View source for Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford

{{Short description|Department of the University of Oxford}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox laboratory
| name              = <!-- purposefully left blank, since name is in logo -->
| native_name       = 
| image             = Wolfson Building, Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford - DSC02802.jpg
| logo              = Oxford CS.png
| image_size        = 240px
| alt               = Wolfson Building, Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford
| caption           = Wolfson Building<br />Department of Computer&nbsp;Science
| latin_name        = 
| established       = {{Start date|1957}}
| closed            = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}} -->
| type              = Department
| operating_agency  = [[University of Oxford]]
| endowment         = 
| head_label        = Head of Department
| head              = [[Leslie Ann Goldberg]]
| administrative_staff = 
| students          = 871
| other             = 
| city              = [[Oxford]]
| state             = 
| province          = 
| country           = [[United Kingdom]]
| coordinates       = {{coord |51.7597|-1.2584|type:edu_region:GB-OXF|display=title,inline}}
| campus            = 
| former_name       = Oxford University Computing Laboratory
| website           = {{URL|http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk}}
| location_map      = Oxford (central)
| footnotes         = 
}}
The '''Department of Computer Science''' is the [[computer science]] department of the [[University of Oxford]], England, which is part of the university's [[Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, University of Oxford|Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division]]. It was founded in 1957 as the '''Computing Laboratory'''. By 2014 the staff count was 52 members of academic staff and over 80 research staff. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 Times World University Subject Rankings  places Oxford University 1st in the world for Computer Science.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/subject-ranking/computer-science#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats |title=Times World University Rankings by Subject 2020 |date=4 October 2019 |publisher=The Times Higher Education |access-date=2020-07-01}}</ref> Oxford University is also the top university for computer science in the UK and Europe according to [[Business Insider]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peridotportal.co.uk/oxforddepartmentofcomputerscience/about.php |title=University of Oxford |publisher=Peridotportal.co.uk |access-date=2018-01-29 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025230/http://www.peridotportal.co.uk/oxforddepartmentofcomputerscience/about.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 2020 QS University Subject Rankings places The University of Oxford 5th in the world (with the [[University of Cambridge]] placing 6th) for Computer Science.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2020/computer-science-information-systems |title= QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020 |publisher=The Top Universities |date=2020 |access-date=2020-07-01}}</ref>

==Teaching==
From its foundation, the department taught undergraduates reading for mathematics and engineering degrees, but in 1985 the department's first undergraduate course was established, in 'Mathematics and Computation', followed in 1994 by the 'Computation' course.<ref name="oxarchives"/> Initially these two courses had a common first year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/courses/ba-mandc.html |title=BA in Maths and Computation |access-date=2018-01-29 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423144719/http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/courses/ba-mandc.html |archive-date=1999-04-23 }}</ref> 'Computer Science' replaced 'Computation' in the title of both courses for students starting their studies in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1998-9/weekly/130599/exam.htm |title=Oxf. Univ. Gazette, 13 May 1999: Examinations and Boards |publisher=Ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29 |archive-date=2018-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227112305/https://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1998-9/weekly/130599/exam.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between 1987 and 2006 students started studies on a four-year (undergraduate) MEng in Engineering and Computing Science (now discontinued).<ref name="oxarchives"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://web2.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/courses/undergrads/meng-ecs/ |title=MEng in Engineering and Computing Science |access-date=2018-01-29 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618073444/http://web2.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/courses/undergrads/meng-ecs/ |archive-date=2008-06-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwoxacuk/localsites/gazette/documents/statisticalinformation/adstats06.pdf |title=Admissions 06 |access-date=2018-01-29 |archive-date=2018-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223054138/https://www.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwoxacuk/localsites/gazette/documents/statisticalinformation/adstats06.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwoxacuk/localsites/gazette/documents/statisticalinformation/2_vol138.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-04-22 |archive-date=2014-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123105037/http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwoxacuk/localsites/gazette/documents/statisticalinformation/2_vol138.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford|url=https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/index.html|access-date=2021-06-09|website=www.cs.ox.ac.uk}}</ref> In October 2012 the first students of the 'Computer Science and Philosophy' started. Today{{Quantify|date=June 2015}} students on all three undergraduate courses - 'Computer Science', 'Maths & Computer Science' and 'Computer Science & Philosophy' - have the choice between a 3-year BA or a 4-year 'undergraduate masters'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/ugadmissions/how_to_apply/choose_course.html |title=Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford |publisher=Cs.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> Sixty students began one of the three undergraduate courses in October 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/undergraduate_admissions_statistics/courses.html |title=Courses - University of Oxford |access-date=2014-04-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221193651/http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/undergraduate_admissions_statistics/courses.html |archive-date=2014-02-21 }}</ref>

