Boost your career prospects with skills in problem solving for every industry.
If you don't meet our entry requirements, you can also access this course with an Internationally Incorporated Master's (IIM).
The Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) conversion course will give you the opportunity to embark on a new career in Computer Science with a particular emphasis in Artificial Intelligence.
The demand for AI expertise is growing rapidly as industries increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to drive innovation and efficiency. From healthcare and finance to autonomous systems and cybersecurity, AI is transforming the way businesses operate, creating a strong need for skilled professionals who can develop and deploy intelligent systems. As companies seek to leverage AI-driven insights and automation, there is a rising demand for experts who understand machine learning, and data science.
The MSc in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) is designed to support students from any background who are interested in a career in Artificial Intelligence or Data Analytics. The course offers a tailored entry pathway that is designed to meet the different entry backgrounds of our students. This program covers core topics such as python programming, machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, ensuring students gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. The course emphasizes practical learning through labs, workshops, and projects, allowing students to apply AI techniques to solve complex problems. Whether aspiring to become AI engineers, data scientists, or researchers, graduates of this program will be well-equipped with the expertise and experience needed to excel in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
If you start in September, you can choose to take this course with the addition of an year in industry. Strong industry connections and career support services help students secure internships and job placements at top tech companies and research institutions.
This course is accredited by BCS (British Computer Society). The course partially meets the requirements for a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP).
Our world-leading researchers, in key areas such as cyber security, programming languages, computational intelligence and data science, earned us an outstanding result in the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF); an impressive 100% of our research was classified as either 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' for impact.
Strong links with industry underpin all our work, notably with Cisco Systems Inc, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Nvidia, Erlang Solutions, GCHQ and Google.
Our courses are taught by leading researchers who are experts in their fields. The School of Computing at Kent is home to several authors of leading computer science textbooks.
We have a large range of equipment providing both Linux and PC-based systems. Our resources include a multicore enterprise server and a virtual machine server that supports computer security experiments.
The School also has a unique makerspace called the Hackspace, which offers exciting teaching and collaboration opportunities.
100% of our research was classified as either 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' for impact in the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF).
AI is a crucial, rapidly growing field. Our masters programme will make you an expert, setting you up for a successful career.
Take a paid placement year to help boost your professional skills and kick-start your career.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
We have a large range of equipment providing both Linux and PC-based systems, and a makerspace offering exciting teaching and collaboration opportunities.
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 100% of our Computer Science and Informatics research was classified as either 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' for impact.
A first or second class honours degree or equivalent in any subject. You should also have mathematical skills equivalent to a grade C or above in GCSE Mathematics.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The course is designed to be tailored around your skill level and your interests.
You choose either "Python Programming" or "Programming for Artificial Intelligence" with Python, depending on your previous programming experience. You then take all compulsory modules and choose one from a list of optional modules.
At the end of the course you complete your Project and Dissertation.
Python is rapidly becoming the most important programming language in the world. It is used for everything from Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and web technologies to financial modelling. Python has grown to be the prescribed language for AI and machine learning applications. Assuming no programming experience, this module prepares you for the exciting world of AI and programming by giving you the fundamental programming knowledge you need in the context of the Python programming language. Following successful completion of the module you are ready for advanced programming concepts.
Artificial Intelligence is an exciting and rapidly advancing technology. The computer language of choice is almost exclusively Python. Python is a powerful language with an unmatched ecosystem of software packages. This module equips the successful student with the tools they need for a life-long career in AI programming and data-driven problem solving. The student will learn the advanced language features required for solving the challenging AI problems. Material includes tools for data manipulation and preparation, AI programming software packages and visualisation tools. All instruction employs the industry standard programming tools universally used for experimentation and result dissemination.
This module covers the fundamental components (hardware and software) of a typical computer system, and how they collaborate to execute programs. You will receive a comprehensive overview from the lowest level of abstractions in hardware to the highest level of abstractions of modern programming languages. You will explore the design of instruction set architectures, memory hierarchy, and data paths. Computer architecture focuses on the high-level design principles and trade-offs that govern the organization of these components, such as pipelining, caching, and parallelism. Examples of topics that may be covered include logic circuits, machine language, processors, memory management, processes, concurrency, file systems, and operating systems. Throughout, special attention is paid to abstraction, performance, and other quality requirements. Understanding computer systems is essential for computer scientists, IT professionals, architects, and programmers to design, build, and optimise efficient and reliable computing systems for various applications and domains.
