Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Interdisciplinary Studies

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

Edinburgh Futures Institute

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
Study location

Central Area

Accreditation

Not available

Apply now

19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply.

Register now

About the degree programme

This programme responds to the urgent demand for interdisciplinary expertise in the ethical design, use and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) and other data-intensive technologies.

Why this programme matters

Many organisations lack the specialist technical and policy expertise needed to manage the ethical challenges of AI, which increasingly go far beyond legal compliance or risk management.

As public expectations and regulatory demands increase, all sectors need skilled graduates equipped with critical, creative and advanced data skills. As a graduate, you will be prepared to help organisations and institutions navigate complex new technical systems and roles with greater transparency, accountability, fairness, justice, and respect for human rights, and in ways aligned with genuine human and social needs.

World-leading teaching and research

Our interdisciplinary degree is designed with the University of Edinburgh’s world-leading academic expertise in this area, drawing on the fields of philosophy, law, informatics, and science and technology innovation studies (STIS). The degree leverages research excellence from the Futures Institute’s Centre for Technomoral Futures, which blends technical and moral expertise in new models of research, education, design and engagement that directly serve the goals of sustainable, just and ethical innovation.

What you will learn

Over the course of this programme, you will develop the knowledge and expertise to shape how AI and data are developed and governed, contributing to a future where innovation is both responsible and sustainable.

As a student, you will:

  • build the cognitive and collaborative skills needed for responsible and ethical data and AI development, use and governance
  • develop a deep critical understanding of the ethical, legal, policy and design values, principles and practices that enable responsible use of data and AI
  • learn how to engage diverse stakeholders and practitioners of AI and data ethics across sectors, disciplines and communities

You will also learn:

  • how ethical norms and principles map onto the distinctive technical capabilities of AI and data science
  • how ethics intersects with other forms of technology governance such as law, policy, design and professional standards
  • how ethics relates to broader political and cultural contestations of algorithmic, corporate and state power and influence
  • what tools and resources experts in the field of AI and data ethics have developed to make practical interventions in the design, evaluation, use and governance of AI and data-intensive computing systems

Postgraduate study at Edinburgh Futures Institute

This programme is part of an interconnected portfolio of postgraduate study opportunities at Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI). EFI supports interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and research that addresses today’s most complex global and social challenges.

Find out more about studying this programme at Edinburgh Futures Institute

Programme benefits

  • Learn from world-leading experts: Study with leading academics across philosophy, law, informatics, and science and technology studies, supported by the Futures Institute’s Centre for Technomoral Futures.
  • Apply your ideas to real-world challenges: Collaborate with external organisations and apply your skills to pressing challenges, gaining valuable practical experience and professional connections.
  • Shape your learning around your passions: Explore the questions that matter most to you, linking study to your own passions and professional goals. Your final project will allow you to tackle an issue you care about and showcase your expertise.
  • Graduate ready to make an impact: Leave prepared to shape the responsible development and governance of AI and data in ways that serve both human and social needs.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in any discipline.

We will also consider your application if you have other professional qualifications or experience; please contact us to check before you apply. In particular, we welcome applications from professionals with experience (e.g. working in companies, government, or third sector organisations) designing or implementing projects, programmes, or policies that aim to diminish inequalities.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

Students on this MSc programme will study a range of courses to complete 180 credits, including:

  • core courses specific to your programme
  • a choice of option courses
  • a project

Core courses

Your core courses provide essential knowledge and skills specific to your area of study and provide strong foundations for the rest of your degree. 

You will take compulsory courses covering:

  • an exploration of the intersection of AI with law, ethics, policy and other modes of technology governance in a rapidly changing context
  • case studies that explore the challenges of ethical data practice while providing methodologies to work with others to meet these challenges in a range of sectors

Option courses

Alongside your core courses, you’ll shape your degree by choosing from a wide range of EFI option courses, taught by academic staff from across the University. 

