UCL Computer Science

🧠 How can AI help surgeons make safer decisions during some of the most delicate brain operations? It’s been fantastic to see the attention this pioneering work from our researchers has received, with coverage from the BBC, Sky News and The Guardian, to name just a few. ⭐ For the first time, AI developed at UCL has been used to support a neurosurgeon in real time during live surgery, helping protect the sight of a patient having a brain tumour removed. Huge congratulations to Dr Sophia Bano from UCL Computer Science and the UCL Hawkes Institute, who is the technical lead for the AI system, and Zhehua Mao, Senior Research Fellow at UCL, who supported the development and integration of the system. During the operation, performed by Professor Hani Marcus at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH, the AI analysed live surgical video to help identify critical structures, including nerves and blood vessels, while the surgeon remained firmly in control. And perhaps the impact is best summed up by the first patient, Rhys Hibbert: “From a patient safety perspective I can see absolutely the benefit. There are no road signs inside our head.” 👏 Congratulations to Sophia, Zhehua and the wider multidisciplinary team behind this remarkable milestone. Read the full story by clicking on the image below. UCL Research | UCL Engineering | UCL East

One week to go! 📣 How do words create meaning and could quantum computers help us develop new kinds of AI? Join Professor Mehrnoosh Sadrzadeh for her inaugural lecture, Words, numbers and quantum machines: Computing the semantics of language. Mehrnoosh will share the journey that took her from the mathematics of language to quantum machine learning, revealing some surprising connections between logic, human language and quantum computing. The lecture is free, open to all and requires no specialist knowledge. Attend in person at UCL or join the live stream. 📅 Wednesday 2 September, 6–7pm 📍 UCL Bloomsbury campus 🥂 Buffet reception to follow 🎟 Booking is essential 🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/eVnxy8g5 Part of #UCL200, our programme of bicentenary events. #QuantumComputing #ArtificialIntelligence #Language

One week to go: We're pleased to welcome Barclays UK as a sponsor of FQC 2026 (Foundations of Quantum Computing) Their support reflects the growing interest across academia and industry in the opportunities emerging at the intersection of quantum computing and AI. FQC brings together researchers and industry experts at UCL this September for three days of discussion spanning the foundations and real-world applications of quantum technologies. Along with Barclays, we thank all our sponsors and co-organisers for their support.

What happens when you hand real estate business challenges over to Computer Science students? 💡 Over the past few months, a group of UCL Computer Science students has been working with global real estate firm Knight Frank to explore how emerging technologies can transform the way they do business. 🌲Have you ever considered how drones can measure the carbon stock of land? 📷Or how computer vision can predict foot traffic in retail spaces? 🏠Or how AI could be used to improve client engagement with property listings? These are all real-world projects our students tackled this summer under the expert supervision of Knight Frank professionals, as part of the UCL Industry Exchange Network (IXN). Yesterday, 10 students headed to Knight Frank’s headquarters at 55 Baker Street for the UCL IXN Student Innovation Showcase. They presented their research to a room of industry leaders and UCL staff, sharing their methodologies, highlighting their impact, and exploring how Knight Frank can build on their findings. As Nikos Papapesios, Head of Innovation Analytics at Knight Frank, put it: “We bring problems and practical constraints... while UCL Computer Science brings fresh thinking, curiosity, and deep technical expertise. Together that creates an environment where we can experiment, test and evaluate new ideas, and finally explore what impact emerging technologies may have on our industry.” 👏 A big congratulations to all of our students for their hard work and truly impressive findings. And a huge thank you to the team at Knight Frank for mentoring our students and creating an environment where academic innovation meets real business problems. Ian McGuinness, Nikos Papapesios, PhD, MSc, James Ashard. #UCLIXN #PropTech #ArtificialIntelligence #KnightFrank #Innovation

🐶 UCL Computer Science is home to experts in quantum algorithms, robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as some dogs whose main area of expertise is snacks.   🥳 To celebrate International Dog Day, meet the Dogs of Computer Science. 🧦 From devoted sock collectors to squirrel chasers, our four-legged colleagues share their favourite things and their biggest dislikes. Swipe through to meet them. 🐕 Have a four-legged friend of your own? Share their photo, likes and dislikes in the comments! Boston Dynamics | UCL Engineering |

