Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford

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. 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 and 2020 Times World University Subject Rankings places Oxford University 1st in the world for Computer Science.[1] Oxford University is also the top university for computer science in the UK and Europe according to Business Insider[2]. 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.[3]

Former name
Computing Laboratory
Established1957 (1957)
Head of Department
Michael Wooldridge (computer scientist)
Students871
LocationOxford, United Kingdom
51.7597°N 1.2584°W / 51.7597; -1.2584
Operating agency
University of Oxford
Websitewww.cs.ox.ac.uk
Map
Location in Oxford city centre

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.[4] Initially these two courses had a common first year.[5] 'Computer Science' replaced 'Computation' in the title of both courses for students starting their studies in 2000.[6] Between 1987 and 2006 students started studies on a four-year (undergraduate) MEng in Engineering and Computing Science.[4][7][8][9] In October 2012 the first students of the 'Computer Science and Philosophy' started. Today students on all three courses have the choice between a 3-year BA or a 4-year 'undergraduate masters'.[10] Sixty students began one of the three undergraduate courses in October 2013.[11]

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).

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).[12]

Research

The department is home to around 145 academic and research staff.[12] The department's doctoral programme has over 140 research students (studying for a D.Phil. – the Oxford term for a PhD) working across a wide range of subjects in computer science and software engineering.

After fifty years within the department, the Numerical Analysis group moved in 2009 to be part of the university's Mathematical Institute.[13][14] Today the department's research is classified into eight broad themes:[15]

  • Algorithms and Complexity Theory
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Automated Verification
  • Computational Biology and Health Informatics
  • Cyber Physical Systems
  • Foundations, Structures, and Quantum
  • Human-Centred Computing
  • Information Systems
  • Programming Languages
  • Security

Notable faculty

As of 2015 the department employs 36 Professors.[16]

History

Starting in 1952, mathematician Charles Coulson[17] sought funding for Oxford to own its own computer.[4] At this time university members had to hire computer time from elsewhere.[4] In 1956 the University Grants Committee decided to fund the purchase of a Ferranti Mercury and the Oxford University Computing Laboratory was born[4] (shortened 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.[18] The first director, Leslie Fox,[19][20] was appointed in 1957 and the following year the department moved into its first home, 9 South Parks Road.[18] In 1963 the department moved to 19 Parks Road.[21] The Computing Services (From 2012 part of IT Services) was administratively split from the academic department in 1969,[22] although complete independence was only gained in 1978.[23]

Complementing the Numerical Analysis Group, the Programming Research Group was set up in 1966 at 45 Banbury Road under the leadership of Christopher Strachey[24] with the aim "to bring some coherence into the present ad hoc nature of programming and software".[25] These two groups operated mostly separately until 1984 when both of the laboratory's research groups moved into 8–11 Keble Road, opposite Keble College.[13] However the laboratory soon outgrew this space, and occupied space in 2 South Parks Road,[26] until in 1993 the Wolfson Building opened behind the Victorian 8–11 Keble Road houses.[13] The neighbouring houses at 5–7 Keble Road and a new "e-Science building" behind these provided additional space upon opening in 2007.[27] 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.[28]

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.[13] The current head is Michael Wooldridge.[13]

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See also

References
  1. "Times World University Rankings by Subject 2020". The Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  2. "University of Oxford". Peridotportal.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  3. "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020". The Top Universities. 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  4. "Oxford University Archives | Home" (PDF). Oua.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  5. "BA in Maths and Computation". Archived from the original on 1999-04-23. Retrieved 2018-01-29.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  6. "Oxf. Univ. Gazette, 13 May 1999: Examinations and Boards". Ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  7. "MEng in Engineering and Computing Science". Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2018-01-29.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  8. "Admissions 06" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  9. http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwoxacuk/localsites/gazette/documents/statisticalinformation/2_vol138.pdf
  10. "Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford". Cs.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-04-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Frequently asked questions". Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, UK. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  13. "About the Department of Computer Science". Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, UK. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  14. "Numerical Analysis | Mathematical Institute". Maths.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  15. "Research Themes". Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, UK. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  16. "People in the Department of Computer Science". University of Oxford. Archived from the original on 2014-08-09.
  17. Altmann, S. L.; Bowen, E. J. (1974). "Charles Alfred Coulson. 1910-1974". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 20: 74. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1974.0004.
  18. "Reports & publications | IT Services". Oucs.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  19. O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, University of St Andrews.
  20. Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2014-04-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "Reports & publications | IT Services". Oucs.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  23. "Reports & publications | IT Services". Oucs.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  24. Campbell-Kelly, Martin (1985). "Christopher Strachey, 1916-1975: A Biographical Note". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 7 (1): 19–42. doi:10.1109/MAHC.1985.10001. ISSN 1058-6180.
  25. "Reports & publications | IT Services". Oucs.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  26. "Oxford Computing Lab: History and Structure". Archived from the original on 1999-02-20. Retrieved 2018-01-29.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  27. "rae 2008 : submissions : ra5a". Rae.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  28. "University of Oxford". Peridotportal.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
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