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In the past decade alone, the use of artificial intelligence, also known as AI, has become prolific across many sectors, from gaming and tech companies to commerce and health care. This boom is so pronounced that AI is often called the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, with many seeing it as transformative in how business and society work today. As a relatively new science, courses in artificial intelligence are suddenly in high demand, with professionals and students wanting to gain valuable expertise in AI to future-proof their careers.
What is ‘artificial intelligence’?
Artificial intelligence is a field that uses computer science to supply machines with enough data so that they can simulate human levels of intelligence in problem-solving and decision-making. It is a modern science which is seeing exponential growth, both in research settings and across industries.
A master’s degree in artificial intelligence will cover the four key areas of fuzzy logic, evolutionary computing, neural networks, and natural language to give you a strong foundation in the subject, providing you with current thinking on AI’s applications, development, ethics, and limitations.
Courses are significantly embedded in computer science, computer engineering, and programming, so a background in at least one of these areas is usually required.
Top universities to study artificial intelligence abroad
Artificial intelligence is an emerging discipline at many universities globally. As such, it is studied as a part of a computer science, mathematics, or engineering degree. However, there are now many institutions worldwide offering the subject as a specialist degree.
According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the best universities in the world for specialist degrees in artificial intelligence are:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
- Carnegie Mellon University, USA
- University of California, Berkeley (UCB), USA
- University of Oxford, UK
- Harvard University, USA
- National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU, Singapore)
- University of Toronto, Canada
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, SAR
Best countries to study artificial intelligence
- The USA remains the top country for pursuing Artificial Intelligence courses. Of the 75 universities listed in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, 19 were from the USA.
- Australia has 7 universities on the list including the University of Melbourne.
- The UK and India have 6 universities each, listed among the best universities in the world for Data Science and AI.
- Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and South Korea are also popular among students planning to study AI.
Popular institutions where Indian students pursue Artificial Intelligence
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What is taught in an artificial intelligence course?
Postgraduate courses in artificial intelligence are usually very practical and provide a broad introduction to AI before delving deeper and allowing you to specialise your practice. You’ll learn how to construct systems and databases to benefit industry and society and be at the cutting edge of technological development.
Modules covered in an AI course will depend on the university, study program and often personal choice. However, broadly speaking, a master’s degree in AI will incorporate:
- Algorithms and data structures
- Coding
- Cyber security
- Data mining and analytics
- Fuzzy logic
- Natural language processing
- Neural network
- Programming
- Robotics
Eligibility criteria for studying artificial intelligence abroad
You must meet entry requirements to study artificial intelligence abroad. Eligibility criteria vary between institutions and courses so you must check with your prospective university before applying.
To enrol in a master’s course in artificial intelligence, you must hold an undergraduate degree with second-class honours in a closely related subject such as computer science, engineering, or mathematics. A strong understanding of computer programming is also necessary. Some universities may consider significant professional experience in the field.
You may also need to prove your English language proficiency. At the postgraduate level, most universities require you to have achieved a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with no band score lower than 6.0 or an equivalent qualification.
Specialisations
There are several types of artificial intelligence courses available at the postgraduate level, with many universities offering part-time and online options to enable you to study flexibly around work or other commitments. A full-time master’s degree in AI will typically take 12 months to complete.
- MSc Artificial Intelligence: the most popular postgraduate degree in artificial intelligence, an MSc in AI, will give you a broad overview of AI, its uses in industry and prospects for the future. Many degrees allow you to specialise further in a particular area of interest through elective modules.
- MSc Machine Learning: very similar to a master’s degree in AI, these degrees develop an understanding of machine learning models and teach students to provide AI-based solutions to real-world problems.
- MSc Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence: a master’s degree in computer science and artificial intelligence is a common way to gain a broader understanding of the field in which AI sits, whilst also gaining deep and specific knowledge about AI.
- MSc Artificial Intelligence and Data Science: these master’s degrees provide a deeper knowledge of the data world which overlaps so closely with AI, as well as a broad overview of AI itself. These degrees are popular with students with a background in business, economics, and marketing.
- MASc with a Field of Study/Major in Artificial Intelligence: a broader, more hands-on master’s of applied science, specialising in AI.
- Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates in Artificial Intelligence: designed with professionals in mind, these courses provide a concise and broad overview of AI, boosting knowledge and employability.
- MPhil/PhD in Artificial Intelligence: these research-heavy degrees are designed for students with a deep academic interest in AI, who want to apply their skills to a specific area of research, often within a particular industry, such as health care.
Career opportunities in artificial intelligence
Graduates holding an MS in Artificial Intelligence are valued by employers across almost every sector. The discipline forms part of a market which is expected to significantly grow in demand in the coming decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2022).
Salaries are extremely competitive for graduates in AI, with the average salary for an artificial intelligence engineer in the UK being GBP 52,000, rising to over GBP 90,000 with experience (Complete University Guide, 2021).
Common roles you can fulfil with an MS in artificial intelligence include:
- AI engineer
- Business intelligence data engineer
- Machine learning engineer
- Hardware engineer
- Programmer
- Software engineer
- Web developer
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