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Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Masters/MSc

Start date
September/October
Duration
1 year full-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024/25: 
£11,340 - UK students
£31,410 - International students
Further fee and scholarships information is available.

Understand the fundamental principles of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. This specialist Artificial Intelligence (AI) Masters/MSc programme will allow you to apply your knowledge to real problems.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

The past ten years have seen astonishing advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning that are promising to transform 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.

On this programme you will learn about the fundamental principles of AI and ML and how machines can perceive, explore, and understand the world around us. You will extend and apply your knowledge to real problems in a substantial individual project working with one of our world-leading researchers, many of whom are working closely with the Alan Turing Institute, the UK national institute for AI and Data Science, of which the University of Birmingham is a member.

You will learn about what current generation AIs can and cannot do, about contemporary challenges, and about societal and ethical considerations so that you can make informed decisions about how AI techniques should be used in the real world.

You will study a range of compulsory modules and be able to choose from a variety of optional modules, whilst also undertaking an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Project.

Why study Artificial Intelligence Masters/MSc at Birmingham?

  • Birmingham is one of the leading universities in the country for postgraduate study in computer science, and we are proud to deliver outstanding programmes that offer a range of exciting career opportunities for students from around the world.
  • State-of-the-art, multi-million pound facilities include dedicated laboratories for Computer Science students, a teaching laboratory for Robotics, and research laboratories for Security, Medical Imaging, Intelligent Robotics and Computer Vision.
  • We are a partner in the Alan Turing Institute, the UK's national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.

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

The course consists of 180 credits. As well as 2 x 20 credit compulsory modules and 1 x 60 credit compulsory project, you also have the chance to choose up to 80 credits from a range of optional, specialist modules.

Core modules

Optional modules

60 credits must be chosen. Examples of optional 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

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

  • UK students: £11,340
  • International students: £31,410

Application Fee

For international applicants this programme is subject to a £50 non-refundable application fee. At the end of the application form, before you can submit it to us, you will be required to pay, or indicate how you will pay the required fee in order for us to process your application. Please complete and submit your application before paying your application fee.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) for Masters students

UK and EU students (with settled or pre-settled status) looking to pursue a Masters programme in the UK can apply for a non-means-tested loan from the British government via the Student Loans Company (SLC).

The loan will be paid directly to you, into a UK bank account. It is intended to provide a contribution towards the costs of Masters study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs is at your own discretion.

Learn more about applying for PGL 

 

Scholarships

We offer a range of postgraduate scholarships for taught programmes and research opportunities to ensure the very best talent is nurtured and supported at postgraduate level.

University scholarships

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

Our Birmingham Masters Scholarship offers £2,000 via a tuition fee discount, to support the brightest and best applicants from UK or Ireland undertaking Masters study at Birmingham during 2024-2025.

How To Apply

Application Fee

For international applicants this programme is subject to a £50 non-refundable application fee. At the end of the application form, before you can submit it to us, you will be required to pay, or indicate how you will pay the required fee in order for us to process your application. Please complete and submit your application before paying your application fee.

UK and non-Tier 4 applicants

Applications will close 31 August 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

International applicants requiring visas

Applications to this programme from students who are international for fees will close 7 May 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

Before you make your application

You will need to provide a transcript of your studies to date. This should include details of modules and subjects studied, and grades already obtained. We are unable to proceed with your application without this information, and if it is not provided, your application could be made unsuccessful.

If you are made an offer

If you are made an offer, you will have 28 days to accept the offer via the online portal, or it will automatically be declined by default.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a numerate discipline (Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Economics), or another programme with substantial mathematics content; applicants are also required to have passed mathematics related modules with a 2:1 level score in years 1 and 2 of the degree.

Students who have not studied in English must pass a recognised English test. Learn more about entry requirements.

International Requirements



International Students

English language

For students whose first language is not English, one of the following English language qualifications are required:

  • IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall, with at least 6.0 in each component;
  • TOEFL: TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing;
  • PTE Academic: Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.

The programme includes lectures, tutorials, exercise classes, practical work, projects and independent study.

You will gain knowledge and understanding of

  • the theoretical principles of the core techniques of artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • software tools and frameworks for artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning 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 machine learning techniques to solve problems
  • the ability to specify, design and construct solutions to artificial intelligence and machine learning 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 or machine learning problem
  • the ability to work independently on a substantial artificial intelligence or machine learning project
  • project management skills
  • numeracy, in both understanding and presenting cases involving quantitative or similar format, symbolic dimensions
  • interpersonal skills

Having a MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 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 about societal and ethical considerations so that you can make informed decisions about how AI techniques should be used in the real world.

What can I do with a postgraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning?

Graduates with a degree in AI and Machine Learning have a wealth of career opportunities to choose from. You may choose a graduate role in environments including:

  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • AI Developer
  • Research Scientist
  • Technology Consultant
  • Data Scientist

Some students also choose careers in teaching, research or technology development at universities both in the UK and overseas. There is a great deal of potential for postgraduates looking to put their computing skills to good use.

What does the future hold?

Your career prospects are great and specialist computing graduates with a good degree are in demand. Plus, with the number of computer science graduates from the UK diminishing at the same time as jobs increasing, students with a postgraduate degree have an excellent chance of securing employment.

University Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.

If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.