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AI, Ethics and Society

MA

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026 | January 2027
Study route:

  • One year full-time, on campus

  • Two years part-time, on campus

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus

Course overview

Our new MA AI, Ethics and Society gives you the opportunity to explore a broad range of critical topics essential for understanding the complex interplay between artificial intelligence and society.

  • Why choose this course?
    • There is a growing demand for professionals capable both of navigating the ethical landscapes that these advancing technologies create and able to address the challenges they pose to contemporary businesses and society.
    • This course merges technical knowledge with philosophical and ethical insight, to prepare you to contribute positively to a world increasingly shaped by AI.
    • By integrating interdisciplinary methodologies from philosophy, law, social sciences and humanities, you will learn to navigate the ethical, societal and creative implications of AI.

  • What will I learn?

    This course is designed to equip you with a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence technologies and societal values. The curriculum is crafted to address the decision-making processes of AI, emphasising fairness, biases, security risks and privacy concerns. It investigates how these technological advancements influence politics, personal relationships and societal structures across various domains.

    You will begin with core modules, in which you will:

    • gain an understanding of the history and development of AI
    • think about AI through an ethical lens to critically evaluate how and when to use AI and the associated pressures of doing so.

    Option modules give you the chance to explore the regulatory and theoretical challenges that new algorithmic technologies pose to the law. You can consider the concepts behind artificial general intelligence and gain hands-on experience with media production to examine issues like the risks of deepfakes, bias and effects on labour.

  • How will I learn?

    This MA AI, Ethics and Society is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening. Lectures will introduce you to complex concepts and theories, while seminars will develop your deeper understanding of these through discussions, group work and practical exercises.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time October start: One to three evenings a week, October to July.

    Full-time January start: One to three evenings a week, January to December.

    Part-time October start: One or two evenings a week, October to July.

    Part-time January start: One or two evenings a week, January to December.

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

  • You will study at our Bloomsbury campus in the heart of London, a city fast becoming one of the major European hubs for AI research and development.
  • Birkbeck is a leading centre for philosophical research in the UK. All of our established members of academic staff are active researchers, and our excellence in both teaching and research is consistently reflected in UK and international surveys.
  • We have a specialist philosophy library at 30 Russell Square. The main philosophy collection is held in the Birkbeck Library, which has an extensive range of books and online resources.
  • We are a member of the University of London’s Institute of Philosophy. Our students therefore belong to a large, intercollegiate community of philosophers, and are welcome at a range of seminars, lectures, talks and conferences.
  • In law, we have a proud tradition of critical scholarship and address issues of law through power and inequality led by principles of social, economic, political, environmental and racial justice.

Modules and Teaching

School of Historical Studies

The school is intensively interdisciplinary and its research and teaching covers every period from prehistory to the early twenty-first century.

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Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirements for postgraduate courses are a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any area of study.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

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Fees

MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £5,670 per year
Full-time home students: £11,340 per year
Part-time international students: £10,425 per year
Full-time international students: £20,850 per year

MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in January 2027

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £5,670 per year
Full-time home students: £11,340 per year
Part-time international students: £10,425 per year
Full-time international students: £20,850 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MA AI, Ethics and Society you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

  • applying theories and frameworks to real-world scenarios
  • developing and critiquing policies
  • critical thinking
  • debating and discussing complex ideas
  • effective communication.

Graduates from this course will be equipped to follow career paths in a wide range of roles, including in:

  • management
  • research and academia
  • analytics
  • law.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

Related courses

Study routes for AI, Ethics and Society (MA)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time

Part-time

Starting in January 2027

Full-time

Part-time