MSt in AI Ethics and Society

Virtual Open Events

To learn more about the programme and the student experience, and to ask any questions you may have, you can watch the recording of our virtual open event below.  Please contact us if you have questions that were not answered here.

Watch the Virtual Open Day recording here

Education Aims

The programme aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the ethical and societal challenges arising from the use of Artificial Intelligence. It provides a professionally relevant teaching and learning environment informed by the forefront of academic research on AI and its ethical and societal impacts.

The programme will:

● Ensure that engagement with the ethical and societal challenges of AI is thoroughly informed by the knowledge, theories and methods of relevant established academic disciplines

● Provide a critical overview of the state of current interdisciplinary research on the challenges of AI

● Develop the critical research skills and analytical abilities needed to identify and address ethical challenges as they arise in practice from applications of AI

● Instil thorough knowledge of the role that different governance approaches can play in navigating the challenges of AI, and the ability to critically analyse those approaches

● Develop experts in the ethical and societal implications of AI with the ability and initiative to identify and address the challenges of AI across sectors and society

● Create a network for such experts to collaborate and continue learning as leaders in the field of AI ethics and governance

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of this programme, students will be able to:

● Discuss the ethical and societal challenges of AI with a full understanding of its history and its relationship to other disciplines and technologies

● Identify the capabilities of current AI systems, their key applications and the potential ethical and societal challenges of those applications

● Evaluate key ethical and societal challenges arising from the use of AI and the existing critical literature

● Apply theories and methodologies from a range of established disciplines and demonstrate their use in addressing ethical and societal challenges raised by AI

● Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of current governance approaches for addressing the challenges posed by AI

● Apply the systematic understanding of AI ethics and governance to develop new insights

Skills and other attributes

By the end of this programme, students will be able to:

● Synthesise and analyse research and advanced scholarship across disciplines

● Put theoretical and academic knowledge into practice

● Structure extended pieces of written work and present arguments clearly and effectively

● Plan and implement an independent research project

● Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, and show originality in tackling and solving problems

Expected academic standard

Applicants are normally expected to a hold a 2i degree or higher from a UK university or an equivalent from an overseas university in a relevant subject.

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Applicants to the programme are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the English language; students whose first language is not English must be able to satisfy the current English Language Competence requirements of the University’s Board of Graduate Studies in the year in which they apply for admission to the course.

Applicants for this course are also expected to have:

• fluency in written and spoken English language;

• demonstrable commitment to, and aptitude for, advancing the ethical use of AI in society; and

• access to appropriate computer technology and internet service to allow for significant online participation, both synchronous and asynchronous; 

There is provision to accept non-standard applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criterion. Such applicants must produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their suitability for the course.

The structure of the programme allows international students to attend on a Short-term Study Visa, and those in full-time employment, whether in the UK or abroad, to work and study at the same time.

Language requirement

If English isn’t your first language, you will be required to submit evidence that you meet the University’s English language requirement before you are admitted.

Please follow this link for full details of the University Language Requirement:

https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international/competence-english

Please note that there are no exceptions to this requirement and, if you are offered a place on the course, it will be subject to you meeting this requirement.

Those that have taken previous degrees in English may not fulfil the requirement. Please use the calculator to check if you are required to take a language test. Failure to do could mean that you are not able to join the course.

Language requirements for this course are as per the table below:

• IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 7.5, with no element lower than 7.0
• TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 110, with no element lower than 25
• CAE: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element), plus a language centre assessment.
• CPE: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 in each individual element)

The fees for 2021-23 will be £20,000 for home students and £30,000 for overseas/EU students, payable in instalments over the two academic years. The combined graduate fee includes college membership. Students on this course can apply to Hughes Hall college.　

Students will be expected to cover the application fee (£70 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence during residential sessions in Cambridge. Accommodation is available in your college at their standard rates.

Sources of government funding and financial support - including Professional and Career Development Loans

For information on a loan from Student Finance England for course fees and a contribution towards living costs, please see　https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/info/student-loans

Applicants must submit the following documents with their application:

• Official undergraduate degree transcripts
• Undergraduate degree Certificate
• Other professional or academic qualifications
• Language certificate (where required)
• Personal Statement* (motivation for applying for the course and a summary of most relevant experience or interest in relation to AI Ethics & Society)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• 2 References (preferably academic references)
• Sample of work **

*The Personal Statement should be approximately 500-600 words. Unfortunately, due to a system glitch, you may need to type it within the application and upload the same statement in pdf form. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

** Applicants should provide a writing sample of no more than 5,000 words to demonstrate ability to write for a professional, academic or public audience on any topic (topics related to AI and/or ethics are especially encouraged). This might be a news article, professional report, academic paper, internal report, blog post or other form of published or unpublished written communication.　
 

Important Dates

● October 2020: Open for applications

● 31 March 2021: Deadline to apply

● week starting 26 April 2021: Admission interviews

● June 2021: Final decisions and offers