How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)

With the rapid advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there is a growing demand for students who can understand and promote it across sectors, from computing systems and economics to healthcare and agriculture. This broad area of research uses rigorous and hands-on computational techniques to address significant problems that arise.

Our MSc Applications of Artificial Intelligence conversion course equips you with a skillset on AI techniques, and prepares you for meeting demand - regardless of your academic background. You obtain a comprehensive perspective of the current developments, needs, and potential of AI through taught modules that promote a deep understanding of AI methods together with others that deliver the necessary technical expertise.

On our course, you cover areas including:

machine learning
data mining
decision-making
big data

You develop relevant skills on both a theoretical and a technical basis, as well as:

understanding of the specifics and the intricacies of AI methodologies
the ability to apply both basic and advanced AI methods
the ability to design and implement novel solutions

You also gain transferable skills such as the ability to develop and present arguments and to work independently with confidence and in groups. Within our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering lies the strong AI for Decision Making research group, which offers you networking opportunities as a student of AI.

You study a course developed in collaboration with industry partners and public sector organisations, which include BT, Profusion, Essex County Council, Essex Police, and Suffolk County Council. Our active links with industry can broaden your employment potential and offer placement opportunities.

This course is available on a full-time and part-time basis, starting in October. You can also start this course in January full-time.

Why we're great.

Learn from world-leading experts in the field.
With our real-world approach, develop a rounded understanding of theoretical, applied, and practical aspects of artificial intelligence.
Our Employability and Careers Centre is on hand to help with careers advice and planning. You also have opportunities to present your research and travel to international conferences.

Our expert staff

Our research covers a range of topics, from materials science and semiconductor device physics, to the theory of computation and the philosophy of computer science, with most of our research groups based around laboratories offering world-class facilities.

Our impressive external research funding stands at over £4 million and we participate in a number of EU initiatives and undertake projects under contract to many outside bodies, including government and industrial organisations.

In recent years we have attracted many highly active research staff and we are conducting world-leading research in areas such as evolutionary computation, brain-computer interfacing, intelligent inhabited environments, and financial forecasting.

Specialist facilities

We are one of the largest and best resourced computer science and electronic engineering schools in the UK. Our work is supported by extensive networked computer facilities and software aids, together with a wide range of test and instrumentation equipment.

We have six laboratories that are exclusively for computer science and electronic engineering students. Three are open 24/7, and you have free access to the labs except when there is a scheduled practical class in progress.
All computers run either Windows 10 or are dual boot with Linux.
Software includes Java, Prolog, C++, Perl, Mysql, MATLAB, DB2, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, and Project.
Students have access to CAD tools and simulators for chip design (Xilinx) and computer networks (OPNET).
We also have specialist facilities for research into areas including non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments, robotics, optoelectronics, video, RF and MW, printed circuit milling, and semiconductors.

Your future

With a skillset that combines both technical and analytical know-how from our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, our graduates are equipped to find employment in very competitive institutions in a wide range of disciplines. A career in artificial intelligence can be realised within a wide range of sectors, including health, finance, education etc. both in the public and the private sector. Jobs held by our AI graduates include computer/data/research scientists, software developers and analysts.

We also work with the University's Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

You would also be able to progress to a postgraduate research degree (such as a PhD) with us in artificial intelligence or other areas of computer science and electronic engineering, and computational finance.

"I received a Chevening Scholarship in order to study at Essex. It is one of a kind and globally recognised for raising Leaders that would impact positive change in their fields, local communities and in the world at large. Without the scholarship I probably would never have had the opportunity to study in the UK. The scholarship truly has had a profound impact on my life and will continue to do so in the future. Receiving this scholarship feels like being granted a global platform to showcase my potential and make a meaningful impact. I am not only empowered, but also connected with a dynamic community of leaders and talented individuals who share a common goal of driving positive change. I am proud to say that the Chevening Scholarship is not just a financial scholarship, but also an entryway to a powerful network of change-makers."

Vincent Nnamdi, MSc Artificial Intelligence and its Applications* student

*Course renamed to MSc Applications of Artificial Intelligence for October 2025 entry onwards

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, in any subject.

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

If English is not your first language, we require 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.

Structure

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.

The example structure below is representative of this course if taken full-time. If you choose to study part-time, the modules will be split across two years.

Please note that if you are studying full-time (either starting in October or January) there is no second year; you will develop your dissertation throughout the course of your single year.

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 and modules explained

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:

100

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.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: CORE WITH OPTIONS

(60 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

An Approachable Introduction to Programming

(15 CREDITS)

This module will help you develop your coding skills, and assumes you have no prior coding skills. The language used will be ‘Python’, which is well known as an introductory programming language, with the ability to learn starting with a simple single line of code approach. As your coding skills develop, you will be able to review and debug simple code, as a route to developing your own code, through the assembling of coding blocks. You will have the opportunity to experience code relevant to your own course, and to develop code that is useful within your degree context.

View An Approachable Introduction to Programming on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Information Retrieval

(15 CREDITS)

Search engines have become the first entry point into a world of knowledge and they form an essential part of many modern computer applications. While much of the underlying principles have been developed over decades, the landscape of search engine technology has changed dramatically in recent years to deal with data sources magnitudes larger than ever before (the rise of 'big data'). As a result of this, new paradigms for storing, indexing and accessing information have emerged. This module will provide the essential foundation of information retrieval and equip students with solid, applicable knowledge of state-of-the-art search technology.

View Information Retrieval on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Foundational Mathematics for Data Science

(15 CREDITS)

In this module you will be introduced to the necessary mathematical foundations and tools for working with data. You will become familiar with standard mathematical notation and concepts, and with common techniques such as differentiation, integration, metrics, vectors and matrices.

View Foundational Mathematics for Data Science on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Group Project

(15 CREDITS)

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.

View Group Project on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Artificial intelligence and machine learning with applications

(15 CREDITS)

This module introduces Artificial Intelligence (AI), the science of making computers and machines display intelligent behaviour. This multidisciplinary activity draws from computer sciences, mathematics and statistics, and also elements of philosophy, logic and even psychology. Today, AI is ubiquitous in society, from self-driving cars to spam filters and finance trading to video games. The increasing dependence on AI will reshape society and economy. Understanding AI principles, applications, and limitations is important for all students, regardless of their background, and this module assumes no prior knowledge. This module provides both theoretical and practical techniques, covering AI theory and fundamentals of machine learning models, as well as their implementation and applications.

View Artificial intelligence and machine learning with applications on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

Professional Practice and Research Methodology

(15 CREDITS)

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 08: COMPULSORY

Data analysis and statistics with R

(15 CREDITS)

The module will introduce you to concepts from data analysis and statistics and show how they can be applied effectively via the R language. It will cover a wide introduction to statistics and provide practical experience of real-world examples of how statistics is used to gain insights. Throughout these examples, and many more, we will teach programming techniques that will enable you to apply statistical approaches to real-world applications. This module assumes no previous exposure to statistics.

View Data analysis and statistics with R on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 09: OPTIONAL

(15 CREDITS)

Teaching

The modules you take on this course provide a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the theory, methods, and applications of artificial intelligence.
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

This course is assessed by coursework and projects. Some modules might also be assessed via written examinations.

Dissertation

Focus in-depth on a topic of your choice via a research project under the close supervision of our expert faculty staff.

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£12,125

International fee

£23,500

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

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.

2025 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

Saturday 20 September 2025 - September Open Day

Saturday 8 November 2025 - November Open Day

Find out more

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.

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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.

Find out more

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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 the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

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.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.