Department of Informatics

The Department of Informatics is an exciting new development at King’s, bringing together research and teaching expertise in Computer Science (particularly in Algorithm Design, Bioinformatics, Agents & Intelligent Systems, Software Engineering, Applied Logic, Theory of Computing), in Robotics, and in Telecommunications. Interdisciplinary research activity plays a prominent role, both within the Department, and in collaboration with other King’s Schools – particularly with the Health Schools, developing existing projects in, for instance, Bioinformatics, Medical Robotics and Health Informatics. Our academic staff have an excellent reputation in academia and industry, attracting high levels of research funding, particularly from UK and European sources. Each year hundreds of students from the UK and abroad seek admission to one of our several MSc programmes, and to our PhD programme, and the quality of our teaching and supervision is reflected in the high calibre of our graduates, who are much sought after by leading employers. In addition to their extensive research publication output, academic staff organise and participate in a wide range of international events, including conferences, workshops and invited lectures. They also play a major editorial and scientific reviewing role for international journals and conference proceedings. We are based at the Strand Campus, in the heart of London, with excellent academic, social and cultural opportunities.

Our Department organises and runs an induction and registration day that takes place just before the start of each academic year. During this event, you will have the opportunity to meet other new students as well as academic and administrative staff, listen to talks delivered by our Head of Department, Senior Tutors and the Computing Society. All students are also given an induction pack, containing supplementary information relating to in-sessional English courses, library tours and a handbook for the chosen MSc or PhD programme. This is also an opportunity to view the Department and find out about the main facilities of the Campus. During the year, all of our postgraduate students are encouraged to attend our research colloquia, with invited speakers from around the world. In addition, our research students are encouraged to submit papers to conferences, and we try to provide financial support for them to travel to present their papers.

The Department of Informatics provides its students with five computer laboratories, one of which is for the exclusive use of MSc students. Our research students have dedicated office space, are assigned their own desk, and have photocopying and other facilities available to them. In addition, our incoming research students are provided with their own new, high specification computer when they start, to support their studies.

Many of our research students are sponsored or have scholarships or grants of one kind or another. Our Department is deeply involved with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This means that every year we can award several studentships to research students through the Doctoral Training Account, run through the EPSRC. In addition, we annually put forward research students for award of the College-run Overseas Research Student Award (ORS) and several other studentships.