Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science MSc/PGDip

Dubai Campus

Start date
Full-time: September. Part-time: January or September.
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees
Annual tuition fee for 2024:

MSc - AED 148,138 for 1 year full-time or AED 74,069 per year over 2 years, part-time.
PGDip - AED 98,759  for 1 year full-time.
Your tuition fee can be paid in 3 instalments per year.

Scholarships are available.

Designed to open the doors to exciting new career opportunities in artificial intelligence and computer science, our MSc/PGDip Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science degree programme is suitable for graduates from diverse subject backgrounds.

University sponsorships are not available for part-time applicants. If you are a part-time applicant who requires visa sponsorship, please refer to our visa categories for further information.

MSc/PGDip Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science is accredited by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education

This Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Masters/PGDip has been designed for people from a variety of academic backgrounds to get them up to speed with artificial intelligence and computer science. The programme is generally for students who have a first degree in a subject other than computing, but we consider students with a background in computing on a case-by-case basis.

To enrich your learning experience on our programmes, our teaching is delivered jointly by staff from both our campuses (Dubai and the UK), by utilising modern digital technology. Typically, for each module, the teaching team consists of colleagues across the campuses with at least one member based in the Dubai campus. You will receive the same high-quality teaching materials (lecture slides and notes, for example) and rigorous assessments (assignments and exams, for example) as our UK campus. You will also have the opportunity to interact with staff & students across both campuses to support and enhance your learning experience. Furthermore, there is also the opportunity to conduct projects under the supervision of staff from either of our campuses which significantly boosts the pool of project topics accessible to our students.

The recent years have seen astonishing advances in artificial intelligence that are promising to transfer the way we interpret and use data. These advances are already finding their way into our daily lives in areas that include automated language translation, speech recognition and generation, recommender systems, face identification and other applications that we may not even be aware of. It is also allowing us to think about the nature of intelligence from different perspectives to understand the way that humans perform tasks, and to augment and support our abilities in areas such as medical diagnostics, where AI techniques are beginning to be used to filter vast medical datasets to provide doctors with new insights that can be used to inform a diagnosis or treatment plan.

In our MSc/PGDip Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science programme, you'll learn data management skills so that you can collect and manipulate data. You’ll learn the all-important skills and techniques of programming, algorithm analysis and computer systems so that you can develop efficient computational solutions. Further, you’ll learn classical and modern artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques so that you can analyse and extract patterns from data. Teaching is joint between academics on our Dubai campus, and our Edgbaston Campus. You will also have the opportunity to interact and work alongside students in our Edgbaston campus in the UK whilst you study at our Dubai campus.

This programme will develop your in-depth understanding of the fundamental and core principles of artificial intelligence and computer science and allow you to apply your knowledge to real-world problems through a substantial individual project.

Why study Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science at Birmingham Dubai?

  • Global recognition - We offer the same world-class education as in our UK campus by delivering the same high-quality curriculum and meticulously similar quality assurance processes.
  • International reputation - The School of Computer Science is a truly international place, and our academics specialise in subjects including artificial intelligence and cyber security, which the modern world is built upon. You will be obtaining a first-class education in real-world issues and will become the person that can develop and lead society and our future.
  • Research focused teaching - Our research feeds directly into your teaching ensuring your programme includes the latest developments in Computer Science, such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Cyber Security.
  • Excellent career prospects - The broad range of skills you will gain mean you could choose to work in technology consultancy, IT, investment and banking, software development, data science, finance, or join on of the many emerging start-up companies.
  • Connections across the world - You will become part of our global community of computer science students across the world meaning you will be connected wherever you go in the world.

Award-winning development

At the School of Computer Science, we are not just renowned for teaching and research excellence. We also produce novel solutions for real-world applications, including:

  • Working with Jaguar Land Rover to make their vehicles more secure
  • Contributing to the development of the Trusted Platform Module which makes many of our computers capable of secure cryptographic operations
  • Deploying autonomous, intelligent robots in security and health support facilities
  • Developing a revolutionary, award-winning method for diagnosing skin cancer

Modules

Core modules

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods

Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Your tuition fee can be paid in 3 instalments per year. Fees for 2024 entry:

Masters/MSc

  • Full time AED 148,138 for 1 year
  • Part-time AED 74,069 per year over 2 years

PG Diploma

  • Full time AED 98,759 for 1 year
  • Part-time AED 49,379 per year over 2 years

Scholarships

We have a number of scholarships available.

