Research computing
Oxford’s Research Computing enables world-leading research by providing the advanced computing, data, and software capabilities required for modern research. From large-scale simulations and data-intensive analysis to specialist research software, Oxford’s Research Computing services give researchers the tools, infrastructure, and expertise needed to tackle ambitious and complex research challenges across all disciplines.
What is research computing?
Research computing supports research and teaching that goes beyond the limits of a personal computer. It provides access to powerful computing systems, large-scale data storage, specialist software, and expert support, enabling researchers to work at a scale and level of complexity that would otherwise not be possible with conventional IT.
At Oxford, research computing underpins computationally intensive, data-driven, and time-critical research across disciplines, supporting discovery, innovation, and collaboration.
Examples of research computing include:
- High-performance computing (HPC): enabling large-scale modelling and simulation by running many calculations in parallel across 100s or 1000s of processors.
- High-throughput computing (HTC): running large numbers of independent jobs efficiently to process many datasets or explore large parameter spaces at scale.
- AI and machine learning: supporting the training and use of advanced models through access to GPU-accelerated systems.
- Fast, large-scale storage: providing the capacity and performance needed to store, move, and analyse very large research datasets.
- Secure research platforms: enabling analysis of sensitive data in environments designed to meet the highest security standards.
- Cloud computing: using public and private cloud services for flexible and scalable research workloads.
- Research software engineering: applying professional software engineering expertise to develop robust, sustainable research software.
The future of Research Computing at Oxford
Oxford is actively shaping the future of Research Computing through ongoing investment and strategic planning.
By strengthening computing capability locally and nationally, the University’s vision is to create an environment where Researchers and students benefit from world-class, sustainable research computing capabilities that empower them to pursue ground-breaking research and deliver exceptional teaching.
For updates, please visit: https://unioxfordnexus.sharepoint.com/sites/OxIntranet-research-innovation/SitePages/Research-Computing-Strategy-and-Roadmap.aspx
Services available at Oxford
Oxford offers a comprehensive portfolio of Research Computing services that combine powerful shared infrastructure with specialist expertise. Together, these services support researchers at every stage of the research lifecycle, from early experimentation to large-scale production workloads.
Oxford’s high-performance computing ‘capability’ service, providing access to CPUs with low-latency networking high-performance storage suitable for workloads not involving sensitive data.
Oxford’s high-throughput computing ‘capacity’ service, providing access to CPUs & GPUs with high-performance storage suitable for workloads not involving sensitive data.
Oxford’s specialist research computing environment designed for working with sensitive data (such as biomedical or social science data), offering secure CPU and GPU computing, high-performance storage, and local cloud services through OpenStack.
Trusted Research Environment (under development)
The Trusted Research Environment (TRE) will be a cloud-based service designed to meet the needs of working with sensitive medical or social science data–sets that contain personally identifiable data. This service will be accepting early adopters from the Summer 2026 and is due to be in service by the end of 2026. Please contact the team if interested.
A resilient and secure central storage service for active research data, giving researchers confidence that their data is protected, accessible, and managed in line with University requirements.
Oxford Research Software Engineering (OxRSE)
A dedicated team of professional research software engineers who work with researchers to design, develop, and improve research software, helping to increase research quality, sustainability, reproducibility, and impact. OxRSE also provides advice and support for research projects using cloud technologies.
Who can use Research Computing services
Research Computing resources are available to:
- University of Oxford staff
- Research students connected to a research project
- Approved collaborators working on Oxford-led research projects
Access to Research Computing services typically requires an active University account and membership of a project or research group.
Getting started with Research Computing
Research Computing at Oxford is supported by a strong programme of training, consultancy, and researcher-focused support. For more information about Research Computing at Oxford, please refer to the OxIntranet (SSO required).
Support, training, and advice
- Training: courses and workshops covering Oxford’s Research Computing services and research software development. For more information about available training, please see the OxIntranet.
- Research software support: OxRSE offers consultancy and training to help develop, improve, and sustain research software.
- Grant support: for advice on including Research Computing resources in grant applications, including costing and justification, you can contact us at [email protected].
Research Computing Concierge
The Research Computing Concierge service provides personalised advice to help researchers identify the most appropriate services and support for their work, whether they are new to Oxford, new to research computing, or have a specific problem to solve. To reach the concierge service, email [email protected].
Community
Researchers can connect with colleagues, share knowledge, and stay up to date with developments by joining the Research Computing User Group. The user group is an online space for members to discuss, network, and keep up to date with the evolving research computing landscape at Oxford. You can join the User Group on Microsoft Teams.
More information
More information about ARC services, including setting up new projects, policies, and accounting details, can be found on the OxIntranet (SSO required). If you are external to the University and unable to access these pages, please contact [email protected] for further information.