There are two full-time taught postgraduate courses: the MSc in Computer Science (approx 50 students total) and the MSc in Mathematics and the Foundations of Computer Science (MFoCS) (approx 15 students total).{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The department also offers the part-time [[Software Engineering Programme]], a modular course for industry professionals, leading to either the MSc in Software Engineering (approx 240 students at present) or the M.Sc. in Software and Systems Security (approx 45 students at present).<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web|url=http://web.comlab.ox.ac.uk/admissions/ugrad/Frequently_asked_questions |title=Frequently asked questions |publisher=Department of Computer Science, [[University of Oxford]], UK |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110062950/http://web.comlab.ox.ac.uk/admissions/ugrad/Frequently_asked_questions |archive-date=January 10, 2010 }}</ref>

==Research==
The department is home to around 145 academic and research staff.<ref name="FAQ"/>  The department's doctoral programme has over 140 research students (studying for a D.Phil. – the Oxford term for a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]) working across a wide range of subjects in computer science and software engineering.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

After fifty years within the department, the Numerical Analysis group moved in 2009 to be part of [[Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford|the university's Mathematical Institute]].<ref name=about/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/groups/numerical-analysis |title=Numerical Analysis &#124; Mathematical Institute |publisher=Maths.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> 

The department's research is classified into ten broad themes:<ref name="themes2">{{cite web |title=Research Themes |url=http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/research/ |access-date=7 May 2025 |publisher=Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, UK}}</ref>

* Algorithms and Complexity Theory
* Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
* Automated Verification
* Computational Biology and Health Informatics
* Data, Knowledge and Action
* Human Centred Computing
* Programming Languages
* Quantum
* Security
* Systems

==Notable faculty==
{{As of|2015}} the department employed 36 Professors,<ref name=people>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809023704/http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/faculty.html|archive-date=2014-08-09|url=http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/faculty.html|title=People in the Department of Computer Science|publisher=University of Oxford}}</ref> including:

* [[Nigel Shadbolt]], Professor of Computing
* [[Samson Abramsky]], [[Christopher Strachey Professor of Computing]] ({{as of|2021}}, Emeritus)
* [[Tim Berners-Lee]], Professor of Computer Science
* [[Richard Bird (computer scientist)|Richard Bird]], Emeritus Professor
* [[Luca Cardelli]], [[Royal Society]] Research Professor
* [[Bob Coecke]], Professor of Quantum Foundations, Logics and Structures
* [[Nando de Freitas]], Professor of Computer Science
* [[David Gavaghan]], Professor of Computational Biology
* [[Jeremy Gibbons]], Professor of Computing
* [[Leslie Ann Goldberg]], Professor of Computer Science
* [[Georg Gottlob]], Professor of Informatics
* [[Tony Hoare]], Emeritus Professor
* [[Ian Horrocks]], Professor of Computer Science
* [[Daniel Kroening]], Professor of Computer Science
* [[Marta Kwiatkowska]], Professor of Computing Systems
* [[Gavin Lowe (computer scientist)|Gavin Lowe]], Professor of Computer Science
* [[Bill Roscoe]], Professor of Computing Science
* [[Michael Wooldridge (computer scientist)|Michael Wooldridge]], Professor of Computer Science
* [[Marina Jirotka]], Professor of Human Centred Computing