Our portfolio evolves each year in response to emerging trends, topics, and new research. You can choose from courses on themes such as:

  • how the climate crisis is connected to health
  • the inter-relationship of place, people and nature in urban regeneration
  • critical perspectives on how new technologies are changing society
  • data, programming and research skills that build on your core expertise
  • how new and rapidly changing technologies and data sources are transforming the future of democracy
  • what the future of education might look like
  • how narratives drive the way we understand the world
  • service design and service management in a data-driven society
  • current challenges and futures for the creative industries

The project

Your final project brings together everything you have learned, giving you the opportunity to apply your learning in depth to a domain, issue or concern which drives you. Your final project can be:

  • based on your own personal or professional interests
  • defined by your employer
  • sponsored by one of the Futures Institute’s industry, government, or community partners
  • aligned to one of our research programmes

You will submit your final project as a written piece of work or combine text with other forms – for example:

  • video
  • visualisation
  • a digital artefact
  • performance
  • code

You will begin to identify your project topic relatively early in the programme, and work on it in parallel with the taught courses. We expect you to take an interdisciplinary approach to your project to connect with the creative, data and future-orientated nature of EFI.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Disclaimer

We regularly review and improve our degree programmes. As part of this process, we are currently reviewing EFI’s postgraduate programmes and expect to confirm any updates in April 2026.

Informed by student feedback, these improvements are designed to make your experience even better; while keeping EFI’s focus on exciting, challenge-led, interdisciplinary learning.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

At EFI you’ll learn in ways designed to help you think differently, work across boundaries, and tackle complex challenges. Our teaching brings together people, ideas, and perspectives from across the University, creating an environment where you can experiment, collaborate, and explore new possibilities.

You’ll work alongside academic experts, fellow students, and external partners such as charities, cultural organisations, businesses, and public bodies on real-world projects, where you can apply your knowledge in creative and practical ways. 

Collaboration is central to our teaching. You’ll regularly work in small groups that bring together students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Our approach is designed to help you develop skills in communication, teamwork, and co-creation, skills you’ll use across sectors from creative industries to data science, policy, and beyond.

To support this collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, we use a variety of teaching methods, which can include: 

  • group work
  • expert lectures
  • data skills and programming workshops
  • seminars
  • interactive journal clubs
  • external partner challenges
  • data visualisation exercises
  • creative and collaborative activities
  • online discussion
  • blogging
  • practical prototyping activities

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this programme, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of:

  • current challenges for the ethical design, use and governance of data-intensive and artificial intelligence technologies
  • common principles, practices and methods of applied ethics and how they relate to technology governance tools such as law, policy, and design
  • how to identify, analyse, propose and evaluate a range of design and governance interventions that can align AI and data-intensive tools with ethical norms
  • how to translate and clearly articulate ethical concepts and framings for multiple audiences and across different domains of data/AI application
  • how to lead and work collaboratively with others to produce clear, accessible, and actionable guidance and tools for the ethical design and governance of AI and data-intensive technologies

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Where you will study

Study location

You will be based at Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), an iconic setting in the beautifully restored Old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, a category-A listed landmark at the heart of the city.

Our new home includes state-of-the-art teaching facilities, labs designed for innovation and prototyping, and exhibition and event spaces, making it a place where education, research, and creativity come together.

Exterior of the Edinburgh Futures Institute building
Edinburgh Futures Institute

Career opportunities

This programme addresses a substantial skills gap in the labour market: expertise in the ethical design, development, and governance of emerging AI and data-intensive technologies. 

Many organisations struggle to manage the ethical risks associated with these technologies, which call for new expertise and skillsets beyond legal compliance or business risk management in the conventional sense.

Graduates of this programme will be well positioned to expand their career opportunities across the public, private, and third sectors. Depending on your background and other skills (for example, in data science, machine learning, health, finance, law, policy, or business) you will be equipped to take on roles in areas such as:

  • policy
  • ethics and compliance
  • privacy
  • trust and safety
  • information services and security
  • responsible innovation
  • product management
  • regulatory oversight
  • non-profit research and advocacy

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.

Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we will make as many offers as possible to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.

We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding or a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.

Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Selection deadlines

RoundApply byReceive decision by
1Monday 15 December 2025Thursday 19 March 2026
2Monday 4 May 2026Tuesday 30 June 2026

After Round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open. As this is not guaranteed, however, you are advised to apply by the application deadlines above.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

We will decide which applications to offer places to on the basis of:

  • Educational achievement
  • Professional experience (where relevant)
  • Quality of personal statement

Your personal statement should include why you are interested in studying on this particular programme and, if relevant, how it will support your career development. The Edinburgh Futures Institute provides a space where students can pursue projects on issues they care about, so it would also be helpful (though not essential) if you could indicate the area on which you would most like to focus during your time in EFI.

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office

Academic contact

Professor Shannon Vallor

Programme Director

  • Edinburgh Futures Institute

Contact details

Contact the Programme Director with questions about the academic content of the programme and how it relates to your interests.

Related degree programmes

You may also be interested in