Machine learning is not only central to modern artificial intelligence, but across sciences and everyday life. You will learn how computers can program themselves automatically, learning from data or from active exploration of the world. You will develop ability to make sound, rational and effective judgements and decisions about the use of the core machine learning algorithms for different types of practical problems. Selected algorithms will be investigated in great depth, to give you deep understanding of the inner workings of machine learning.
Embark on a transformative journey into Natural Language Processing (NLP). By delving into the realm of NLP, you will gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of language-based AI and learn valuable skills that are highly sought after in the tech industry. You’ll learn about how cutting-edge technology is being used in human language understanding and manipulation. Through hands-on practical explorations, you'll discover how to wield powerful NLP tools and libraries to craft artificial intelligence code capable of deciphering human-like text. You’ll find out about the power of language models, from traditional linguistics-influenced methods to state-of-the-art architectures. You’ll become adept at deploying these models critically and successfully, with the opportunity to explore a particular topic in more depth through practical project work.
Deep learning is an approach to machine learning developed over the past several decades that draws heavily on our knowledge of the human brain, statistics and applied mathematics. In recent years, deep learning has grown tremendously in popularity and usefulness, largely due to more powerful computers, larger datasets and techniques to train deeper networks. You will investigate modern deep neural networks starting from the fundamentals of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). You will start by learning what is an artificial neuron and architectures like multilayer perceptron, expanding on algorithms for training ANNs such as gradient descent and backpropagation. You will examine applications of deep learning with particular attention to coding aspects during lectures and practical activities. You will learn to use the most popular techniques to evaluate the performance of a model on real data. For this, you will be introduced to different types of deep neural networks, from convolutional networks to recursive neural networks, and autoencoders to address different problems with a particular focus on computer vision topics.
This module will guide you through the different stages of working on an exciting computer science project. World-leading experts in the field will support you along the way by providing supervision and monitoring of your weekly activities. With computer systems becoming more crucial in everyday life, you’ll have the opportunity to conceptualise, design, develop, and test your own large system capable of solving the identified challenges. Alternatively, you will explore and critically evaluate state of the art literature, identify relevant research methodologies to advance topics in computer science, carry out independent investigations, and make an impact in the research community. You’ll be empowered to explore different skills learned throughout your degree programme and apply them in the specific domain identified for your master’s project. Finally, you will reflect on your project journey throughout the writing of a well-organised dissertation demonstrating your individual reflection and achieved learning.
Software is everywhere, and its development should be tailored according to its requirements. This module will cover principles of software engineering following agile principles for guiding its development. You will investigate software modelling as means to understand and manage software complexity. As an integral part of software development, you will learn principles of planning, cost and time estimation, quality, and risk evaluation. You will also learn why software should be developed considering social, professional, and ethical principles, including security and privacy principles. You will work with your peers to develop or evolve a software system. You will apply the principles of agile methodology in your project, manage your team effectively, organise your code using version control, and resolve problems via issue tracking. You will identify risks for software projects and follow the principles for developing software with the highest professional standards.
Web-based information systems form the heart of e-commerce. In today's digital landscape, they are also increasingly the way businesses handle all their information needs. Building such systems requires an understanding of up-to-date tools and technologies such as web page creation, client-side programming, server-side programming and databases; it also calls for an understanding of how to design systems that genuinely meet user and business needs. This module will empower you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the dynamic domain of e-business systems and in today's digital economy. You will learn the foundations for client-side and server-side programming as well as database design and implementation, critical knowledge on e-business systems and their properties. As technology continues to evolve, we will keep you ahead of the curve by exploring novel and emerging technologies in the e-commerce landscape.
Did you know that currently a majority of cyber security incidents involve one or more human elements (be it social engineering attacks, human errors, or misuse)? Today, it is clearer than ever that creating secure systems requires an appreciation of the underlying technology, but it also requires us to develop a solid grasp of people’s psychology – the ‘why’ people do, the ‘what’ they do, and the ‘how’ we can help them to adopt better security behaviours and practices. You’ll learn about human factors, usable security, security awareness, education and culture, all within the context of today’s organisations and social environments. With the knowledge gained, you’ll be able to think of technology systems more critically and in a socio-technical way which appreciates the various nuances of cyber security.
