Masters in Artificial Intelligence in UK 2024: Top Universities, Fees & Scholarships

Updated on 25 September, 2024

Bulbul SharmaUrvi AgrawalGautam Kumar

Bulbul, Urvi

Masters in Artificial Intelligence in UK 2024: Top Universities, Fees & Scholarships

Are you considering advancing your career with a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence? The AI industry is expected to reach a market value of US$6.03bn in 2024 in the UK. 

Pursuing an MSc in Artificial Intelligence in the UK will help you to immerse yourself in an environment that pushes the boundaries of technology and innovation while providing lucrative career opportunities. 

Let’s explore why the UK should be your top choice for studying abroad and the benefits of studying for a master's in AI in the UK. 

Why Choose UK to Study MS in AI 

As the UK offers a combination of the best universities, academic excellence, industry connections, and a thriving AI market, it has become an ideal destination for students who want to become AI professionals. 

Here are some of the primary advantages of studying MSc Artificial Intelligence in the UK:  

Top-tier Universities 

There are plenty of best universities for masters in artificial intelligence in the UK. As per QS World University Rankings 2025, Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and UCL are listed in the top 10. 

Thriving AI Industry 

In the UK, the AI market is projected to grow by 34% in 2024. Due to the UK's focus and support for AI projects, students can gain hands-on experience by participating in projects, internships, etc. 

Short Course Duration 

The duration of the masters in artificial intelligence UK courses is shorter, often 1 year, allowing students to graduate sooner. 

Leading Tech Ecosystem 

The UK has a thriving tech ecosystem, with numerous tech hubs like London, Cambridge, and Manchester, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The UK is ranked in the list of top tech ecosystems. 

Scholarships 

Numerous scholarships and funding options are available for international students, including Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, Chevening Scholarships, Manchester Master’s Bursaries, and more. 

Read More: Scholarships for MS in UK

Part-time Work 

Students are allowed to work part-time, up to 20 hours during term time or full-time during breaks. 

Post-study Work Visa 

With a post-study work visa, graduates can stay and work for up to 2 years after completing their degree.

Eligibility for Masters in Artificial Intelligence in UK Universities 

Here are the eligibility criteria at the best universities for Master's in artificial intelligence in UK

  • At least 60% or 70% in bachelor’s in mathematics, physics, engineering, or other with substantial mathematics content.
  • Scores in English Language proficiency tests (IELTS: at least 7.0/TOEFL: at least 100/PTE: at least 70). 
  • Academic references. 
  • Valid Visa/Passport. 
  • Resume/CV. 
  • Personal statement
  • Some universities, like the University of Manchester, prefer graduates with strong programming and software development skills.
  • Other top institutions emphasize the need for a substantial mathematics background in the degree, like Imperial College of London.
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Course Curriculum: Masters in Artificial Intelligence in UK Universities

The core course components encompass Python Programming, Ethics, Privacy, AI in Society, Introduction to Symbolic Artificial Intelligence, Introduction to Machine Learning, and others. 

The optional modules may include Deep Learning, Computational Finance, Robotics, Computer Vision, Probabilistic Inference, Natural Language Processing, and many others.

Best Universities in UK for Masters in Artificial Intelligence

Here is a list of top master’s in artificial intelligence in UK universities: 

University  QS WUR by Subject 2024(Computer Science and Information Systems)  Course  Duration Fees (annual in Euro)
Imperial College London 16 MSc Artificial Intelligence 1 year  £41,750
The University of Edinburgh 20 MSc Artificial Intelligence  1year £39,900
The University of Manchester  64 MSc ACS: Artificial Intelligence  1 year £33,000
Queen Mary University of London  97 MSc Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning  1 year £28,000
University of Southampton  175 MSc Artificial Intelligence  1 year £28,000
University of Birmingham  162 MSc Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning  1 year £31,410
Loughborough University  201-250 MSc Artificial Intelligence  1 year £26,500
University of Strathclyde Glasgow  201-250 MSc Artificial Intelligence & Applications  1 year £20,650
Aston University  501-550 MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence  1 year £20,250
Cranfield University 351-400 MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence  1 year £22,150

Source: US News & World Report

Academic Cycle: Intake and Deadline 

The classes usually begin in January or in September or October every year. 

The application window for the September intake across most universities closes towards the end of June. 

The application deadline for January intake is mostly towards the middle of November. 

Scholarships to Pursue Masters in Artificial Intelligence in UK

Chevening Scholarships: 

These are granted by the UK government. It covers full or partial tuition fees, a full maintenance allowance, a return airfare to the home country, and some additional costs. 

Read More: Chevening Scholarship

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships: 

Bright citizens of developing commonwealth countries can benefit from it. The award covers approved tuition fees, personal maintenance allowance, two-way airfare, study travel grant, and thesis grant. 

Read More: Commonwealth Scholarship

DeepMind AI Scholarship: 

It is offered by the University of Edinburgh, and covers the cost of tuition fees and provides £17,668 for maintenance and living costs. Additionally, recipients receive a travel fund of £2,200 and an equipment fund of £1,700. 

It is disbursed in two direct installments. It is only open to students who identify as women and are undertaking the MSc in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh.

Manchester Master’s Bursaries: 

An award of £4,000 may be given to those who qualify for the program. Awards will be provided in cash and paid in three installments (October, January, and April). 

Read More: University of Manchester Scholarships for Indian Students

Career Prospects

Mastering a programming language like Python, MATLAB, C/C++, and others will certainly help artificial intelligence graduates to land lucrative jobs in the country. 

Here are some top career prospects:

Profile  Average Annual Salary (in Euro)
AI Engineer £63,000
Machine Learning Engineer £55,000
Big Data Engineer £49,000
Business Intelligence Developer  £50,000
Natural Language Processor  £47,000

Source: Payscale

Advantages of studying MS in AI in UK

Top-tier universities  Home to Leading Institutions like Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, UCL.
Thriving AI industry  Projected 34% growth in 2024.
Short course duration  Typically lasts 1 year, allowing for quicker graduation.
Leading tech ecosystem  UK ranked #3 globally for top tech ecosystems
Scholarships  Commonwealth Master’s, Chevening Scholarships, Manchester Master’s Bursaries, etc.
Part-time work  Up to 20 hours during term time, full-time during breaks.
Post-study work visa  Up to 2 years post-graduation work visa.
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Conclusion 

Pursuing a master's in Artificial Intelligence in a UK university can help you find good employment opportunities and lead to a successful career in this rapidly growing field. 

There are several benefits of studying Artificial Intelligence Master’s UK courses, which include an in-depth course curriculum, world-class universities, a thriving AI market, short course duration, a post-study work visa, and more. You can enroll in any of the above-listed UK universities to obtain an AI master's degree.

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FAQs

What is the scope of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the UK?

The UK is currently expanding its AI scope across industries such as healthcare, cybersecurity, pharmaceutical research, and others. 

Considering this wide scope, the average annual salary for an AI graduate is attractive too. They can earn somewhere between £50,000-60,000 annually. 

Where can I study Artificial Intelligence in the UK?

Some prominent universities where you can apply for a master’s in artificial intelligence include Imperial College London, The University of Edinburgh, Manchester University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Southampton, and others.

Which stream is best for AI?

The best stream for AI typically includes information technology, computer science, data science, mathematics, statistics, and electrical engineering. 

These disciplines provide the foundational knowledge and skills to understand and develop AI technologies.

Which is the most demanded AI career?

In the UK, senior data scientist is one of the most AI careers. It is followed by deep learning engineers, Big Data engineers, Machine learning engineers, technology risk managers, and cybersecurity specialists. 

Which country has more scope for AI?

The United States has the most scope for AI due to its large market size, substantial investments, and a strong ecosystem supporting research and development. 

Leading tech companies and numerous career opportunities further enhance its position as the top country for AI innovation​.

Which country pays the highest salary for artificial intelligence?

The United States generally offers the highest salaries for AI professionals, especially in tech hubs like Silicon Valley. Other high-paying countries include Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, etc.

Did you find this article helpful?

Bulbul Sharma

Manager- Content @upGrad

Bulbul is a self-driven professional and an expert writer & editor. She has been a part of the ed-tech industry for the past 2 years now and is motivated to provide study abroad aspirants with factually correct and relevant information. Her knack for impactful writing makes her blogs worth a read!

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