Teaching
Students are expected to attend all of the four week-long residentials in Cambridge. In addition to the in-person taught residentials, there will be a number of live lectures and seminars from a range of guest speakers. These will typically take place weekly or fortnightly on Friday lunchtimes (GMT or BST), in term-time only. There will also be some online dissertation workshops in Year 2, to help with planning and share ideas with fellow students.
Year 1
Module 1: The Nature and History of AI
Key areas:
The technical foundations of AI and the current capabilities and status of the technology
Current applications of AI across a range of domains and sectors
The history of AI and its relationship to other disciplines and technologies, including the history of computing and administration
The nature and measurement of intelligence, and comparisons between human, animal and artificial intelligence
Module 2: Ethical and Societal Challenges
Key areas:
Critical discussion of the following themes:
- Privacy
- Fairness and equality
- Safety
- Accountability
- Human dignity and autonomy
The relationship between the near- and long-term challenges of AI
Comparison of different global perspectives
Module 3: Governing AI
Key areas:
Comparison and critical analysis of current AI policy initiatives worldwide
Overview and critical discussion of different codes and principles for AI ethics
Prospects for international regulation of AI
The role of activism and civil society
Year 2
Module 4: Theories and Methods
Key areas:
Theories and methods from the following disciplines:
- Philosophical ethics
- The history and philosophy of science
- Literary and cultural studies
- Social and behavioural sciences
- Futures studies and foresight methods
Module 5: Dissertation
Aims: To enable students to apply and develop their learning from Modules 1-4 through an innovative, independent research project in an area relevant to the course, topic and scope to be agreed with the supervisor.
| One to one supervision |
Students will be allocated an Academic Adviser to cover modules 1-4, and will receive one group and one individual session per assessment per term. Students will be assigned a dissertation supervisor for year 2 of the course who will offer advice on aspects of research and preparation of the dissertation. Students will be entitled to 5 supervisions of up to an hour each on the dissertation, providing detailed feedback on progress and sample drafts. |
|---|---|
| Seminars & classes |
During in person residential weeks, students will receive c40 hours of contact time, including lectures, small group teaching and seminars. There is one in person residential week each for modules 1-4. |
| Lectures |
During in person residential weeks, students will receive c40 hours of contact time, including lectures, small group teaching and seminars. There is one in person residential week each for modules 1-4. |
| Small group teaching |
During in person residential weeks, students will receive c40 hours of contact time, including lectures, small group teaching and seminars. There is one in person residential week each for modules 1-4. |
| Literature Reviews |
Some assessments and the dissertation require literature reviews. |
| Posters and Presentations |
Students will be required to give individual presentations or contribute to group presentations, on which the students will receive constructive feedback. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Equal Taught/Research
|
Feedback
There will be a variety of feedback methods, in line with pedagogical best practice, including written feedback from instructors on assessments, as well as opportunities for peer feedback.
Students are given formal feedback on summative assessments (those assessments which formally contribute to the final outcome of the MSt award) and informal feedback throughout the course, including during supervisions. Students will receive supervision on the dissertation from their supervisor, providing detailed feedback on sample drafts.
The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
In the second year (module 5), students will write a 15,000 word dissertation which accounts for 50% of the final grade.
Other
Assessment will be through a range of formats which may include coursework, written and oral examinations, posters, presentations and projects.