This programme runs for one academic year, starting in mid-September and ending in August. At the start of the programme, you study compulsory courses, which are undertaken in semester one. These are the foundation upon which the whole MSc is built and ensure a common basis of knowledge across the different areas.
A comprehensive Welcome Week provides an introduction to the programme, the School, and the University. Designed to be both informative and fun, it enables you to get acquainted with your classmates.
Through the selection of various option courses, you can tailor your studies towards your career interests.
Finally, your MSc dissertation brings all of the year’s learning together in a piece of work unique to each student.
To give you an idea of what the programme structure and courses might consist of, the below information details the structure and courses for this programme in 2026/27.
Semester 1
September–December
Semester 2
January–May
Compulsory courses
Option courses
Choose 2 or 3
Summer
May–August
Dissertation
Course Summaries
Exploring the Future(s) of Artificial Intelligence
Will AI fundamentally disrupt existing business models, redefine expertise, and replace traditional organisational structures? Or will its evolution be incremental, enhancing existing workflows while operating within established industry frameworks? On this course, you will gain a better understanding of how various industry sectors currently envision AI, as well as how to critically evaluate the impacts of AI technology. A key element to this course is giving you exposure to real-world cases from industry speakers and academics with domain-specific expertise and experience.
Responsible Applications of AI in Organisations
The unique characteristics of AI not only create exceptional opportunities, but also raise significant challenges for businesses, ranging from concerns about AI hallucinations and lack of trust to wider ethical, regulatory and cultural implications. These challenges also have potentially destructive effects on both organisational performance and reputation. This course focuses on outcomes of different types of AI technologies and how organisations can mitigate the challenges associated with their use.
Storytelling with Data
In the era of big data, the ability to transform complex datasets into actionable insights is crucial. Students will benefit from learning how to create persuasive, data-driven narratives that inform strategic decisions. By the end of this course, you will be able to identify the context of data, employ various visual representation techniques, reduce visual clutter, and highlight key information.
AI in Action
This course provides you with the opportunity to develop an appreciation and ability to analyse the efficiency of AI in different scenarios and contexts. You’ll learn about the role of AI, the role of people in AI-supported activities and gain practical strategies for human-AI interactions.
Planning AI Transformation in Organisations
This course introduces the core elements of AI transformation including, envisioning, strategic organisational transformation and development, and preparing for change. You will acquire expertise enabling you to plan avenues for value creation, prepare and evaluate associated risks and challenges and learn how to develop strategies for sustained transformation.
AI and Entrepreneurial Mindset
This course explores the distinction between harnessing AI as a tool within existing business models and creating businesses centred on developing AI technologies. Through this exploration, you will discover how these different approaches affect the entrepreneurial process, from opportunity recognition to scaling ventures. The course also emphasises how transformative the role of AI is in entrepreneurship and how it can shape and influence business models.
AI, Imagination and Creativity
Does AI expand or endanger human imagination and creativity? This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the emerging relationships between AI, imagination and creativity.
You will gain a deep understanding of imagination and creativity in an organisational context and learn how AI has the potential to support, augment or substitute human imagination and creativity. Moreover, you will learn advanced approaches and AI tools for fostering individual and collective imagination and creativity within organisations.
*We will notify applicants of any changes to the programme structure and courses by 15 June in the year of entry to the course. We cannot guarantee that all option courses will run each year and occasionally there will be last minute amendments after this date due to unforeseen circumstances such as staff illness.
The content of individual courses and the programme for any given degree are under constant academic review in light of current circumstances and may change from time to time, with some programmes and courses being modified, discontinued, or replaced.
Due to high demand we cannot guarantee students a place on the optional course of their preference. Equally, if there is not enough interest in a given year for an option course then it may not be viable for us to run that particular option course. Some combinations of option courses may not be possible due to scheduling constraints.
Past dissertations
Find out what topics past students have researched by browsing a selection of dissertation summaries by our postgraduates: