MASc in AI and Society

Important information

We are making some changes to our AI and Society (MASc) for 2026 entry. Changes are currently undergoing approval through the University's rigorous academic processes. As any changes are confirmed, they will be included in the module list on this webpage. It is therefore very important that you check this webpage for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer.

CIM’s new MASc in AI and Society is an innovative, interdisciplinary course designed to enable students to respond creatively and critically to the rapidly evolving challenges of a world transformed by technological developments and processes.

This MASc course offers an analytical and critical approach to AI, as well as a technical and practical grounding that enables students to interrogate and develop AI-based technologies. Our modules will include a focus on “doing AI”, e.g. through coding, building, testing AI as well as through engagement with governance and public policymaking in relation to AI and technological innovation in society.

During the programme you will develop:

Grounding in state-of-the-art critical and interdisciplinary research to interrogate AI and its impact on society that will enable you to engage deeply with rapidly evolving challenges in the design, development, deployment and governance of AI systems.
Comprehensive technical skills to develop and assess AI systems that will be underpinned by expertise in designing, coding and testing AI techniques along with an understanding of responsible and ethical practices.
A distinct, comprehensive skillset to respond to policy and governance implications of AI that not only builds on your ability to critically analyse AI’s impacts but also provides an in-depth understanding of how and when AI works and fails.
A unique portfolio that grounds your learning in real-world problems that is developed through engaging with case studies, working with academic and non-academic stakeholder on problems at the intersection of AI, technology, society and policy.

What is an MASc?

The MASc is a flexible degree where students can customise their learning trajectory through interdisciplinary topics and modules that might usually be isolated to either MA or MSc qualifications. Through optional module choices, individual projects and the final project, you can tune your degree to suit your learning and career goals.

What will i study?

The course provides training in the foundations of deep learning - the use of multi-layered artificial neural network architectures in machine learning - enabling students to critically analyse and interrogate AI through working hands-on with AI models and systems.

This is combined with an introduction to social science and humanities research on the impacts of AI on contemporary society and culture, as well as the relevance of contemporary AI developments for these research fields themselves.

Students will be trained in the use of interdisciplinary methods like data mapping to analyse the interaction between AI science & innovation and society and culture.

Finally, the course will introduce students to the state-of-the-art in public policymaking and engagement in relation to AI tech innovation and its social impact. The training is enriched by a wide range of options that the students can choose from to tailor a trajectory that will suit their profiles and career plans.

Is this course for me?

Our interdisciplinary study program and flexibility in how you can bring together a range of modules enables you to make this degree your own. You might choose to focus on different aspects of the course such as diving deep into the technical dimensions of AI systems or engage more deeply with the societal impact of AI or on the governance challenges emerging at the AI-society-individual frontier.

CIM students will have diverse backgrounds -- whether you have studied graphic design or geography, communication studies or computer science (or architecture or astrophysics!), what is most important is that you share our students’ ambition and enthusiasm for learning how data visualisations are made and influence the world; and be keen to learn through research and by doing.

CIM students benefit from being part of a diverse student cohort who bring variety of experiences, perspectives and skills from the sciences, arts, humanities and social sciences including computer science, design, media and communications, sociology, and science and technology studies. We also encourage applications from professionals already working in technology, data, AI, governance and policy related fields who want to expand their career opportunities by investing in this exciting subject.

Where will it take me?

MASc in AI, Technology and Society students will graduate with a unique mix of an analytical and critical approach to AI, a technical grounding that enables them to interrogate and develop AI, and experience in approaching policy and governance implications of AI. With almost all organisations being transformed by AI in different ways, graduates from this MASc will be able to follow diverse career pathways. Whichever path they follow, graduates will be able to bring in a distinct, interdisciplinary outlook that builds on their comprehensive training.Students will be able to elect optional modules to develop in ways that fit their career objectives. Some exemplary profiles can be:

AI Policy Researchers: Graduates will be well equipped to join policy teams in think tanks, civil society organization, as well as technology companies to offer advice on the risks and opportunities of the use of AI systems.

AI Governance Researchers and Advisors: Graduate will be trained to work on governance and ethical challenges around AI, and this will enable them to apply to work for national governments, international organizations, as well as technology companies on AI governance.

AI Developers: Graduates will be trained to work technically in designing and developing AI systems and can apply to positions as developers, systems designers and programmers.

Data Scientists: Graduates will be able to work effectively with data and AI algorithms that operate on that data to generate insights and inform organisational decisions

AI Journalism: Graduates will have unique training not only in technical but also societal aspects of AI, as a result, they will be uniquely positioned to report on AI development.

User Experience Designers: Graduates will be well positioned to work with product teams to not only develop AI systems but also engage with the wider social and political landscape of their deployment.

AI Diversity, and Inclusion Advocates: Graduates will be trained to critically appraise AI, and in doing so introduced to debates around diversity, equity and inclusion in the design, development, deployment of AI.

Core and optional modules

Core modules

Term 1: Tech and Society 101: Key Concepts and Methods (IM963, 30 CATs)Link opens in a new window

This module will equip students for the critical and creative analysis of contemporary impacts of computational technology including AI on society and culture by introducing them to relevant classic and current perspectives from the social sciences and humanities on the interaction between technology and society.

Students will learn about these perspectives and how to apply them to key contemporary innovations across data, digital and AI technologies through a review of key approaches, relevant historical case studies of science, technology & society interaction and project-based learning focused on timely public, policy and cultural debates and incidents involving contemporary technologies.

Term 2: Introduction to Contemporary AI: Techniques and Criticisms (IM931, 30 CATs)Link opens in a new window

This module serves as an interdisciplinary introduction to contemporary machine learning research and applications, specifically focusing on the techniques of deep learning which use convolutional and/or recurrent neural network structures to both recognize and generate content from image, text, signals, sound, speech, and other forms of predominantly unstructured data. Using a combination of theoretical/conceptual/historical analysis and practical programming projects, the module will teach both the basic application of these techniques while also conveying the historical origins and ethical implications of such applications.

Optional core modules

During their third term, students will be able to choose from:

Final Project with Optional Placement (IM945, 60 CATs)

The Practical Final Project enables students to complete an individual research project by producing a substantial practice-based outcome, or series of outcomes, which will be the focus of an accompanying 5000-word written component. The final project is an exercise in independent study in which students pursue a topic of interest to them within the subject matter of their Masters programme. Whilst the dissertation’s emphasis is not necessarily empirical or theoretical, the work should engage with theories, methodologies, empirical understanding and methods in relation to the research topic as appropriate. As well as giving students the opportunity to develop skills in practice-based research, the module allows them to further develop a range of independent research skills, including literature search, researching previous work and bibliography construction, theoretical argument, and generation/appraisal of empirical evidence, and exploring links between theory and practice.

Students can follow two different routes:

Independent route: The issue/problem that the students work with will be developed by the student in dialogue with their supervisors and the relevant academic literature.

Placement route: The issue/problem that the students work with will be developed through dialogue between an external non-academic partner, the student and their academic supervisors while also being in touch with the relevant academic literature .

Dissertation (IM906, 60 CATs)Link opens in a new window

The CIM Master’s dissertation is a piece of work (10,000 words) which addresses a single student-selected subject. The topic may concern any aspect of the subject matter of a student's Masters programme.

The dissertation is an exercise in independent study in which students pursue a topic of interest. It allows students to further develop a range of independent research skills, including literature search and bibliography construction, theoretical argument, and generation/appraisal of empirical evidence.

Further Option modules

Our interdisciplinary approach comprises a flexible structure, which enable students from varied backgrounds to complement and expand their knowledge with an individually-tailored selection of optional modules. Recent modules include:

Essential information

Duration

Full-time MASc: 1 year

Part-time MASc: 2 years

Full-time PG Diploma: 9 months

Part-time PG Diploma: 18 months

Entry requirements

2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent). As an interdisciplinary course, we welcome applications from diverse academic backgrounds.

English language requirements

Band B

There may be the option to attend the Pre-Sessional English Programme prior to commencement of study. See the Pre-Sessional English Programme website for information, but note that CIM has the additional requirement of a minimum 6.0 in the IELTS writing component for acceptance through this programme.

Fees and Scholarships

2026-27 Course fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations, registration and some student amenities.

Status	MSc full-time (one year)	MSc part-time (two years)	PG Dip full-time (9 months)	PG Dip part-time (18 months)
Overseas	£29,340	£14,670	£19,560	£9,780
Home	£11,840	£5,920	£7,894	£3,947

We consider all eligible applicants for bursaries and scholarship while funds are available, so do apply for the course as early as possible if you'd like to be considered.

Details of all Postgraduate scholarships available for 2025-26 are available here.

Opportunity

Eligibility

Further Details

CIM International Masters Bursaries 2026-27

To support exceptional overseas scholars, CIM are offering a number of bursaries to candidates applying to study our MA in Digital Media and Culture, MSc in Big Data and Digital Futures, the MASc in Data Visualisation and the MASC in AI and Society. Candidates must have submitted an application by the deadline below and be classed as a resident of the countries named for tuition fee purposes. All awards will be a contribution towards tuition fees and be made on a competitive basis.

Applicants from all African countries: £20,538 (70% of the full-time 2026-27 Overseas fee)

Applicants from South and Southeast Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka; Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar): £14,671 (50% of the full-time 2026-27 Overseas fee)

Applicants from all South American countries: £14,671 (50% of the full-time 2026-27 Overseas fee)

The deadline for applicants from these regions is: 23:59 (BST) 31 May 2026.

Please click here to apply

CIM Home Masters Bursaries 2026-27

To support talented scholars from the UK, we are offering a number of bursaries across our three taught masters programmes to applicants classified as Home for fee purposes.

Each award will be an £8,000 contribution towards tuition fees and be made on a competitive basis. Full- and part-time candidates are eligible to apply.

The deadline for applications is: 23:59 (BST) 31 July 2026.

Please click here to apply

Postgraduate Loans

Home students may be eligible to apply for a loan to support their study and living costs. Postgraduate Loans have to be paid back.

Please click here for details
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Warwick Alumni Discount Scheme

10% tuition fee discount will be available to Warwick graduates who have Home or Overseas fee status. You must be a graduate of Warwick at any level of qualification.

Please click here for detailsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window

Warwick Taught Masters Scholarships

Bursaries to support Home fee status students and UK domicile EU students who satisfy certain eligibility criteria.

Please click here to applyLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window

PhD Funding is possible through a number of sources at Warwick.

Information on all funding sources available to CIM postgraduate candidates (Masters and Doctoral) is available hereLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

AI and Society

(MASc/PGDip)

CIM’s new MASc in AI and Society opens up new career opportunities through an interdisciplinary degree which combines a grounding in AI skills with a critical understanding of the impact in contemporary society

Apply here Sign up for updates

Our other courses:

MASc in Data VisualisationLink opens in a new window

MA Digital Media and Culture

MSc Big Data and Digital Futures

MPhil/PhD Programmes