Research at UCL Computer Science
The UCL Department of Computer Science is a global leader in experimental computer science research. We are concerned with real-world data and observations about computer and software systems and their use. Our shared experimental orientation, emphasises measurement, methodological rigour and reproducibility. This binds together our research, determines our strategy, recruitment policy, directs our investment, and underpins our research education.
Research Excellence
The Research Excellent Framework (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutes. In the most recent REF evalution:
- The department of Computer Science at UCL was ranked first for research in the UK
- 96% of research submitted was rated internationally excellent
- 61% of research submitted was rated world leading
Alan Turing Institute
UCL is one of five academic partners for the new Alan Turing Institute for Data Science.
The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute is named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in theoretical and applied mathematics, engineering and computing is considered to have laid the foundations for modern-day data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute’s goals are to undertake world-class research in data science and artificial intelligence, apply its research to real-world problems, drive economic impact and societal good, lead the training of a new generation of scientists, and shape the public conversation around data.
Research Groups
Research Groups are strong, broad-based, disciplinary teams associated with laboratories. These groups are formally established and constitute the focus for strategic development within the department.
Research Students
UCL Computer Science supports a large, active postgraduate community studying on both research and taught programmes. Please follow the links below for information on these programmes:
- EngD Programme in Virtual Environments Imaging and Visualisation
- PhD programmes
- UK PhD Centre in Financial Computing
- UCL SECReT
- Pages for current PhD and MPhil students
Research Centres
Research Centres are large scale interdisciplinary teams established by UCL or across institutions. Research Centres are an important way in which UCL takes advantage of its broad disciplinary strengths.
- Bloomsbury Centre for Bioinformatics
- Centre for Computational Statistics & Machine Learning (CSML)
- Centre for Digital Humanities
- Centre for Inverse Problems
- Centre for Mathematics, Physics and Engineering in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology (CoMPLEX)
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC)
- Centre for Research on Evolution Search and Testing (CREST)
- London Centre for Nanotechnology
- UCL Centre for Artificial Intelligence
- UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC)
- UCL Quantum Technologies
- UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies
Interest Groups
Interest Groups are informal groupings that come together to explore new subjects, extend the range of research or bring together different strands of computer science. Such teams reflect our dynamic research culture and are the seeds from which new Research Groups can grow.
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