==History==
Starting in 1952, mathematician [[Charles Coulson]]<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Altmann | first1 = S. L. | last2 = Bowen | first2 = E. J. | doi = 10.1098/rsbm.1974.0004 | title = Charles Alfred Coulson. 1910-1974 | journal = [[Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society]] | volume = 20 | page = 74 | year = 1974 | doi-access = free }}</ref> sought funding for Oxford to own its own computer.<ref name="oxarchives"/> At this time university members had to hire computer time from elsewhere.<ref name="oxarchives"/> In 1956 the [[University Grants Committee (UK)|University Grants Committee]] decided to fund the purchase of a [[Ferranti Mercury]] and the '''Oxford University Computing Laboratory''' was born<ref name="oxarchives">{{cite web|url=http://www.oua.ox.ac.uk/holdings/Computing%20Laboratory2%20CL.pdf |title=Oxford University Archives &#124; Home |publisher=Oua.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> (shortened as '''OUCL''' or '''Comlab'''). As well as facilitating research elsewhere in the university, the new department had its own academic function, performing research in numerical analysis, and lecturing for mathematics and engineering students.<ref name="report57/8">{{cite web |url=http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/annrep/annrep57-58.html |title=Reports & publications &#124; IT Services |publisher=Oucs.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29 |archive-date=27 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827193552/http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/annrep/annrep57-58.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first director, [[Leslie Fox]],<ref>{{MacTutor Biography|id=Fox_Leslie}}</ref><ref>{{MathGenealogy |id=58746}}</ref> was appointed in 1957 and the following year the department moved into its first home, 9 [[South Parks Road]].<ref name="report57/8"/> In 1963 the department moved to 19 [[Parks Road]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/history/building-photos.xml |title=&#91;IT Services&#93; History of OUCS Buildings |access-date=2014-04-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831034615/http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/history/building-photos.xml |archive-date=2013-08-31 }}</ref> The [[Oxford University Computing Services|Computing Services]] (From 2012 part of ''IT Services'') was administratively split from the academic department in 1969,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/annrep/annrep68-69.html |title=Reports & publications &#124; IT Services |publisher=Oucs.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819104807/http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/annrep/annrep68-69.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> although complete independence was only gained in 1978.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/annrep/annrep77-78.html |title=Reports & publications &#124; IT Services |publisher=Oucs.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819104955/http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/annrep/annrep77-78.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Complementing the Numerical Analysis Group (NAG), the [[Programming Research Group]] (PRG) was set up in 1966 at 45 [[Banbury Road]] under the leadership of [[Christopher Strachey]]<ref name="Campbell-Kelly1985">{{cite journal|last1=Campbell-Kelly|first1=Martin|author-link1=Martin Campbell-Kelly|title=Christopher Strachey, 1916–1975: A Biographical Note|journal=IEEE Annals of the History of Computing|volume=7|issue=1|year=1985|pages=19–42|issn=1058-6180|doi=10.1109/MAHC.1985.10001|s2cid=17188378}}</ref> with the aim "to bring some coherence into the present ad hoc nature of programming and software".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/annrep/annrep65-66.html |title=Reports & publications &#124; IT Services |publisher=Oucs.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> After Strachey's untimely death in 1975, [[Tony Hoare]] took over leadership of the PRG in 1977 until his retirement in 1999 and introduced a computer science undergraduate degree programme at Oxford. The NAG and PRG groups operated mostly separately until 1984, when both of the laboratory's research groups moved into 8–11 [[Keble Road]], opposite [[Keble College]].<ref name="about">{{cite web |url=http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/contact/history.html | title=About the Department of Computer Science |publisher=Department of Computer Science, [[University of Oxford]], UK |access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref> However the laboratory soon outgrew this space, and occupied space in 2 South Parks Road,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/structure.html |title=Oxford Computing Lab: History and Structure |access-date=2018-01-29 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990220045557/http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/structure.html |archive-date=1999-02-20 }}</ref> until in 1993 the Wolfson Building opened behind the [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] 8–11 Keble Road houses.<ref name=about/> The neighbouring houses at 5–7 Keble Road and a new "e-Science building" behind these provided additional space upon opening in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rae.ac.uk/submissions/ra5a.aspx?id=23&type=uoa&subid=746 |title=rae 2008 : submissions : ra5a |publisher=Rae.ac.uk |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> However this space is not sufficient, and the department has additional space within the Thom Building and the Robert Hooke building. As of 2014, the department is hoping to obtain funding for a new building large enough to bring together all its activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peridotportal.co.uk/oxforddepartmentofcomputerscience/roles.php |title=University of Oxford |publisher=Peridotportal.co.uk |access-date=2018-01-29 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044059/http://www.peridotportal.co.uk/oxforddepartmentofcomputerscience/roles.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From 2003 to 2014, the department was led by [[Bill Roscoe]], who oversaw the 2011 renaming from the ''Oxford University Computing Laboratory'' to the ''Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford''.<ref name=about/> The current head is Leslie Ann Goldberg.<ref name=about/>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Members of the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford|Past and present members of the Department]]
* [[Oxford University Computing Services]]
* [[Programming Research Group]]

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}

{{University of Oxford}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1957 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1957]]
[[Category:Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford| ]]
[[Category:Departments of the University of Oxford|Computer Science]]
[[Category:University and college laboratories in the United Kingdom|Oxford University, Department of Computer Science]]
[[Category:Computer science departments in the United Kingdom|Oxford University]]