Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences

Student projects

The Department of Informatics teaches more than 1,400 students, including around 300 postgraduate students from all over the world. We are also home to more than 120 postgraduate research (PhD) students working in the following fields:

Distributed artificial intelligence
Cybersecurity
Human-centred computing
Reasoning and planning
Software systems
Algorithms and data analysis

We work with many organisations in the public, private and third sectors to design impactful student projects at undergrad and postgrad levels.

Enterprise and engagement Informatics

informatics-enterprise@kcl.ac.uk

Knowledge Exchange Projects

During Knowledge Exchange Projects eligible Informatics students engage in real-world problem-based learning by undertaking an individual project co-designed with an external partner. While many of our Knowledge Exchange Projects are sponsored by industry, we also work with the public and third sectors, and with other Departments and Faculties at King’s. Following best practices of Industry Exchange Network, which the Department joined in the summer of 2022, we match final year undergraduate students with project sponsors in areas of joint interest such as cybersecurity, data and algorithms, reasoning and planning, distributed artificial intelligence, human-centred computing, and software and systems. The programme allows our partners to fast-track innovation. Students develop proofs of concept and prototypical solutions, which allows partners to explore ideas with minimal costs and disruption to their business. Project sponsors suggest projects that run during term times, following the same format as all other individual student projects in the Department. Each project has a named technical advisor from the sponsor, and an academic supervisor from Informatics. Student selection and project assessment are carried out by the Department, with input from the project sponsor.

Industry Exchange Network

Impact accelerator

We are working with Amazon Web Services to deliver the Impact Accelerator, which builds impact capacity and capability within the Department, in partnership with an organisation with a track record in innovation; a commitment to data-driven decision making; as well as computing and technology resources in data science and AI. The Accelerator was launched in September 2022 with a course for Year 4 MSci students, in which the students work in groups to solve real-world data and technology challenges set by public sector stakeholders. It is a year-long research and practice led course in which students apply and generate digital innovation techniques and tools to identify solutions to complex problems, unpacking how multiple factors come into play (including social, organisational, technological and business factors), and engage with how these factors shape the ways in which technologies and their developers create positive impact. In the first semester, students critically explore the ways advanced technological solutions are planned, designed, built and governed, reflecting on how to evaluate the impact their solutions have on public sector performance, issues and communities. In the second semester, students work on complex problems presented by public sector Challenge Sponsors to deliver a substantial research project in teams. Students also gain experience in developing a substantial software, data or AI project in teams, guided by King's and AWS mentors. For information, please contact

CUSP London

The Centre for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) London ‘Urban Lab’ partnership with Westminster City Council (WCC) and UCL’s Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) won the Royal Geographical Society Award for Excellence in Local Government. The partnership focused on launching a series of initiatives, which identified opportunities for London students to be involved in urban dataset projects which are of mutual benefit to WCC whilst creating real impact outcomes and opportunities across the city.

Through a combination of student work placements, consultancy work, secondment opportunities and more than 20 MSc and PhD research projects, the Urban Lab partnership has generated indispensable insights and invited new perspectives to shape evidence-based policymaking.

"This is an amazing recognition for CUSP London, beside the prestige carried by being within the few entries shortlisted for the award, it is a testimony to the hard work of the CUSP London team."

Dr Rita Borgo -Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at King’s Department of Informatics