MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business
- MSc
Overview
The MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business is an interdisciplinary programme designed to prepare you for leadership in the design, implementation, and evaluation of AI technologies in complex and evolving business environments.
Drawing on expertise from the University of Bristol Business School, the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), and the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences (FALSS), the programme combines technical knowledge with managerial insight to meet the growing demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between AI systems and business value. You will gain a solid grounding in the core principles and technologies of artificial intelligence, including data engineering, machine learning, and large-scale computing, while also exploring their application in business domains.
The programme emphasises a contextualised understanding of AI's role in business, encouraging students to move beyond simply learning the technical tools to critically examine their practical impact, commercial viability, and long-term sustainability within different organisational and societal contexts.
Ethical reasoning and critical awareness are core to the curriculum, examining the societal consequences of AI adoption, and you will be encouraged to think reflexively about the trade-offs and responsibilities associated with AI-driven innovation.
The programme fosters practical skills through hands-on lab sessions, cloud-based platforms, and industry-standard tools. You will not only develop proficiency in applying these tools to real-world business problems, but will also critically evaluate their strengths, limitations, and appropriateness for different tasks and contexts. A strong emphasis is placed on applied learning, including a supervised applied research project or dissertation. You can choose to explore entrepreneurial challenges, partner with external organisations, or pursue independent research under academic guidance.
By the end of the programme, you will be capable of working across disciplinary and professional boundaries, assessing emerging technologies, and contributing to strategic decision-making processes. The MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business aligns with the University's Bristol Futures Curriculum by supporting the development of global citizenship, digital agility, interdisciplinary thinking, and leadership for an AI-augmented future.
Highlights of the programme include:
- Its interdisciplinary approach, with teaching across two Faculties to deliver a programme that combines technical knowledge and business learning.
- A choice of units to support how technical or contextual you wish to be in your career aspirations.
- A distinction from related courses such as MSc Business Analytics and MSc Data Science for Business, with only one shared unit (EMATM0051 Large Scale Data Engineering). Unlike many competitor offerings, which often repurpose existing data analytics modules, this programme has been developed with a dedicated focus on AI.
- Its high degree of industry engagement from conception through to delivery.
- Its location, with the Business School and parts of Science and Engineering co-locating in the new University of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, a state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary facility with industry presence.
Programme structure
The programme offers an integrated interdisciplinary curriculum that combines AI training with expertise in the business environments in which AI may be applied.
The curriculum will include:
- 3 core units in TB1 (Fundamentals of AI (Applications); Large Scale Data Engineering; and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI for Business).
- 2 core units in TB2 (Introduction to AI Societies, Ethics and Futures; and AI in Business Practice).
You have a choice between two units – one more technical (AI in the Cloud), the other more business context focused (Entrepreneurship in the AI Age). Each unit is worth 20 credits. In addition, 60 credits will be assigned in TB3 for the Applied Research Project or Dissertation, which will be interdisciplinary and co-supervised by the Business School and FSE.
Throughout TB1 and TB2, students are equipped with a wide range of theoretical and methodological tools that prepare them for their applied project or dissertation. Research methods are embedded across the curriculum; for instance, technical and analytical approaches are introduced in Fundamentals of AI (Applications), while domain-specific strategy, evaluation, and interdisciplinary frameworks are developed in units such as Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI for Business, AI in Business Practice, and Introduction to AI Societies, Ethics and Futures.
These provide the methodological foundation necessary for both qualitative and quantitative inquiry, as well as for engaging with ethical and organisational complexities in applied research.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in quantitative subject such as Accounting and Finance, Actuarial Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Engineering, Finance, International Economics and Trade, Maths, Physics or Commerce (with specialism in Accounting/Finance/Economics).
If your degree subject is not listed above, you will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent which includes three different units of mathematics or quantitative units (see Maths qualification requirements below) with 2:1 or equivalent in each unit. A-level Maths at Grade A may be acceptable for a non-quantitative degree.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree.
If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:
- evidence of relevant work experience (5 years minimum) in Accounting, Business and Management Consulting, Business Intelligence, Data Analytics, Economics, Finance, Investment, Healthcare Management, Health Technology, Investment or Supply Chain and Operations Management
- a relevant postgraduate qualification.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
If your degree subject is not listed in the main entry requirements, you must have evidence of an upper second class honours degree which includes three units of mathematics with 60% or above (or international equivalent) in each unit. Examples of acceptable units include:
-
Advanced Maths (introductory maths does not count towards maths unit requirements)
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Financial Maths
- Maths
- Pure Maths
- Business Mathematics
- Business Statistics
- Computer Science (including programming/algorithms)
- Data Mining/Data Science/ Data Analytics
- Derivatives
- Econometrics
- Financial Modelling
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Investment Analysis
- Probability
- Quantitative Methods
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Statistics/Statistical Methods/Statistical Analysis
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £18,400 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £34,000 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
The Business School is offering a range of scholarships for master's students starting in 2026.
Scholarships for International Students include Think Big Scholarships and Think Big Career Accelerator Scholarships.
Scholarships for Home (UK) Students include the Business School Advance Scholarship and Spärck AI Scholarships.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
Graduates of the MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business programme will be equipped to lead and support AI implementation across a wide range of business and organisational contexts. With a curriculum that blends technical fluency and strategic insight, students will be well prepared for roles such as:
- AI Strategy Consultant or Digital Transformation Specialist – driving enterprise AI adoption and crafting organisational roadmaps for large corporates or consultancies.
- Product or Project Manager for AI Solutions – coordinating cross-functional teams to develop and deploy AI-powered products.
- Data and AI Business Analyst – translating complex datasets and AI outputs into actionable insights in industries such as finance, marketing, supply chain, and e-commerce.
- Business Innovation Manager – leveraging AI to design new business models and identify growth opportunities, especially within tech-forward enterprises or startups.
- Responsible AI or AI Governance Lead – shaping policies and practices to ensure ethical, fair, and regulatory-compliant use of AI in sectors like healthcare, financial services, or public policy.
- Entrepreneur or Venture Creator – founding or supporting AI-based startups, using skills acquired through the programme's innovation and entrepreneurship track.
Due to strong industry engagement and practical components such as group consultancy projects, graduates will be prepared for impactful careers across private enterprises, public sector organisations, nonprofits, or research institutions. The interdisciplinary grounding also supports further study at doctoral level, particularly in AI ethics, business applications, or AI and society.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk