Master of Science

MSc Artificial Intelligence

As the world takes a leap into Artificial Intelligence, play an active part in its revolution here at the University where it all started

  • Year of entry: 2026
  • Duration: 12 months full-time
MSc Full-time: In person

Due to high demand for this course, we operate a staged admissions process with multiple selection deadlines throughout the year, to maintain a fair and transparent approach.

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Overview

Course overview

  • Learn how you can master the pillars of artificial intelligence: and seek answers to the questions which could revolutionise AI
  • Part of pioneering history: take your computer science understanding to the next level at Manchester, both home to the first university department of Computer Science and to the first stored program computer
  • Comprehensive curriculum: explore a broad range of expansive units, including core AI topics and a choice from a wide range of optional units
  • Diverse specialisations: tailor your route to you, by choosing the areas which will best further your interests
  • Hands-on experience: gain practical experience through your individual project that lets you apply advanced AI techniques to real-world problems

Open days

For details of the next University Postgraduate open day, please visit open days and visits .

Contact details

Department
Department of Computer Science
Contact name
Postgraduate Taught Admissions
Telephone
+44 (0)161 275 0900
Email
Website
https://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/
School/Faculty overview

The School of Engineering creates a world of possibilities for students pursuing skills and understanding. Through dynamic research and teaching we develop engineering solutions that make a difference to society in an ethical and sustainable way.  Science-based engineering is at the heart of what we do, and through collaboration we support the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to become technically strong, analytically innovative and creative. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We operate a selective staged admissions process. We give preference to students with the strongest grades from high-ranking institutions.


Successful applicants typically hold a First-class honours degree (70% average) from a UK university, or the overseas equivalent, in a Computer Science degree with a minimum of 50% Computer Science content.


We require that all applicants have a strong background in Computer Science reflected, for example, in solid programming and software development skills.
We accept a range of qualifications, and welcome applications from overseas applicants. A typical successful offer-holder will evidence:

  • China : a minimum of 87% in a 4-year bachelor's degree from a well ranked institution.
  • India: a minimum of 65% (First Class with Distinction) in a BSc Eng, BEng or BTech degree, depending on the institution.

For further information on international entry requirements, please contact pgt.compsci@manchester.ac.uk

English language

In order to be accepted onto an MSc programme in the Department of Computer Science, applicants need to provide evidence of having achieved the required level in a recognised English language qualification.

  • IELTS: overall score of 7.0 with no sub-test below 6.5
  • TOEFL iBT: at least 100 overall with no sub-test less than 22. We do not accept 'MyBestScore'. We do not accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition
  • Pearson PTE: at least 76 overall with no sub-test below 70
  • Pre-sessional English run by the University Language Centre


We also accept many other English language qualifications from overseas, depending on the qualification, the scores obtained and the University's assessment of its academic suitability.


Please contact pgt.compsci@manchester.ac.uk and we will be able to advise further.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Fees and funding

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £15,300
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £39,400

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.

The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study, and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Master's Bursaries are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.

We also welcome the best and brightest international students each year and reward excellence with a number of merit-based scholarships. See our range of master’s scholarships for international students .

And, if you have completed an undergraduate degree at The University of Manchester, or are currently in your final year of an undergraduate degree with us, you may be eligible for a discount of 10% on tuition fees if you choose to study on a taught postgraduate course here. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply .

For more information on master's tuition fees and studying costs, visit the University of Manchester funding for master's courses website to help you plan your finances.

Application and selection

How to apply

As the entry requirements are the same across all MSc courses in the Department of Computer Science, we ask that applicants place only one application for their preferred course .

As there is high demand for this course we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Please see below for the staged admissions schedule.

Apply online

Staged admissions

Applications to this course are considered through a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high-ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.

Applications for 2026 entry:

Stage 1 : Application received by 7 November 2025; Decision by 9 January 2026.
Stage 2 : Application received by 2 January 2026; Decision by 6 March 2026.
Stage 3 : Application received by 27 Feb 2026; Decision by 1 May 2026.
Stage 4 : Application received by 22 May 2026; Decision by 19 June 2026.

Applications received after 22 May 2026 will be considered depending on course availability.

Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date. If this is the case, we will let you know after the deadline date.

Please note: all places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.

If we make you an offer, you will be given a deadline by which to accept. This is typically 4-6 weeks but may be shorter. Offers that are not accepted by the deadline will be withdrawn.

Applicants who are made a conditional offer of a place must provide evidence that they have met all the conditions of their offer by 31 July 2026.

Advice to applicants

We require the following documents before we can consider your application:

  • Official Bachelor degree transcripts, including official translations and original language copies if study not undertaken in English. 2+2 and 3+1 applicants must provide official transcripts and certificates from both institutions
  • An official document from your university verifying your current weighted average mark (not arithmetic average) if this information is not included in your transcript of study Please note: where grades are given as a percentage, the weighted average mark must also be recorded as a percentage, not as a GPA grade
  • Degree certificate if you have already graduated
  • If still studying, please provide an official list of all the modules you are taking in your final year
  • A CV if you graduated more than three years ago


References and personal statements are not required for your application to this programme.

How your application is considered

We consider your full academic history including which course units you have taken and the marks obtained. Even if you have met our minimum entry requirements, we will take into account your marks in relevant course units in our final decision making.


If you graduated more than three years ago, we will also consider the information contained on your CV and any relevant work experience you have to assess if you are still able to fulfil the entry criteria.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

CAS information

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Please upload a copy of your current valid passport with your application showing the photograph page with your application. For CAS purposes, this must show your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and the date the passport is valid until, which must be later than the date of your planned arrival in the UK, and the start date of your course.

If you have previously studied in the UK on a Tier 4 visa as an undergraduate or postgraduate student, please send a copy of your previous CAS statement to us as it will assist with the issue of your new CAS statement. This includes study in the UK on study abroad programmes and any study that you did not complete.

You cannot use your CAS to apply for a visa more than three months before the start date of your course . The Admissions Team will contact you at the appropriate time.

Your CAS number is only valid for one Tier 4 application.

Deferrals

Applications for deferred entry are not accepted for this course. If you receive an offer and wish to be considered for the following year of entry, you will need to place a new application. Please be aware there is no guarantee of receiving another offer, and offer conditions are subject to change in line with entry requirements.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

Learn about cognitive robotics, build mathematical models for machine learning, and apply natural language processing techniques in large-scale data sets. Equipped with our MSc Artificial Intelligence course, you truly do master the skills in AI in the most useful, adaptable ways for the future.

Highly specialised: on this course you will take 75% of mandatory core AI material whilst having a wide choice for tailoring the remainder of your study with optional units.

Beyond this, one of the most rewarding opportunities during your study journey on this course, your Master’s Project enables you to carry out a substantial technical task which truly focuses in on your area of interest. From machine learning with uncertainty to knowledge engineering, this is a true opportunity to apply your in-depth knowledge.

As a postgraduate of this course, you’ll enter the world of work in unrivalled demand, as AI is adopted widespread across the world.

Aims

The aim of the Artificial Intelligence MSc programme is to enable graduate computer scientists to deepen their knowledge in one or a few specialisms. Specifically, the programme aims to:

  1. Enable graduate computer scientists to deepen their knowledge in artificial intelligence (AI), so that they can identify and explain formalisms for knowledge representation and reasoning, and apply suitable machine learning methods to applications, considering their potential limitations
  2. Provide students with the opportunity to specialise in a variety of AI topics that provide a combination of skills that together address distinctive requirements
  3. Enhance students’ ability to communicate complex technical results, through submissions on laboratory work in course units.
  4. Provide students with the opportunity to develop, apply and evaluate advanced AI techniques through an individual project.
  5. Meet the needs of universities, industry, and other employers by supplying graduates with an ability to devise, apply, compare and evaluate advanced AI techniques.

Special features

Flexibility
You will follow three specialised themes, each of which combines two related course units, and choose a fourth theme from a wide range of options.


Strong links with employers
We maintain close relationships with potential employers and run various activities throughout the year, including career fairs, guest lectures, and projects run jointly with partners from industry.


Excellent facilities
You will have access to a fantastic range of facilities and equipment. In the Kilburn Building, our hub of Computer Science, this includes our hardware library – equipped with everything from basic electronic components to VR headsets and drones. You can also study in and benefit from Our Home for Engineering and Materials .


Welcoming community
You can join some of the University's various student societies, such as the Manchester University Data Science Society, UniCS, Sustainable Engineering Initiative, Volunteering and Outreach, Women in Science and Engineering and many more. Meet like-minded people, make new friends, master your subject, and discover just how powerful collaboration can be!


