The MSc AI Ethics and Society equips students with an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of the ethical, social, political and governance challenges associated with artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence systems are increasingly embedded in public services, healthcare, housing allocation, policing, finance, creative industries and democratic processes. As these technologies become integral to everyday life, questions of responsibility, accountability, justice and public trust become central to their deployment.
The programme explores how we can critically analyse and strategically shape the development, governance and implementation of AI in ways that serve societal interests. It is designed for students from both non-technical and technical backgrounds. Students without prior computing experience are introduced to the fundamentals of AI systems and their operational logic, while those with technical expertise develop complementary ethical, regulatory and socio-political analytical capacities. The programme therefore cultivates a combination of critical, strategic and applied skills.
Developed and delivered by the Leeds Institute for Societal Futures, students study within an interdisciplinary institute that brings together colleagues drawn from across the University to address major societal challenges through collaborative teaching and research. The programme adopts a challenge-based and cohort-based model of learning, in which students work across disciplinary boundaries and engage with real-world scenarios drawn from policy, industry and civil society contexts. The curriculum emphasises the socially distributed nature of knowledge and encourages students to integrate perspectives including those from philosophy, social sciences, law, cultural studies, political theory and data science.
Throughout the programme, students examine core questions concerning the governance and societal impact of AI. These include the distribution of power in AI development, the relationship between AI and bias, the role of AI in misinformation and democratic processes, the conditions under which public trust can be sustained, and the regulatory and legal frameworks shaping AI deployment. Attention is given both to the risks and harms associated with AI systems and to their potential to contribute positively to addressing major societal challenges.
Graduates of the programme will be equipped with interdisciplinary analytical skills, the ability to evaluate and design responsible AI strategies, and the capacity to communicate complex issues across professional, policy and public domains. The programme prepares students for roles in policy development, governance and regulation, responsible innovation, consultancy, public sector leadership, non-governmental organisations, creative industries and corporate environments where ethical and trustworthy AI implementation is increasingly essential.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Candidates registered on the programme will be required to study a minimum credit load of 180 credits, with 90 / 90 credit split balance across semester one and semester two.
Candidates with a BSc in Computer Science at least a 2.1 (or equivalent) have the option to take a related Taught Postgraduate module from the School of Computer Science instead of LISF5002 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals. This will enable these students to further their technical expertise relevant to AI development and implementation.
LISF will contact eligible students in the August prior to enrolment with the options available, with the default being to remain enrolled on LISF5002M Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISF5000M | AI, Human Relationships and Futures of AI | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LISF5001M | Deployment Dilemmas | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LISF5002M | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LISF5004M | Leeds Institute for Societal Futures (LISF) Project Labs | 60 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| LISF5005M | Bias and (In)Justice in AI Systems | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LISF5006M | Democracy at Stake: Power, Politics, and AI | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LISF5007M | Introduction to Ethics of Artificial Intelligence | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Please note that LISF5004M Project Labs is a yearlong, 60 credit module that will be delivered as 30 credits in semester one and 30 credits in semester two.
Candidates will be required to study 15 credits from the following optional modules listed in Basket 1:
Basket 1 - choose 15 credits only
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISF5003M | Navigating AI, Creativity, and Cultural Policy | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LISF5008M | Law and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Last updated: 30/04/2026 16:01:48
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