Could the Aspire Award help you study Computer Science at UCL? 💻 The UCL Computer Science Aspire Award is a fully funded undergraduate scholarship for eligible Black and Mixed Black British students. It covers full tuition fees and provides £23,805 a year towards living and study costs. Black and Mixed Black British students in Year 12 are invited to our free online Aspire and Achieve session to: 💻 Hear from a current Aspire Scholar 📝 Get advice on preparing a competitive application 🎓 Learn more about studying Computer Science at UCL ❓ Ask questions about the award and application process 📅 4 September 2026 from 5–6pm Applicants must be predicted an A* in Mathematics or Further Mathematics.  The contextual offer is A*AB or A*A*C (one of the A* have to be in Maths) Book your place: https://lnkd.in/eSjKQ4Fc The Aspire Award is one of a range of scholarships and bursaries available at UCL. It was created as a targeted measure to address the combination of financial barriers and underrepresentation within UCL Computer Science. You can find out more about the arkisites report here: https://lnkd.in/ed2eefsC UCL Engineering | UCL Access & Widening Participation

Are you part of a UK technology company looking to grow in India? Applications are open to join the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade delegation to India Mobile Congress 2026, taking place from 7–10 October. Led by Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Julia Sutcliffe, the delegation will help UK companies working in advanced connectivity technologies and cyber security build relationships, meet senior stakeholders and explore opportunities in the Indian market. We encourage UCL Computer Science alumni and members of our wider community working in these sectors to find out more and register their interest using the form in the post below by Friday 4 September. #CyberSecurity #Telecommunications #UKTech #Innovation #TradeMission

📷 How well do consumer spy device detectors actually work when people use them to search for hidden cameras, microphones and trackers? 💡New research led by our researchers at UCL Computer Science finds that many commercially available detectors are too difficult for typical users to operate and interpret, potentially creating a dangerous false sense of security for those most at risk. The research, which featured in The Guardian newspaper at the weekend, highlighted concerns about the growing market for covert surveillance devices and the tools sold to help people detect them. Presented at the USENIX Symposium on Usable Privacy and Security (SOUPS), the study tested 19 widely available detectors in simulated living rooms containing hidden surveillance devices. 🎯 Participants using a detector still missed 58% of hidden devices, compared with 66% when searching with their eyes alone. The findings are particularly concerning for survivors of domestic abuse, where hidden cameras, microphones and trackers can be used as tools of technology-facilitated abuse. Confusing results can have an emotional cost too. False positives may cause unnecessary anxiety, while missed devices can lead someone to believe a space is safe when it isn't. 📱 One category stood out. Smartphone apps designed to detect Bluetooth trackers, including Apple AirTags, missed only 27% of devices and produced no false positives. Their advantage wasn't simply detecting signals. They helped users understand what had been detected and what they could do next. Lead author Akhil Polamarasetty, a PhD student at the UCL Centre for Doctoral Training in Cybersecurity, said the crucial difference is usability. Safety products need to be designed around what a typical user actually needs. The researchers have developed a new framework for evaluating hidden-device detectors that considers usability, interpretability, verification support, and emotional safety alongside technical accuracy. Senior author Dr Leonie Tanczer also highlights the responsibility of technology companies to consider how products can be misused from the design stage, and calls for greater scrutiny of the growing market for devices deliberately designed for covert surveillance. ⭐ Read The Guardian article and research paper by clicking on the image below.

For any visitors who have already booked their place, UCL Computer Science will be giving a talk at 10am and repeated at 1pm at the Undergraduate Open Day. We will have staff and students at our stand in the Roberts Engineering Cafe throughout the day to answer your questions. We look forward to seeing you there.

What laptop do you need to study Computer Science? 💻 It’s a question we often receive from prospective and incoming students. UCL Computer Science Master's student Nicolás Tobo recommends focusing on what a laptop can do rather than on a particular model. For his studies, the priorities include being able to run tools such as Docker, Python and Jupyter, with enough RAM to support demanding projects. UCL’s general minimum specification for a Windows laptop includes 8 GB of RAM. From his own experience, Nico has found 16 GB useful when running programs that require more memory, helping him work smoothly across his course. However, students do not necessarily need to run everything on their own machines. When Nico’s laptop does not have all the resources required for a task, he uses computing resources provided by the department. Watch the Reel for Nico’s advice. Before purchasing a laptop, always check the latest UCL guidance and any requirements for your particular course. What features do you consider most important in a laptop for studying Computer Science? #Laptops #StudyPrep #RAM