The Best Computer Science Universities in London
Are you passionate about computers and want to find out about the technology behind them and what they can do? Then computer science could be for you. London is one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative technology hubs that offers countless opportunities to study and work in computer science.
In this guide, we cover why you should study computer science in London and give you our top picks of Computer Science Universities in London.
Why Study Computer Science?
Computer Science is the study of computer hardware and software theory, design, development, and application. Having a computing degree will provide you with the knowledge, problem-solving skills and analytical thinking capabilities that serve as a competitive advantage in your career.
With every industry using computers, computer scientists can pursue any sector they want, however, the most common job roles include IT consultant, database administrator, games developer, media programmer, network engineer, systems analyst, IT trainer and teacher.
A Computer Science degree at a UK University will focus on information theory, programming, algorithms and data structures, software development, web applications and the principles of computer hardware.
Why Study in London?
London has the largest concentration of IT companies in Europe and is at the heart of the global telecoms market. London is home to more than half a million IT professionals, which is why it is perfect for computing students from all over the world. In the academic year 2017/18, computer science was the seventh most popular subject among international students.
London is also home to world-leading research centres, such as UCL’s Al Centre and the Alan Turing Institute. It also hosts major annual tech events including London Tech Week and The Al Summit which gives computer science students the chance to get involved and learn more about their areas of interest directly from the best in the field. Furthermore, hundreds of computer science courses in London are taught by internationally respected lecturers, tutors, and professors.
The Best Computer Science Universities in London
Many universities in London offer computer science courses, and to help you pick the right course for you, here are four of the best and highly ranked universities for computer science in London.
Imperial College London
Ranked as one of the world’s 10 best universities according to the 2020 QS World University Rankings, the Department of Computing at Imperial College London is one of the largest computing departments in the UK. It is particularly well known for work around distributed computing, logic and artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, visual information processing, computing theory and computational aspects of management science.
University College London (UCL)
University College London is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the UK and features in the top 10 universities worldwide. It is described by the Sunday Times as “an intellectual powerhouse with a world-class reputation”. UCL’s Computer Science department is a global leader in research in experimental computer science, while its new AI Centre, in partnership with Cisco, is set to become one of the largest AI research centres in the world.
King’s College London
King’s College London is one of England’s oldest and most prestigious universities. King’s Department of Informatics seeks to address fundamental challenges and problems in the areas of computer science, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and robotics. Academics and students also focus on how these can be applied to areas such as bioinformatics, healthcare, engineering, and many others.
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. Its Department of Computer Science is an elite department with world-leading researchers in algorithms and complexity, bioinformatics, distributed and global computing, machine learning, software language engineering and type theory.
Other Computer Science Universities
Several other London universities also offer excellent computer science courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Browse the courses at UCAS and to look at the latest UK university rankings for computer science studies, check out the Complete University Subject Guide and the Guardian University Guide 2020.
After University – Computer Science Careers in London
London is an innovation hotspot and the perfect place to kickstart your career in Computer Science. With London being Europe’s leading city for technology, it boasts more coders, graduates, and sector specialists in AI and IT than anywhere else.
Tech giants are investing in London and the tech scene has received almost double the amount of funding than any other European city, making huge new office spaces. On top of that, Google has a new UK HQ in King’s Cross as of 2020, while Amazon has doubled the number of roles at its London Development Centre.
London also produces world-quality research. UCL’s new AI Centre carries out foundational research in direct partnership with Cisco, addressing AI challenges in fields as diverse as health, environment, transport, and urban development.
The Alan Turing Institute, meanwhile, is a ground-breaking model that provides a focal point for AI research and is becoming a role model for other countries. Since 2017, it has hosted more than 300 researchers and produced 138 different research publications. There are many opportunities to work at the institute, including fellowships, studentships, and internships.
Join thousands of students in making London your top choice: study, work and live in one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative cities.
Whichever Computer Science university you choose in London, you can be sure you have access to a great experience. At Urbanest we offer a range of private accommodation across the city. Check out our London accommodation to find a place to stay whilst you study.