We will give you the statistical and computing skills you need to succeed in the rest of the course. Even if you have limited mathematical skills or no computer programming knowledge we will guide you to a level where you can apply advanced data science methods effectively. This module includes subjects such as introductory probability where you’ll learn how likely you are to win at a game of cards; introductory statistics such as testing a hypothesis in a clinical trial; and programming skills in a language such as R, including data visualisation. We will then move on to more advanced topics such as linear regression, which allows you to make predictions using multiple variables, and skills that will increase your employability, such as report writing, production of slides using appropriate software, and presentation skills. You will also find out about the important ethical implications of working as a data scientist.
Stage 2 is when you complete your Placement. The chance to gain real industry experience as part of your MSc course gives you a real edge in the job market and boosts your career options.
The Year in Industry Placement provides you with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study. The Year in Industry allows you to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme.
Where relevant, students develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context. The Industry Placement requires you to document your experiences in relation to both your university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills. To be able to undertake this module it is necessary for you to secure a placement. The placement should be appropriate to your degree and experience. The length of the placement should normally be at least 44 weeks. It must be completed between the end of Summer Term and the start of the late Summer Term the following year. The particular combination of your degree course and choice of modules together with the great variety of increasingly diverse Year in Industry situations make the 'curriculum' of the Year in Industry essentially unique.
The Year in Industry provides you with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study. The Year in Industry Report runs in tandem with the Year in Industry experience and offers you the opportunity to reflect and document your accomplishments during your industrial practice.
The Year in Industry allows you to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme.
Where relevant, you will develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context.
The Industry Report requires you to reflect on and evidence your experiences in relation to both your university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills.
To be able to undertake this module it is necessary for you to secure a placement.
The placement should be appropriate to your degree and experience. The length of the placement should normally be at least 44 weeks. It must be completed between the end of Summer Term and the start the late Summer Term the following year.
The particular combination of the your degree course and choice of modules together with the great variety of increasingly diverse Year in Industry situations make the “curriculum” of the Year in Industry essentially unique.
Assessment is through a mixture of written examinations and coursework, the relative weights of which vary according to the nature of the module. The final project is assessed by a dissertation.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course secification.
We have a large range of equipment providing both UNIX (TM) and PC-based systems and a cluster facility consisting of 30 Linux-based PCs for parallel computation. New resources include a multi-core enterprise server with 128 hardware threads and a virtual machine server that supports computer security experiments.
All students benefit from a well-stocked library, giving access to e-books and online journals as well as books, and a high bandwidth internet gateway. We hold a series of regular seminars presented by staff as well as by visiting speakers and our students are welcome to attend.
We have a makerspace which offers exciting new teaching and collaboration opportunities. Among other equipment, it contains milling machines, a 3D printer, laser cutter and extensive space for building and making digital artefacts.
Our taught postgraduate students enjoy a high level of access to academic staff and have their own dedicated laboratory and study room. Students whose course includes an industrial placement are supported by a dedicated team which helps them gain a suitable position and provides support throughout the placement.
Staff and research students publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Artificial Evolution and Applications; International Journal of Computer and Telecommunications Networking; Journal of Visual Languages and Computing; Journal in Computer Virology.
Strong links with industry underpin all our work, notably with Cisco, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Agilent Technologies, Erlang Solutions, Hewlett Packard Laboratories, Ericsson and Nexor.
Our full-time taught Master’s students can undertake a work placement of between 36 and 44 weeks. For Tier 4 students, the placement is available for a year only. You work in real-life technical and business roles, utilising your skills and gaining new ones. The experience you gain on your placement gives you an extra edge when applying for jobs in the future.
It is possible to take your placement locally in Kent, elsewhere in the UK or perhaps overseas.
More about industry placements with the School of Computing.
We provide lots of advice and support throughout your studies to prepare you for your year in industry. This includes inviting students who are part-way through their placement back to campus for a day, so that they can share their experiences of working in industry with you.
You are responsible for finding your own placement but are supported by the School’s Placement Team. Dedicated to helping you get the right job, the Placement Team offer lots of practical support, including:
You'll be prepared for a career in computing, or a career involving the application of computing and artificial intelligence for problem solving in any professional field. Working with the latest technologies, you develop skills which will boost your career prospects as computer science is used for problem solving in every industry.
Students have been undertaking industry placements for many years. We have developed relationships with hundreds of companies across many industries. These include:
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about student accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
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Kent ranked top 40 in The Times Good University Guide 2025.
Fees and funding
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
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