Course summary
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is rapidly developing and is increasingly being applied across sectors, posing significant ethical and societal challenges. The MSt in AI Ethics and Society is devoted to developing leaders who can tackle the hard AI questions that are most relevant for the workplace today, such as issues of privacy, surveillance, justice, fairness, algorithmic bias, misinformation, Big Data, responsible innovation, and more. The MSt in AI Ethics and Society is an academically rigorous part-time programme, rooted in approaches from history, philosophy, governance, and science and technology studies. The programme will provide students with the critical academic skills, knowledge and analytical abilities needed to identify and address ethical challenges as they arise from the application of AI. The MSt AI Ethics and Society is developed and taught by the University’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI), a global research centre at the forefront of AI Ethics and impact research, in partnership with University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education. 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. As the programme is run by a specialist research centre, the curriculum is uniquely multidisciplinary, informed by up-to-the-minute research developments, and incorporates experts from diverse areas including philosophy, machine learning, computer science, policy, law, and more. Teaching is delivered predominantly online with four, week-long, in-person residentials held in Cambridge (September 2026, January 2027, April 2027 and September 2027). Applications for the 2026-28 cohort close on 26 February 2026 and we are unable to consider or accept any late applications. More information can be found on the course website.
Modules
Year 1 Module 1: The Nature and History of AI Aims: To provide students with theoretical, academic and practical understanding of how artificial intelligence has been developed, used and understood historically across different traditions, and how it is being applied in society today. Key areas: ● The technical foundations of AI and the current capabilities and status of the technology ● Current applications of AI across a range of domains and sectors ● The history of AI and its relationship to other disciplines and technologies, including the history of computing and administration ● The nature and measurement of intelligence, and comparisons between human, animal and artificial intelligence Module 2: Ethical and Societal Challenges Aims: To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of key ethical and societal challenges raised by AI, through engagement with the contemporary critical literature and case studies. Key areas: ● Critical discussion of the following themes:
- Privacy
- Fairness and equality
- Safety
- Accountability
- Human dignity and autonomy
- Philosophical ethics
- The history and philosophy of science
- Literary and cultural studies
- Social and behavioural sciences
- Futures studies and foresight methods
- Critical design studies
Assessment method
Assessment Assignments on the MSt are divided into two components: the essays, taken as a group, and the dissertation. Students are expected to submit academically rigorous, properly referenced assignments. Guidance on academic writing is offered through the Course Guide and VLE, wider University resources - including within Colleges - and within the first module. As students enter the MSt with differing levels of experience of academic writing, it is expected that students will seek to develop these skills independently as needed, thereafter throughout the programme. The modules are assessed as follows: ● Module 1: 2,000 word essay (8% of final grade) ● Modules 2, 3 and 4: 4,500 word essay each (14% each of final grade) All summative assessment is compulsory. Students will receive continual formative feedback throughout the course using a variety of strategies and techniques, including evidence of regular reflection. In the second year (module 5), students will write a 15,000 word dissertation which accounts for 50% of the final grade.
How to apply
International applicants
Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you'll need to prove you have sufficient fluency before admission. If we offer you a place, it will be subject to you meeting this requirement. As a minimum, you will be required to demonstrate an overall score of 7.5 in IELTS Academic with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component (or equivalent). We welcome applications from international students. If you're coming from overseas, you would attend the in-person teaching sessions for this course with visitor immigration permission. It's important to be aware that entering the UK as a visitor for study purposes comes with certain expectations and restrictions, and you should fully understand the requirements.
Entry requirements
We welcome applications from students with a variety of backgrounds and professional experiences. As part of our admissions process, you’ll need to meet certain requirements and make sure you’re able to attend teaching sessions in the UK. Typically, we expect a good UK undergraduate degree, such as a 2.1, or international equivalent. If your degree is not from the UK, check international qualifications on the University’s postgraduate site to find the equivalent in your country. Applicants for this course are also expected to have a demonstrable commitment to, and aptitude for, advancing the ethical use of AI in society. If you do not meet the standard entry requirements, we still encourage you to apply. You’ll need to show you have relevant, professional experience that makes you a strong candidate, and/or have completed higher-level study. Please include this information when you apply. We anticipate substantial demand for places on this course, with a planned cohort size of around 65 students. We receive on average 4 applications for every place we are able to offer. We encourage you to submit your application for consideration as soon as possible. Further details are available on the course website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £26136 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £26136 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £26136 | Whole course |
| Wales | £26136 | Whole course |
| International | £39198 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Cambridge
The Old Schools
Trinity Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1TN