MSc Artificial Intelligence
Overview
What is the MSc Artificial Intelligence?
The MSc Artificial Intelligence is a one- or two-year degree studied at our Colchester Campus.
You’ll gain expertise that is in huge demand within the UK industry with a strong understanding of theoretical, applied and practical aspects of AI.
Why this course
The MSc Artificial Intelligence lets you link AI techniques to real-world applications and projects, from business to medicine.
You’ll explore genetic algorithms, evolutionary programming, fuzzy systems, neural networks, connectionist systems and hybrid intelligent systems. Then you’ll specialise in how AI can impact games, telecommunications, finance or more.
You’ll graduate with the confidence and ability to apply AI to a range of disciplines and sectors.
Who should apply
- Future developers and analysts
- Those wanting to use AI applications to revolutionise people’s lives
- Graduates eager to develop their own computer games, apps, online platforms and digital systems
- Computational thinkers with great grasp of pattern recognition and algorithms
What you’ll learn
- Machine learning: Master programming for machines
- Intelligent systems: Explore how to programme intelligent systems and real-world robots
- Neural networks: Uncover artificial neural networks (ANNs) and build machines with artificial brains
- Professional practice: Gain the research and business skills needed for your professional career
- Specialise: Tailor your degree to your choice of optional modules
Your learning experience
- Expert teaching: Learn from leading researchers revolutionising industries such as agriculture and healthcare
- Specialist facilities: Access 24/7 computing labs with a range of programming software and specialist facilities for brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments and more
Careers and outcomes
An MSc Artificial Intelligence degree prepares you for diverse careers in:
- Business: AI adoption, compliance, data analysis, automation, consultancy
- IT: Computer and information research, database systems administration
- Engineering: Design, development, research, diagnostics, manufacture
- Healthcare: Health information and technology, clinical data and systems administration
- Computer games: Development, programming
Employers of graduates from this course
Graduates from our Masters have progressed to roles in national and international organisations, including:
- Electronic Data Systems
- Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
- Bank of Mexico
- Visa International
- Hyperknowledge (Cambridge)
- Hellenic Air Force
- ICSS (Beijing)
- United Microelectronic Corporation (Taiwan)
Professional accreditation
Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
- Top 250 (Top 25 in the UK) for computer science in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- 9th in the UK for research impact in computer science (REF 2021)
- Top 25 in the UK for computer science in Research.com’s Best Universities 2025
Meet the researchers
Course content
Course structure
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
| Status | What this means |
| Core |
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Core with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Compulsory |
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Compulsory with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Optional |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
| HR | 100 | 4 | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History. |
The module number. |
The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification. |
The term the module will be taught in.
|
COMPONENT 01: CORE WITH OPTIONS
What fascinates you? Apply your learning in computer science or engineering to solve a problem. Design, implement and evaluate a solution, producing a dissertation on your investigation and giving an oral presentation of your work. Test your knowledge, while gaining practical experience and building your project management skills.
COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY
This module aims to prepare students for conducting an independent research project leading to a dissertation and to provide them with an appreciation of research and business skills related to their professional career. As a precursor to their project students, individually select an area of Computer Science, or Electronic Engineering, or Computational Finance and perform the necessary background research to define a topic and prepare a project proposal under the guidance of a supervisor. The module guides them by a) introducing common research methods b) creating an understanding of basic statistics for describing and making conclusions from data c) helping to write a strong proposal including learning how to perform literature search and evaluation and d) giving an in-depth view into the business enterprise, financial and management accounting and investment appraisal.
View Professional Practice and Research Methodology on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY
Teamwork skills are essential for employability. The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to apply their specialised knowledge to a realistic problem and gain practical experience of the processes involved in the team-based production of software. Wherever possible, teams are organised on the basis of shared interest, and the problem is designed to exercise their understanding of their area of specialised study. Starting from an outline description of a realistic problem, each team is required to develop a fully implemented software solution using appropriate engineering and project management techniques.
COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY
Humans can often perform a task extremely well (e.g., telling cats from dogs) but are unable to understand and describe the decision process followed. Without this explicit knowledge, we cannot write computer programs that can be used by machines to perform the same task. “Machine learning” is the study and application of methods to learn such algorithms automatically from sets of examples, just like babies can learn to tell cats from dogs simply by being shown examples of dogs and cats by their parents. Machine learning has proven particularly suited to cases such as optical character recognition, dictation software, language translators, fraud detection in financial transactions, and many others.
COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY
This module gives an introduction to intelligent systems and robotics. It goes on to consider the essential hardware for sensing and manipulating the real world, and their properties and characteristics. The programming of intelligent systems and real-world robots are explored in the context of localisation, mapping, and fuzzy logic control.
View Intelligent Systems and Robotics on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY
The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the role of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in computer science and artificial intelligence. This will allow the student to build computers and intelligent machines which are able to have an artificial brain which will allow them to learn and adapt in a human like fashion.
View Neural Networks and Deep Learning on our Module Directory
Teaching
- Gain a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the theory, methods, and applications of computer science.
- Whether you want to specialise or gain a broad understanding of the subject, your course will be structured with both core components and optional modules.
- Postgraduate students are regularly encouraged to attend conferences and seminars and engage with the wider research community.
Assessment
- Courses are assessed on the results of your written examinations, together with continual assessments of your practical work and coursework.
Dissertation
- Focus in-depth on a topic of your choice via a research project under the close supervision of our expert faculty staff.
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 degree in one of the following subjects (with no module requirements):
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computing
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Games
- Computer Networks
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Software Engineering
We will consider applicants with any other 2:2 degree or above which includes:
At least two Programming modules from the following list:
- Advanced Programming
- Algorithms
- C, C#, C++
- Data Structures
- Introduction to Programming
- Programming Languages
- Software Engineering
- Java
- MATLAB
- Object Oriented Programming (OOP)
- Python
- System Programming Algorithms
And
One or more maths modules, such as:
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Differential equations
- Probability and Statistics
- Mathematics
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£12,725
International fee
£24,675
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
Open Days
We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.
2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)
Applying
You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.
We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.
For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
Got a question about this course? Chat with Dr Ian Daly from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.
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At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
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