UCL Computer Science is ranked 1st in England and 2nd in the UK for research power.
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021Based in London – the world’s most AI-driven city – UCL Computer Science is at the heart of innovation.
TechRound
Our research spans the full range from blue-sky exploration, where ideas that shape the future emerge, to applied projects, external partnerships, startups, and spinouts that meet pressing contemporary needs in industry, government, and society.
Our network of collaboration strongly drives our work, focusing our research, magnifying our impact, and deploying our expertise well beyond the scope of traditional academia.
Computer science research is a transformational force.
It opens up worlds of possibilities – from solving the protein folding problem and unlocking the human genome, to acoustic levitation that allows us to control and manipulate solids and even liquids in mid-air without even touching them.
Computational expertise is right at the heart of research across UCL, providing the tools to power progress across dozens of different disciplines. But we don’t stop there – the consequences of our research stretch far beyond our campus.
Our experts are shaping policy at both the national and international level. We’re helping to build a stronger and safer UK technology ecosystem and ensuring (through our work with UNESCO and other global organisations) that computer science is used to benefit people and communities worldwide.
Research themes
Discover the research themes shaping UCL Computer Science, spanning core areas of computing and applied work that tackles real-world challenges in technology, science and society.
Research Groups and Centres
Explore all of UCL Computer Science's research groups and associated centres – world-leading teams driving innovation, real-world impact and collaboration across academia and industry.
Research impact stories
UCL Computer Science delivers real-world impact, advancing innovation and shaping the future across academia, industry and society.
Latest research headlines
UCL and Tech Mahindra to collaborate on joint research in emerging technologies
UCL has announced a new collaboration with Tech Mahindra, a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, to advance joint research in generative AI, quantum computing and next generation digital technologies.
20 Feb 2026
AI model helps speed up diagnosis of brain disorders
A new AI model could help radiologists identify brain abnormalities in MRI scans for neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and brain tumours, in a new study from researchers at UCL and King’s College London.
18 Dec 2025
Humans have ability to detect objects without touching them
The first evidence that humans have the ability to sense objects without direct contact, a form of ‘remote touch’ that birds such as sandpipers have, has been presented in a new study from researchers at UCL and Queen Mary University of London.
12 Nov 2025
Latest department research news
UCL appoints Google DeepMind Academic Fellow to advance multilingual AI research
Dr Atnafu Lambebo Tonja joins the UCL Centre for Artificial Intelligence to develop AI systems and evaluation methods for under-resourced languages, helping make language technologies more inclusive.
31 Mar 2026
UCL Computer Science researchers awarded Google funding for AI and online safety
Three research teams within UCL Information Security and UCLIC have secured Google funding to advance AI-driven malware defence, improve online harm reporting, and strengthen security analysis
05 Feb 2026
UCL Computer Science secures NVIDIA Academic Grant for humanoid robotics research
The research explores how humanoid robots can listen to sound and respond in real time with expressive, whole-body movement.
16 Jan 2026
Partner with UCL Computer Science
Our Strategic Alliances Team (SAT) work closely with industry partners to further our current research and to address new problems and challenges.
Find out morePostgraduate Research
If you are interested in studying an MRes or PhD with us, please see our Study pages for further details.
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