About us

Computer Science at Royal Holloway is one of the world's leading centres of research in advanced areas of theoretical and applied computer science.

We are renowned in particular for our research excellence in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Distributed Computing. Our research expertise is shaping the future of those key areas for society and the economy.

Collaborative research is carried out in many different fields with companies and organisations, from finance to the analysis of movie scripts, from computational simulations of epidemics to foundational aspects of probability and logic.

We welcome applications for Postgraduate Research studies from across the world, and the department has earned a Bronze Athena SWAN award for best practice in equal opportunities and our inclusive environment.

In addition to the information below, check our separate page on the topics in which we supervise.

Research facilities and environment

Research students in Computer Science join a lively research community and become fully involved in the research activities of the department, sharing their successes. Many of our research students present papers at international conferences, with financial support from the department.

A Postgraduate Colloquium is held annually: all second and third-year research students give 15-minute talks to present the results of their research achieved during the year to members of staff from different research groups, fellow research students, and external guests; first-year students give a poster presentation.

Regular departmental research seminars include talks by professionals in a variety of application areas, and there is a separate student-organised 'cakes talk' series which allows students to develop their presentational skills. We have a weekly social event to which all students, research assistants and staff are invited. Royal Holloway provides dedicated social space for graduate students, facilitating inter-departmental links.

Major research topics include Algorithms and Complexity, Bioinformatics and Medical Applications, Machine Learning, Planning, Cyber-Physical Systems, Distributed Computing, and Type Theory and Applications.

Assessment

Students who are admitted to this programme are initially registered on a MPhil programme. Before the end of their second year of studies they will have an upgrade meeting; if successful, they then become registered on the PhD Computer Science programme.

To be awarded a PhD Computer Science degree, students must submit their thesis, and pass their viva examination with one internal and one external examiner.

Your future career

Our graduates have an excellent track record of finding employment. PhD graduates from this department are now in senior positions in both academia and industry, including senior research managers at both Facebook and Amazon.

During term-time, we have weekly talks by external speakers from industry: these occasions are useful for graduate students to make external contacts and to learn of opportunities. In addition to the support provided by The Careers and Employability Service, the department has a coordinator to advise on career development and job opportunities.