Welcome to the School of Informatics!

Vision

Our vision is to build a strong research and teaching environment that addresses key challenges of the 21st century and benefit society as a whole.

Mission

• To provide quality undergraduate and graduate education that equips graduates to solve real world problems and provides them with a competitive advantage in the ever-changing global work environment of the 21st century.
• To conduct research of the highest quality, motivated by both intellectual curiosity and societal needs, informing our research-led teaching and retaining our position as one of the world’s leading informatics schools.
• To make a significant, sustainable and socially responsible contribution to Scotland, the UK and the world through education, research, innovation and impact.

Values

Civility: We treat everyone considerately, care for each other, and seek to influence society responsibly.

Collaboration:  We share responsibilities across our community, work together to achieve our goals, and help each other effect positive change.

Curiosity:  We seek diverse evidence and opinions, and welcome things that challenge our views as an opportunity to learn.

Integrity:  We make decisions as rationally and transparently as we can.

Humility:  We acknowledge that our understanding of the world and each other is always incomplete, and revise continually.

Informatics is one of seven schools in the College of Science and Engineering, at the University of Edinburgh. We are the only School in the College of Science and Engineering that is not located on the King's Buildings campus, but rather in the Central area, thus allowing us to foster networks beyond the usual tech links.

You can find historical information about the School under the link below.

Brief history of the School of Informatics

If you'd like to virtually visit the School, try one of the links below.

Explore the School of Informatics

Virtual Visit (UG prospective students)

Virtual Visit (PG prospective students)

If you'd like to learn more about our research, try the below videos.

The School of Informatics at Edinburgh has the leading research position in the UK and is recognised internationally for excellence of its research outputs, education and knowledge exchange. We produce extraordinary science, scientists and knowledge that is the source of transformative change. Through our research, education, knowledge exchange and public engagement activities, the knowledge that we create impacts upon the international academic community, upon policy and society, industry and businesses, our local community and individuals.

With over 280 academic and research staff and over 2000 taught and research students, the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh is the largest in the UK and one of the largest in Europe.

The School is consistently ranked among the best in the world. 

Current Rankings 

We offer a flexible choice of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and degrees in:

• Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cognitive Science
• Computer Science
• Software Engineering

Prospective undergraduates pages

Prospective postgraduates pages

The School of Informatics remains among the top Computer Science and Informatics research institutions in the UK, according to 2021 Research Excellence Framework results. Our research was recognised as world-leading for research impact and environment. Times Higher Education (THE) named us the top Computer Science and Informatics department in terms of quality and breadth of our research, known as research power.

Overall results for 2021

Our 2021 REF submission was joint with EPCC. 

The School of Informatics and EPCC submitted 144.04 FTE staff (the largest Unit of Assessment in our subject).

• 100 % of our impact case studies are world-leading

• 100 % of our research environment is world leading

• 61 % of our research outputs are world-leading (4*) and 33.4 % are internationally excellent (3*) 

• 76 % of our REF submission overall is world-leading and 21 % is internationally excellent 

More information on Research excellence.

The commercialisation of academic research adds significant value to the UK economy.

Here at the School of Informatics, we approach this through our business development team who help to translate our world-leading research into industrial collaborations, new products and new companies.

Our experienced and dedicated business development team is there to liaise with industry, connect them to the right academics and foster relationships through various activities.

Informatics Industry Engagement page