The KAUST program in Computer Science (CS) educates students to become world-class researchers in the rapidly evolving field of computer science. The program is designed to prepare students for leading positions in industry, academia and government, offering a deep understanding of the foundations of information and computation and their application to real-world problems.

Among several applications, the CS program focuses on large-scale networked computer systems, cloud computing, computational aerodynamics, computational biology, computer graphics, biomedical ontology, semantic integration, spatial-temporal databases, remote sensing, data mining, urban planning, environmental sensing, medical and biological disciplines (for the complete list of courses, please check the CS Program Guide provided below). CS is nonetheless in fast expansion and CEMSE’s program is on the front line offering students tools and the opportunities to break new ground.

The CS program offers two degree programs: the M.S. degree (with or without a final thesis) and the Ph.D. degree. Students interested in both diploma should apply to M.S. + Ph.D. from the start to secure the continuation of their studying at KAUST.

The Computer Science program's main areas of research include:

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Resilient Computing and Cybersecurity
  • Computational Biosciences and Bioinformatics
  • Visual Computing and Computational Imaging
  • High-Performance Computing and Big Data
  • Computer Systems and Databases
  • Theoretical Computer Science.

Research in the CS program revolves around the individual Faculty Research Groups and is boosted and complemented by the KAUST Core Lab facilities, the Research Centers affiliated to CEMSE, with collaborations spanning across the University, industry and international research institutions.

In the Computer Science program, we focus on the development of novel computational and AI solutions to key open problems under RDI priorities, spanning over health, environment, energy and economy of the future.  

Professor Xin Gao, Computer Science Program Chair

For more information on program courses and guidelines, please read the CS Program Guide.