The Department of Computer Science, until 2011 named the Computing Laboratory (shortened OUCL or Comlab), is a department of the University of Oxford in England. It was created under the direction of Leslie Fox in 1957.
The department's research is classified into seven broad themes:
- Computational Biology
- Foundations, Logic and Structures
- Information Systems
- Programming Languages
- Software Engineering
- Verification
- Security
The Computing Service for the University was split off in 1977. It moved from Banbury Road to 8–11 Keble Road opposite Keble College, with the Wolfson Building, expanding the accommodation significantly behind the original row of Victorian buildings in 1993. For many years, the Department was led by Sir Tony Hoare, who initiated the computer science undergraduate course at Oxford University. Since 2003, the Head of Department has been Professor Bill Roscoe.
The Department of Computer Science offers a range of courses:
- three undergraduate degrees: Computer Science (approx 70 students) and Mathematics and Computer Science (approx 70 students). The first students in a new undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Philosophy will start in 2012. All three courses are offered as either a 3-year B.A. or a 4-year ‘undergraduate masters’.
- two full-time taught postgraduate courses: the M.Sc. in Computer Science (approx 50 students) and the M.Sc. in Mathematics and the Foundations of Computer Science (approx 15 students).
- two part-time postgraduate programmes for professionals: the M.Sc. in Software Engineering (approx 240 students) and the M.Sc. in Software and Systems Security (approx 45 students).
- 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.
The Department is also home to around 145 academic and research staff.
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