MSc Responsible Data Science

Artificial Intelligence and data-driven approaches to decision-making are rapidly transforming almost every industry and policy sector in the world. These technologies have already generated extraordinary benefits. However, they bring with them new threats and challenges, creating many questions about the limits of their responsible use.

To date, universities seek primarily to train data scientists or IT lawyers rather than to equip legal specialists with a proper understanding of these technologies and their potential social, democratic and ethical risks. Our MSc will equip law graduates and current practising legal professionals with the skills needed to identify these issues and respond thoughtfully to the regulatory challenges they raise.

The programme will consist of six fundamental core modules, group and solo project work and a supervised work placement, which will develop your understanding of the cutting-edge contemporary challenges raised by data science and some of the broader social, democratic and ethical issues that they may implicate.

Employability is at the forefront of the MSc in Responsible Data Science. Developed in collaboration with industry partners, the MSc aims to fill a skills gap in the sector. The ability to interpret and apply computer science-related skills, whilst critically understanding the legal and ethical impact of their work is integral to the future of the legal and commercial industry, and our Msc will give you these skills.

Employment options

Our MSc course will support growth in this sector and broaden potential options post graduation, in roles such as:

• ‘Data Governance specialist’ (advertised by BNY Mellon with a salary range of £20,372 ? £24,977),
• ‘Product Life Cycle Management and Digital Thread Consultant’ (advertised by Accenture with a salary range of £50,000? £65,000), and
• ‘Research Associate ? Unlocking the Potential of AI for English Law’ (advertised by the University of Oxford with a salary range of £32,817 ? £40,322).

Without a workforce of individuals who understand both the fundamentals of AI and data science and the core legal, ethical and institutional concepts and frameworks that they implicate, it will not be possible to build and maintain societal trust in these powerful technologies, and to foster human well-being, human rights and democratic freedom in a data-driven digital age. Industry, government and other organisations require specialists who can help navigate these challenges.