
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Develop advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning skills and apply these to real-world problems.
Develop advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning skills and apply these to real-world problems
Build the expertise to imagine, lead and deliver research and development projects
Explore a research area of your interest in-depth on an extended project
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
September 2024
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£21,500 Home
£45,150 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
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First class Honours in a relevant scientific or technical discipline, such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, statistics or physics
Course overview
Gain research and innovation skills for developing novel artificial intelligence (AI) on this Master's course.
You'll advance your knowledge of AI and machine learning through lectures, group work and laboratory exercises and put your ideas into practice on a research project.
The individual, supervised project gives you an opportunity to explore a research area of your interest in-depth and learn to use different AI and machine learning (ML) approaches.
Through this, you'll develop high-level analytical skills and learn to design and lead projects.
You'll also advance your programming skills in key areas including Python and complex algorithms, and apply these skills to a research and development (R&D) proposal for a real-world technology business case.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You'll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Understand the fundamentals of Python and learn how to write procedural, object oriented and functional programs in Python.
Study the organisational, ethical and legal contexts in which professional computing practitioners work and explore ethical and legal issues arising from new developments in AI.
Develop the ability to critique, summarise and present scientific literature.
Focus on the principles of high-quality academic research in AI and machine learning, including theory, novel algorithmic work and empirical research.
Learn to write a clear and persuasive research and development proposal for a short AI project that is suitable for business decision-makers or a grant application.
Put together a use case or business case analysis and a staged plan, supported by a literature review.
You'll complete an extensive research project throughout the duration of this course. The project will be in an area of your interest, which you'll select as part of your application.
The project is assessed by a poster presentation, a thesis and a subsequent oral presentation (viva) of the written thesis.
Your project will normally be supervised by an AI expert, and be co-supervised by an expert in an area of applied AI or from industry.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Group exercises
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Lectures
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Individual research project
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Presentations and pitching sessions
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Seminars and symposia
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Conferences
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Workshops
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Virtual learning environment
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Lecture recordings
Assessment methods
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Oral presentation
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Coursework
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Multiple choice tests
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Practicals
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Problem sheets
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Written reports
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Research thesis
Entry requirements
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
- £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
- £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Applicants should provide a motivation statement for their chosen project in addition to their CV with their application.
Applicants are normally asked complete our MRes admissions tests. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.
This page will be updated with further details in due course.
As part of the application process, you typically need to discuss possible projects with potential supervisor(s) before making your application to ensure that there is a suitable project available.
Please visit the Department of Computing's website to see a list of example projects and potential supervisors.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH11-01-05
- Descriptor: Artifical intelligence
- Supervisor name: Dr Mark van der Wilk
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2024 entry
£21,500
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The government has not yet published the loan amount for students starting courses in Autumn 2024. As a guide, the maximum value of the loan was £12,167 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2023.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2024 entry
£45,150
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The government has not yet published the loan amount for students starting courses in Autumn 2024. As a guide, the maximum value of the loan was £12,167 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2023.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Build a solid theoretical foundation in artificial intelligence.
Develop R&D projects that satisfy regulatory requirements and perform well in the real world.
Our graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.
With an Imperial Computing degree, you'll be able to explore a variety of career opportunities.
Graduates are sought after in roles such as application/web development, networking, AI, media, finance, robotics, and computer games.
Other potential career paths include chip design, cyber security, data management, bio-medical systems and transport
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7594 8298
- Email: doc-mscadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Mark van der Wilk
Visit the Department of Computing website.

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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications