This programme is one of the leading Computer Science programmes in Hong Kong, providing students with a well-balanced curriculum and solid education in both the theoretical and practical aspects of computing. This foundation enables students to lead successful careers as professional software developers, system architects, system analysts, technology officers, etc. Besides acquiring a broad knowledge of Computer Science, students can elect to specialise in different technology streams, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, multimedia, software engineering/project management and data science.

• A well-balanced curriculum which comprises a set of highly focused core courses and a wide range of electives, with 5 study streams on Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Multimedia Computing, and Software Engineering and Project Management to allow in-depth study in different areas of expertise.
• All students acquire working experience before graduation through the 9-month mandatory IT Professional Internship, an integral component of the curriculum with emphasis on developing applicable skills and addressing the industry needs.
• 99% full-time employment according to the Graduate Employment Survey 2023 conducted by the University.

The Department of Computer Science was established in 1984, and has evolved from a teaching-oriented department into one that excels in both teaching and research.

The Department launched its first BSc in Computer Studies in 1987 (renamed and restructured as the BSc Computer Science in 2000), followed by the MSc in Computer Science in 1991. The Department also produced its first PhD graduate in 1994.

In addition to offering traditional courses such as foundations of computer science, computer architecture and software engineering, our curriculum exposes students to the latest advances in cloud computing, machine learning, and bioinformatics. Students have the opportunity to undertake a major design and development project in areas such as electronic commerce, virtual reality, multimedia, computer vision, cloud computing, and information security.

All teaching within the Department is subject to stringent quality assurance procedures. The Department maintains state-of-the-art computing facilities, including a private cloud infrastructure for teaching activities support and a high-throughput computing cluster for computationally intensive tasks involved in various research activities.

The Department's research foci include bioinformatics, cloud computing, data science, evolutionary computation and metaheuristic, information security, machine learning, mobile computing, multimedia computing, software engineering, vision and graphics. Our staff have contributed intellectually and professionally to the advancement of these fields.
 

We provide students with a thorough grounding in the theoretical and practical aspects of the computer science discipline. This prepares them for successful careers as system architects and technology officers in the continually developing information technology environment. Our flexible curriculum enables students to develop a strong foundation in the overall discipline and specialisation in a particular area. Through a wide range of electives, our students can keep pace with trends in technology.

For details, please visit the website of Joint Bachelor's Degree Program between City University of Hong Kong and Columbia University.

After completing the first two years of full-time study, CS students will take a 9-month IT Professional Internship (ITPP) course in the third year. This structured placement/internship programme enables our students to integrate and apply what they have learnt in class in a real-world environment. Students perform IT-related projects/developments, and learn how to work as a team member in business or government organizations. In the past, we had students who work at international computer vendors, such as Siemens Ltd., Huawei Tech. Investment Co., Limited; at banks such as HSBC and the Bank of East Asia; at the Hong Kong SAR government and related organisations such as the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Hospital Authority, the Housing Authority and other enterprises such as Hongkong Electric, Deloitte China and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. During the placement year, students will take one day off weekly from work to study a number of courses. For more information, please visit the ITPP website.

If time permits, students may in addition opt for additional short-term overseas internships between the ITPP and semester start. For more information, please visit the University’s Career and Leadership Centre website.

Furthermore, for students to broaden their educational horizons, gain language experience and enhance their awareness of different cultures, the Department, College and University offer over 110 credit-bearing exchange programmes with various partner institutions around the world including universities in Australia, Canada, Europe, the US and the Asia-Pacific region.  For details on Outgoing Exchange opportunities, please visit the University's Global Engagement Office website.

This programme is the first computer science programme in Hong Kong accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).

This is one of the most popular computer science programmes in Hong Kong. We have student exchange partnerships with well-known universities including University College London (UK), University of Bath (UK), University of Sheffield (UK), University of Alicante (Spain), McGill University (Canada), University of Toronto (Canada), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (US) and Vanderbilt University (US), the University of New South Wales (Australia), Peking University (China) and Tsinghua University (China).

Department of Computer Science
College of Computing
Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Undergraduate Catalogue
CityUHK Scholarships for Hong Kong Talents
CityUHK Talents Programme

Starting in 2026/27, high school applicants can directly apply for Year 1 entry to the prestigious Joint Bachelor’s Degree Programme offered by CityUHK and Columbia University. Graduates will earn degrees from both institutions. For JUPAS applicants, a separate application to Columbia University is required after submitting the JUPAS application.