MSc Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics at University of Bristol

AI is rapidly remaking economies, institutions, and daily life, raising urgent questions our governments, organisations, and legal systems are struggling to answer. The technology is moving faster than the laws and norms meant to govern it, and choices being made now will shape our societies for decades to come. To lead this transformation, governments, industries and the public need graduates who can critically engage with these technologies, make robust ethical decisions, and communicate both technical ideas and governing frameworks.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences  |  Department: School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies  |  Duration: One year full-time  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Bristol, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Students take three core units (60 credits) in Teaching Block 1, three specialised optional units (60 credits, from a choice of four) in Teaching Block 2, and a 60-credit supervised capstone in Teaching Block 3. Teaching Block 1 builds a common foundation across a diverse cohort through technical AI, socio-technical and ethical frameworks, and digital research methods. Teaching Block 2 lets students pursue disciplinary depth through options spanning law and regulation, political economy, AI ethics, and the sociology of digital and technological transformation.

Career pathways

Graduates will be prepared for careers across public policy, regulation, industry, civil society, and research, as organizations seek people who can understand AI systems and respond to their social, ethical, and institutional consequences. Potential roles include policy analyst, AI governance or responsible AI specialist, regulatory and compliance officer, risk and safety analyst, consultant, and researcher.

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