The research programme of the Department of Computer Science aims (broadly stated) to improve computing's effects upon society.

The research of the department of Computer Science is executed in the context of the multidisciplinary research programmes of the OU, specifically within the Research Program Towards High-Quality and Intelligent Software (THIS). It is composed of four program lines:

• Software Quality. This program line focuses on quality assurance techniques for software systems. Research concentrates on techniques for, or based on, automated testing, theorem proving, model checking, run-time verification and static analysis. 
• Security & Privacy. This program line focuses on security of software and computer systems, and privacy-by-design.
• Artificial Intelligence. This program line focuses on methods for artificial intelligence (such as Bayesian models, machine learning and deep learning), responsible AI, and applications (smart services). 
• Teaching & Learning. This program line focuses on learning-supporting tools and on computing education.