Top UK universities for computer science

Lancaster University has excelled across all indicators, particularly standing out for the research citations per paper indicator. 

Lancaster University's BSc computer science programme is accredited by the British Computing Society (BCS) and the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), giving students the knowledge and skills needed to become a computing professional.   

Queen Mary University of London, is known for its top-tier research, and scores well for citations per paper. The university's computer science programmes are accredited by the British Computing Society (BSC), and the students are given the flexibility to complete their computer science degree in three, four, or five years, with options for industrial experience and year abroad programmes. 

The University of Warwick scores well across the indicators, particularly in the research citations per paper indicator, reflecting its high research standards.  

The BSc Computer Science degree at the University of Warwick has a strong employability focus. Each course includes an intercalated year option, which allows students to spend a year working in industry or studying abroad. There are also plenty of opportunities to gain industrial experience through internships during the summer holidays.  

The University of Manchester earns a particularly impressive score for its international research network.  

Degrees from the university’s department of computer science are internationally renowned for their blend of foundational rigour and research-led teaching in cutting-edge domains. Students will have the option to complete an intercalated year, where they can work in industry or study abroad.   

King’s College London scores particularly well in the research citations per paper indicator, a reflection of the high quality of the research produced by the university.  

Undergraduate students at the university can choose to study abroad for a year, pursue an industrial placement, or delve into advanced topics like robotics. Postgraduates, on the other hand, will have the chance to apply computer science in various industrial and commercial settings, spanning from engineering to internet systems, web intelligence, and data science. 

UCL earns near-perfect scores in both the H-index and research citations per paper indicators.  

Undergraduate computer science students at UCL can undertake an Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP) in their second and third year, alongside their core and optional modules. UCL also has close relationships with other research institutions, charities, businesses and local schools. 

University of Edinburgh scores well for its international research network, demonstrating its strong global research connections. 

Additionally, it has achieved high scores for both research citations per paper and H-index indicators depicting the excellent standards of the university’s research output. 

The University of Edinburgh’s four-year BEng Computer Science degree provides students with a sound practical basis in computer science, while also allowing you to specialise in areas of interest. 

Imperial College London has achieved a prominent global ranking, scoring well across all indicators. It performs particularly well in the H-index citations and employer reputation indicators.  

Imperial’s teaching is research-led and is taught by some of the best academic researchers in the world. Its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) offers students the chance to work alongside academic researchers in their field of study. 

The University of Cambridge unsurprisingly outperforms many of the other top UK universities in terms of its academic reputation. 

There are more than 1,000 specialist computing and advanced technology companies and commercial laboratories in the ‘Silicon Fen’ region surrounding Cambridge. A number of these companies employ graduates from the university. The course itself offers students a mixture of theoretical and practical skills. 

The University of Oxford has scored exceptionally well across each of the indicators.

The University of Oxford say that their computer science course concentrates on creating links between theory and practice, covering a wide variety of software and hardware technologies and their applications. This helps students gain practical problem-solving and program design skills. 

While the universities mentioned above are prestigious choices, there are numerous institutions excelling in various areas that deserve consideration. 

Most of the universities included in the ranking offer placement opportunities for students enrolled in computer science programmes. Notable institutions, including De Montfort University, Leicester and Loughborough University in the UK, have established strong connections with renowned organisations such as PepsiCo, HSBC Bank, Honda, IBM, Microsoft, Sony, GSK, and others, both within the UK and internationally.

These universities would be excellent choices for students interested in securing paid placements, and to gain industry exposure during their academic journey.