[8] In 1966, the postgraduate Centre for Computing and Automation came into being and consumed the pre-existing Computer Unit,[7][9] with John Westcott migrating his Control Group from the Electrical Engineering department and joining Stanley Gill as joint head.

In 1972, Manny Lehman joined the department[11] and with Westcott, developed the first undergraduate course (BSc).

However, professional software engineering was not as it is today and Lehman founded IST to provide a place for Imperial students to get some practical experience.

[14] Sayers later became the head of the Centre for Cognitive Systems,[19] which resided in the newly built William Penney Laboratory.

Master's students can choose to specialize in a particular field, or also study management and finance as part of their degree.

[26] All students who obtain an undergraduate degree from the department are also awarded the Associateship of the City & Guilds Institute, ACGI.

The department also offers specialist master's degrees which focus on particular fields of study within computer science.

[27] The department also offers an MRes course as part of the EPSRC,[28] and takes on PhD students.

[29] All students graduating with any of the postgraduate degrees (MSc, MRes or PhD) are also awarded the Diploma of Imperial College, DIC.