How To Apply

To find out more information about our application process please visit our 'How to apply page' before starting your application.

We will consider applications from applicants who already have a first degree in computer science on a case-by-case basis.

Our Standard Requirements

2:2 Honours degree in any subject other than computing. Students who have not studied in English must pass a recognised English test.

International students

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries – learn more about international entry requirements. Standard English language requirements apply.

International Requirements


Our highly regarded teaching on the MSc Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science course employs a mixture of lectures, tutorials, exercise classes, lab and study work, projects, online assignments, presentations, and independent study.

We want to prepare you for your graduate career by helping you gain skills and experience in many different ways, as roles in artificial intelligence and computer science often ask for individuals who have strong communication and team working skills. By keeping your learning varied, you will have the chance to learn and grow to allow you to communicate in different ways, and with different types of people.

All work will be assessed via exams, coursework, presentations, and a dissertation.

You will gain knowledge and understanding of

  • the theoretical principles of the core techniques of artificial intelligence and computer science
  • tools and frameworks for artificial intelligence and computer science
  • the application of artificial intelligence and computer science to practical problems

You will also attain the following skills and attributes

  • the ability to apply the knowledge and understanding above to use artificial intelligence and/or computer science techniques to solve problems
  • the ability to specify, design and construct solutions to artificial intelligence and/or computer science problems, using appropriate tools, and to document all stages of this process
  • the ability to evaluate a range of methodological approaches in relation to a given artificial intelligence and/or computer science problem
  • the ability to work independently on a substantial artificial intelligence and/or computer science project

Course delivery

We offer a combination of evening and weekend classes which are designed to accommodate working professionals and those who choose to study full-time.

Our draft timetable for full-time students is designed to deliver teaching on one or two evenings from 18:00-21:00 and on Saturday from 09:00-17:00 (day varies per module). Each module is block taught over 11 weeks in Semester 1 and 12 weeks in Semester 2. Part-time students will study during these hours as per the number of modules they choose to study.

Please note that the example timetable is to be used as a guide and is subject to change. Our term dates are also available online. For further information, please contact the Programme Director, M. Usman Ilyas (m.ilyas@bham.ac.uk).

View example timetable for MSc Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science (PDF 228KB)

A degree gained through completing our MSc Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science degree programme provides the skills required for a wide range of careers.  It will give you a disciplined approach to analysing problems, with the ability to design creative solutions and critically evaluate the results. Employers are impressed by the combination of technical and transferable skills offered by computing graduates, and as such, you might find yourself in a variety of environments in academia, industry, research, and commercial organisations.

Having a MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science will equip you with the right skills and knowledge to tackle immediate, real-world problems. You will be equipped to recognise what current generation AIs can and cannot do, about contemporary challenges, and make informed decisions about how AI techniques should be used in the real world.

These qualities, plus the prestige of a degree from a leading World Class University, make our graduates attractive to companies in the engineering sector worldwide as well as those in finance, consultancy, and commerce.

Examples of companies where our graduates have gone on to work

  • Microsoft
  • Google
  • Apple
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Sony
  • IBM
  • Siemens
  • Honda
  • JP Morgan
  • Morgan Stanley
  • The Bank of England

With the fast-changing connected world, AI and computer science are key areas for future careers across the world. Dubai, for example, is a truly exciting global city with a rapidly developing economy and extremely fast digitisation of Government services and actively embracing the artificial intelligence lead automation of various sectors. There is a vibrant start-up scene evident by the massive success of locally developed Careem and Amazon.ae. This vibrant environment is no doubt creating new jobs for AI and computer science professionals.

Your Birmingham Degree

Your Birmingham degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target Birmingham students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends.