School of Computing
Find out more about our teaching and research
At the School of Computing, we seek to solve society's challenges by researching new computing technologies, collaborating with private and public sector partners to apply those technologies, and developing highly skilled computing graduates.
Our students are some of the most skilled and employable computer graduates in the country. Our culture of trust and support helps our students achieve their ambitions, with more than 90% of our students being in work or further study 18 months after graduation in the last three HESA surveys (2017-2020).
Gender equality commitment
We hold the Athena SWAN Bronze award for gender equality and are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and career development for women and under-represented communities in computing.
Teaching
We produce graduates who are role models for their discipline, and actively seek to engage in the education of the next generation of computer scientists. Our students learn everything they need to make positive contributions to our society. Our ethos of professional development and mentoring gives them opportunities to follow their ambitions from student to professional.
We support the ambition of our students by providing extra-curricular activities that explore all areas of computing. We nurture their talent and innovation by encouraging project work alongside our main degree programmes. Our students have gone on to big successes – one of our students received an offer from PwC to buy the company they developed as an undergraduate, just 6 months after developing the idea.
We focus on developing workplace skills and job readiness, and encourage our students to seek ambitious and challenging placements. Our students have completed placements with companies including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google and the Swiss investment bank UBS.
Flexibility is also important to how we teach — students have the option to combine teacher training and placement in their final year to gain Qualified Teacher Status along with their degree. We also have Distance Learning and Work-based Learning degrees for students from all places and stages of life.
To browse all of our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, visit our Computing subject area page.
Research
Computer science is vital for the future of our society, and the computing innovations developed by our researchers have improved and saved lives.
In a cross-discipline effort, we created a new user-friendly control, navigation and communication system for powered wheelchairs. With a built in, interactive AI, this development has improved the lives of wheelchair users, many of whom now have an opportunity for independent mobility, some for the first time.
We're engaged in cross-disciplinary research through our Centre for Healthcare Modelling and Informatics. We're using our information systems and computer science expertise to make the day-to-day jobs involved in healthcare delivery and administration easier. We've also collaborated with the University of Southampton and the University of Oxford to improve NHS and social care services across the country.
Our work with the Royal College of Physicians has set a new standard for assessing the severity of acute illness (known as the "National Early Warning Score" or NEWS). This process is now used by 100% of paramedics and 76% of hospitals across NHS England. 83% of our research impact was rated as having outstanding or very considerable reach and significance in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
We've received research funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, Innovate UK, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, UK Space Agency, European Commission, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Welcome Trust, Ministry of Defence, Ufi Charitable Trust, National Institute for Health Research, British Academy, Health Innovation Challenge Fund, British Council, Royal Academy of Engineering, Technology Strategy Board and Portsmouth City Council.
Our areas of expertise
Explore the work we're doing across our four areas of expertise in Computing research.
Clinical Outcome Modelling
We're developing and evaluating mathematical and computer models, and collaborating with the NHS, to help make accurate healthcare predictions using health data science. Explore our clinical outcome modelling research.
Computational Intelligence
Our research is studying computational paradigms, with the aim of designing and developing algorithms which can be implemented with human machine systems.
Cyber security
We're working to improve the security of the systems used to access assets, and to make the way people access them more secure.
Systems and Information Systems
We're exploring how technology and professionals can support the strategic, managerial and operational activities of a business.
Our research centres
Much of our exceptional research takes place within the following cross-disciplinary research centres – find out more below.
Centre for Healthcare Modelling and Informatics
We're working to develop technology that makes work more efficient for the organisations that form the National Health Service (NHS).
Computational Intelligence Research Group
We're researching the analysis, design and applications of computational intelligence methodologies.
Network and Security Research Group
We're researching the design and development of novel technological advancement that appears in everyday devices.
Systems and Information Systems Research Group
We're researching the practice, philosophy and methodological concerns of information processing with the aim to make the day-to-day jobs involved in complexed problem solving easier.
Our staff
Academic staff in our school are specialists in computing, computer science, computer networks, cyber security, data science and software engineering. We each contribute to teaching and student life in the School of Computing as course leaders, module coordinators, personal tutors, research supervisors, and the head and associate heads of school.
Explore our faculty
Explore the other schools and departments that make up the Faculty of Technology.
School of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Explore the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying at the University of Portsmouth, and learn more about the teaching and research activities taking place within the School.
School of Energy and Electronic Engineering
Find out more about the School of Energy and Electronic Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, and explore the teaching and research activities taking place within the School
School of Mathematics and Physics
Explore the School of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Portsmouth, and find out more about the teaching and research activities taking place within the School.
School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
Explore the School of Mechanical & Design Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, and find out more about the teaching and research activities that take place within the School.
Faculty of Technology
Find out more about the Faculty of Technology at the University of Portsmouth, and explore the teaching and research activities that place within the Faculty's various schools and institutes.
Contact us
To get in touch, please contact our Faculty office.