is via our student mentoring scheme. 
If you take up a place with us, you and other first year students will be linked up with a fellow student, known as a Transition Mentor, who can guide you through the transition to university life. Our mentors are second, third, and fourth year students in Computer Science who can draw on their experience of moving to London, getting to grips with their studies, making friends, joining student societies, and much more. 

The inspiring quotes below are from our mentors, who are looking forward to welcoming you to the Department. 

Find out more about UCL’s Transition Mentors scheme at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/academic-support/transition-mentors

Jan

I had a really good transition mentor when I was in my first year. This made me apply to the transition mentor programme in the first place, so that more students could experience what I had.  This year, I have also been a transition mentor and very much enjoyed the role.

I really liked interacting with the students and helping out with any work or enquiries that they had about anything.

I believe that this programme helps students to adapt to university life and I know that they all come from very different backgrounds and thus try to tailor the experience to each of them individually. I would be honoured to be a transition mentor to help new students.

Daniel

Working as a transition mentor last year, I found the experience very rewarding. I had a number of people I was mentoring who were very nervous about coming to university and fitting in. I enjoyed answering their questions and applying what I had learned from my first year at university. I organised activities during the mentor sessions and communicated well with my partner to ensure that every week there was a session that fitted with everyone's timetables, this has given me the necessary skills to organise the 'Meet Your Mentor' session and the social event for first years.

I am familiar with what is required to reduce stress for students in first year. Therefore, I can assist other transition mentors with any issues they have during their sessions. 

Sinead

I know how difficult it is starting university, and specifically computer science. I started computer science with no prior coding experience and still managed to complete and submit work that I was proud of.

My transition mentor really helped me get through some of my tough experiences in UCL and I feel obligated to help people like she helped me. I believe I could really assist students who are struggling with the course and possibly other social aspects in UCL to settle in nicely.

As a non-UK national myself, I also believe I could help international students feel at home in London. I've previously volunteered in a school in Tanzania so I have experience helping and guiding younger students. I volunteered in a club for the elderly and taught elderly people how to use technology. I will be attentive to my peers' needs and would always be available for career and course related advice or just general support.

Rachel

Having been at UCL myself for two years, I can help students with the steep learning curve and transition between school and university and how this is improves when going from 1st year into 2nd year.

I am familiar with the department and can redirect students to the right sources of support. Having come from a non-computer science background, I can support those with less experience at the beginning of the academic year and can provide resources to help them excel.

As an individual, I am very empathic which will allow me to support students without any judgement - we are all here to learn. Having been a technology representative in MedTech society last year and helped organise some of UCL's largest events, as well as leading technical workshops for those with non-technical backgrounds, I can break down complex concepts and work well in a team, allowing students to collaborate.

I will spend the first session doing ice-breakers with my team to create a personal connection between the mentees.

Anonymous

In sixth form, I was part of a combined transitional and academic mentoring program where I collaborated with GCSE and AS-Level students have a smooth transition into A-Level computer science. I have delivered online tutoring to students as part of the Duke of Edinburgh program, achieving the gold award. In both instances, the students became more confident with their studies and their results improved dramatically.

I achieved this by giving meaningful study strategies and advice on how to cope when they are finding the course hard. I will transfer this to the mentoring program at UCL, helping students get off on the right foot.

Outside of mentoring, I take part in an array of societies, including the AI Society and the Technology Society. I strive to support students on which societies to join out of the plethora of distinct societies available. I can also give advice on how to improve their CV, societies being an amazing thing to put on one.

Having lived in London for many years, I am familiar with this vibrant city. I can support those students who have never set foot in London to make sure they are getting the most out of this city, including saving money on public transport and saving money on food. I am an open individual and am more than happy to answer any questions the students may have through any platform, whether this be face-to-face or a quick message. The inbox is always open!

Nimit

I can help make the progression from school to university one that is both seamless and gradual. Having had no programming experience before starting my programme, then to having my own personal projects and flourishing at coursework, I know the difficulty and stress one could face when greeted with the countless students with years of experience they will meet. I will help these students not face as much stress as me, by guiding them not only through their course problems, but with helping them to strive to succeed at UCL, and make the most of the vast opportunities I know there are to be had.

Having been a personal tutor for the past year to both an A- level and GCSE student, I believe I can guide students in a way tailored to each of them, ensuring they grasp whatever the topic may be, or whatever the problem they may have. As well as this, I taught chess for 2 years at my 6th form college- this experience helped me progress my ability to impact a larger group of students.

I believe I made the most of the last 2 terms at UCL. I joined and participated in 7 different societies, as well as different Hackathons. I have a strong grasp on all the different wonders UCL has to offer, and am sure I can guide new students to these wonders too.

Jingyi

After two years of study in UCL, it will be a great chance to meet new friends and share my experience, and advise new students. I volunteered as a teacher for grade 8 students teaching Maths and English and joined many clubs and interest groups at UCL.

One of the junior students in my high school is just ready for university and asked me lots of questions about life at UCL, so I am familiar with things that might concern new students. 

As a computer science student with no experience before, it was hard for me to start writing my first program. But now after two years of training, I am familiar with programming in different languages, and understand what kind of academic support a programmer with no experience needs. I am willing to help at any time and looking forward to meeting new friends!

Sibghah

I am an approachable and compassionate individual. I have experience in listening to other students' concerns and trying to help them. I have good communication skills, which I have built from working in teams. As part of my degree programme, I have had to work in teams and be understanding of the situations of others, and I think that this has further enhanced my communication skills.

It is important to be able to listen to the concerns of other students and convey them to the right people, who will able to deal with those concerns. Throughout my time at UCL, I have picked up valuable tips to help with my degree and I hope to be able to pass these on to new students.

I have taken part in student events such as hackathons and was also part of the UCL Tech Society marketing team. Recently, I have also been taking language lessons. I hope that my involvement with student clubs and societies will help me recommend events to students so that they can settle into UCL.
I hope my experience will allow new students to make the most of their time here, both in academic study and extra-curricular activities.

Anusha

When entering the field of Computer Science at UCL, I had minimal experience and was intimidated by the skilled programmers around. Therefore, I understand the challenges other students may face and how to cope with them. I am a supportive and caring individual.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the past year studying mathematical computation and would like to ensure that the next cohort of students feel the same way. As a transition mentor I will make sure students are comfortable with their course and would be willing to address any problems they may have.

Abhiram

My experience at UCL so far has been nothing but positive. From the high-quality teaching to the warm welcoming people, with so many different nationalities. Being a freshman, University life was difficult, but it was fun and exciting as well. I can help students ease in and have the most enjoyable experience at UCL.  

Coming into the UK from abroad and adjusting to university life has been difficult, but having transition mentors who guided us through the whole process helped us tremendously. I can help new students ease into UCL and give them tips and tricks that I've had to learn throughout the first year to survive in such a competitive environment.  

Having been student council president at my previous school, I am familiar with welcoming new students from all over the world and helping them settle in. As an international student, I will also be able to relate to people from different backgrounds.

In the past year, I have not only engaged in the academic side of things but also the social side of things. I am currently part of four UCL society Committees, and I can help new students gain an insight into the social life at UCL as well.  

As a Maths Comp transition mentor, I can help the niche group of students if they have any queries or need help regarding the course as well, such as module choices.