Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MSc

Gain in-depth expertise in the rapidly growing robotics and artificial intelligence field through this cutting-edge programme. The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MSc draws together teaching from Computer Science, AI and Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, combining theory with hands-on experience. Our goal is to help you become future engineers, leaders and researchers in intelligent robotics, artificial intelligence, technology, engineering and finance.

About this degree

In any likely future of society, robots and autonomous systems will play a key role. Much of the existing education in robotics has been based on traditional engineering disciplines. The shifting focus towards autonomous intelligent robots means that computer science will play a more central role in the future.

The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MSc builds on UCL’s existing strengths in AI and computer science to create a new transdisciplinary area of study that fuses applied machine learning with elements from computer science, mechanical engineering, and electronic engineering towards a new discipline of robotics.

Whilst the programme has a strong technical basis, the potential for robots to impact society means it must also address the ethical and legal impact of robots on people and society.

This MSc enables you to learn from world-leading lecturers who are also researchers in their areas of expertise, sharing their knowledge about the very latest developments in this fast-paced field.

In this programme, you will use your programming skills to implement robot algorithms in a variety of ways. Depending on your module selections, you will use general-purpose robots and specialised robots, such as medical robots, drones and manipulators.

You will have the opportunity to learn about applying computer vision to robotics, localisation and mapping tools used in autonomous driving and get to grips with the Robotic Operating System (ROS) – widely used across industry and research. You will also have access to some of UCL’s highly regarded machine learning modules. You will undertake a substantial project as the culmination of your programme – either an academic research project or a collaboration with an industry partner – which will help consolidate your knowledge.

This programme brings together theory with practice, giving you the skills you will need to work in a variety of robotics and AI roles across a range of industries.

The MSc programme will be taught at the brand new, purpose-designed UCL East campus in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, bringing you a modern learning environment in an exciting location.

Who this course is for

The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MSc is an excellent option if you have strong mathematics and programming skills. You will have a desire to go on to work or research in the field of robotics, and you might have some prior experience of robotics, the Robotic Operating System (ROS), Raspberry Pi or Arduino.

The foundation of your career

As this is a new programme, graduate destination information is not yet available. However, graduates from similar programmes have gone into a variety of sectors and roles, finding employment at companies that develop medical devices using robotics, such as Medtronic and Siemens.

Some also work in robot manipulation and control, industrial processing, information processing, data analytics, machine learning, or autonomous navigation.

The fast pace of change in robotics and artificial intelligence means ample opportunities in research and academia, too.

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree (or international qualification of an equivalent standard) in a highly quantitative subject such as computer science, mathematics, electrical or electronic engineering, or the physical sciences. Additionally, applicants must have some experience with a programming language such as C/C++, Java, Python, or Matlab and must be able to understand programming concepts such as functions, classes, inheritance, branching, and looping.