Championing gender diversity
It's our priority to make sure students feel seen and supported on their journey, so we're always looking to spotlight and uplift women, non-binary, and otherwise marginalised voices. Get first-hand guidance and insight from students, lecturers, and industry professionals from all different stages of their journey, on our podcast Big Sisters in STEM .

Teaching and learning

At Manchester you will be taught by academic staff who are leading experts in artificial intelligence, in a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

We use a combination of methods, including lectures, tutorial classes, computer-based sessions, and blended learning.

Coursework and assessment

You will learn through a mix of lectures and seminars, and supported by practical exercises. These skills are augmented through an MSc project, enabling you to put into practice the techniques you have been taught throughout the course.

Course unit details

This course aims to impart advanced knowledge within Artificial Intelligence, offering training in advanced skills. It is suitable for those who wish to enhance their computing skills in order to improve their contribution to IT-related industry or to pursue R&D in academia or industry.


A student following the MSc in Artificial Intelligence follows three specialised themes, each of which combines two related course units, and chooses a fourth theme from a wide range of options.


For September 2025 entry, you can find our course unit offering summarised below:

Mandatory:

  1. Master's Project (60 credits)
  2. Logics for Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (15 credits)
  3. Advanced Topics in Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (15 credits)
  4. Cognitive Robotics and Computer Vision(15 credits)
  5. Transforming Text into Meaning (15 credits)
  6. Topics in Machine Learning (15 credits)
  7. Advanced Topics in Machine Learning (15 credits)

Optional Modules: Uncertain reasoning and learning, Reinforcement learning, Introduction to Cryptography, Network Security, Formal Methods for Software Verification, Security and Computer Science, Software Security, Secure Computer Architecture and Systems, Security and Privacy in Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering Concepts, Data Engineering Technologies

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
COMP64301 15 Mandatory
COMP64401 15 Mandatory
COMP64501 15 Mandatory
COMP64602 15 Mandatory
COMP64702 15 Mandatory
COMP64802 15 Mandatory
COMP66060 60 Mandatory
COMP60201 15 Optional
COMP60252 15 Optional
COMP60261 15 Optional
COMP60272 15 Optional
COMP63101 15 Optional
COMP63301 15 Optional
COMP63342 15 Optional
COMP63502 15 Optional
COMP64101 15 Optional
COMP64202 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 17 course units

In artificial intelligence, our fundamental research seeks answers to questions that could revolutionise AI. From the theory and practice of machine learning, including deep neural network architectures, causality, and knowledge representations, through to robot-human interaction and more. We are forging a path toward seamless integration of intelligent systems into our natural environment.

What our students say

Would you like to discover authentic stories when it comes to life at, and after, The University of Manchester? Engage with our student community at @uomscieng on Instagram and TikTok, and tune into our conversations with students, lecturers, and industry professionals on our popular podcast, Big Sisters in STEM .

Facilities

Our facilities are second to none. Based within Kilburn Building – hub of Computer Science – we have over 300 computers, newly refurbished labs, and substantial collaborative working labs with specialised computing and audio-visual equipment.

As our student, your projects and extra-curricular pursuits also benefit from our hardware library – equipped with everything from basic electronic components to VR headsets and drones.

You can also study in Our Home for Engineering and Materials – an academic playground reflecting our 200-year history of innovation in Science and Engineering at Manchester. The University of Manchester also offers an extensive library and online services , helping you get the most out of your studies.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The development of artificial intelligence has defined, and will continue to define, the era in which we find ourselves. Our fundamental research seeks answers to the questions which could revolutionise AI – from how humans interact with robots to automatic to semantic search over the scientific literature.

As a postgraduate of this course, you’ll be specially trained in how to utilise and evolve our economy’s most impactful new technology and will be all the more employable for it. With your finely tuned knowledge, in combination the reputation our courses have for being among the best in the country, you enter industry with the gift of choice. Which sector will you choose? How will you apply your skills to better, or further, an industry?

In what is now being named, ‘The Age of Artificial Intelligence’, by researchers and reporters alike, you will learn to manipulate and harness the power of the world’s latest revolution – the forging of innovation, that in choosing this career, will continue long into your future.

Examples of some of the careers you could pursue include:

  • Business Analyst
  • Data Scientist
  • Knowledge Engineer
  • Natural Language Processing Engineer

Beyond your course-specific opportunities, it is also important to consider the supplementary career events and company visits organised by our faculty, Science and Engineering. What's more, our award-winning University Careers Service provides outstanding support on career pathways, graduate jobs, internships, and postgraduate study.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.