MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence (including Professional Practice)

If you want to build a career in the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) but don’t have a computer science background, this conversion course could be for you. This course also features the opportunity to undertake a professional placement in its second year.

Course outline

Artificial Intelligence is at the cutting edge of technology and its potential applications are almost limitless. From developing robots that help people in their own homes to using AI in modelling and managing serious health conditions, it is changing the way we live.

There is no doubt that this rapidly growing area of computer science will be at the centre of technological advances in the future.

As you won’t have a computer science background, this conversion course is designed to get you up to speed quickly, covering the foundations of computer science as well as the specialist knowledge needed for a career in AI.

Our Artificial Intelligence masters is taught by a team of active researchers, so you’ll benefit from their ongoing work and be taught the latest techniques on this interactive course.

This course was developed with support from the Institute of Coding to help break down barriers to digital learning and employment.

The difference between this course and the MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence course with no mention of Professional Practice, is that this one features a professional placement. Students are responsible for finding their own work placement, with the help of our award-winning Careers and Placements Team, who have helped so many of our students to secure placement and work opportunities. Aston is 3rd in the UK for the number of students taking a sandwich year (HESA 2018), showing just how much we encourage students getting professional experience and how successful we are at enabling them to secure work placements. Take a look at our specific placement information and support. Please find more about the timeframe under ‘Learning, teaching and assessment’.

What you’ll learn

We'll teach you the specialist, technical information you need, and you'll develop your ability to create ethical, well-justified and appropriate AI solutions to real-life challenges.

With an emphasis on practical experience, you’ll have the opportunity to design and plan, implement, test, evaluate and document your solutions, preparing you for future challenges as you develop your career.

You’ll work on your own and as part of a team on projects and presentations. The different projects will enable you to develop your communication and team working skills alongside your technical expertise, which is important as you enter the workplace.

Career prospects

On graduation from this course, your skills will be in high demand across a wide range of sectors and industries. From working in robotics or the development of self-driving cars to using machine learning to manage the movement of people around cities, the opportunities are many and varied. Alternatively, you may choose to continue your studies through further research.