Course Information course information
About
We are offering a limited number of free places on our Postgraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence, fully funded by the Department for the Economy.
Artificial Intelligence is a core discipline within Computer Science; however, it has applications in almost every industry sector including, but not limited to, Health, Financial Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Media, Energy, Civic Society and Public Policy.
The UK will need a larger workforce with deep AI expertise, and more development of lower level skills to work within the domain. This specialist programme has been developed in response to evidence of demand from industry and business for upskilling of staff in the area of AI and addresses a clear gap in the marketplace for postgraduate study.
The PgCert Artificial Intelligence programme is aimed to provide students with a deep understanding of a number of fundamental Artificial Intelligence topics both in theory and practice, as well as providing the opportunity for students to experience advanced and emerging Artificial Intelligence techniques, the potential of Artificial Intelligence and its effective deployment in a wide range of systems and applications.
There are also opportunities for graduates from the PgCert Artificial Intelligence to embark on further research by enrolling for PhD study affiliated with the research centres within the School of Computing.
The course content has been informed by internationally leading research being conducted in the School and by our strong industry partnerships. The UK will need a larger workforce with deep AI expertise, and more development of lower level skills to work within the domain.
The School of Computing at Ulster University holds Athena Swan Bronze Award since 2016 and is committed to promote and advance gender equality in Higher Education. We particularly welcome female applicants, as they are under-represented within the School at postgraduate taught courses.
Attendance
Each module is timetabled 5 hours per week, typically starting mid-afternoon on a weekday including lectures, tutorials and practicals for the taught components of the course. Student can undertake 1 or 2 module(s) to study per semester.
Start Date
September 2024 (Part-Time)
January 2025 (Part-Time)
Duration
Part-Time: Two semesters (8 months study)
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching is delivered through lectures, directed tutorials, seminars, and practical sessions, some of which are by industry professionals / researchers.
The course is assessed by 100% coursework
Career Options
Graduates from the course, with the advanced computing skills, will be well placed to progress into a wide variety of careers, across a range of industrial settings and application domains.
There are also opportunities for graduates from this course to embark on further study by continuing to MSc in Computer Science or enrolling for PhD study affiliated with the research centres within the School of Computing.
Contact
Dr. Shuai Zhang - Course Director
Email: s.zhang@ulster.ac.uk
Modules
The Postgraduate Certificate award consists of three compulsory taught modules (totalling 60 credits)
Data Science and Machine Learning
This module provides an overview of Data Science process/pipeline. It provides systematic understanding of mathematical and statistical knowledge for explorable data analysis (EDA) and to understand the foundations of supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms, and with the practical programming skills to apply them to real world datasets. The module discusses the constraints that needs to be considered when designing, implementing, evaluating and visualising solutions to real-world complex problems.
Knowledge Engineering
This module will cover modern topics in a classical field of artificial intelligence, including knowledge representation and reasoning (deductive and inductive), and their effective utilisation in e.g. decision making, automated reasoning and formal verification, and semantic web. Students will gain deep understanding of key concepts and principles, and gain practical skills in critically evaluating and effectively building knowledge-based applications.
Emerging and Advanced Topics in AI
This module will cover cutting-edge topics in the field of artificial intelligence, including recent advances in AI theory, algorithms and applications, as well as issues such as privacy, fairness and ethics in artificial intelligence. In doing so a number of examples of advanced AI systems and applications are reviewed. Students will gain deep understanding of key concepts, principles, and challenges, and gain practical skills in critically evaluating and effectively building AI-based applications. The module will also help students develop their skills in independent learning, research skills, writing, as well as practical skills in using software to reproduce results from the literature.
Entry Requirements
Academic qualifications
Applicants must:
(a) have gained
(i) a second class honours degree or better, in the subject areas of Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or closely related discipline, from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
(ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification excluding Conversion courses; and the qualification must be in the subject areas of Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or closely related discipline.
and
(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent). For applicants whose first language is not English the minimum English language requirement is an Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, Trinity ISE: Pass at level III or equivalent English language tests comparable to IELTS equivalent score.
In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements
Applications will open on 1 March, for September 2024 start.
There are a limited number of places on the course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended.
When creating your application on our online application system, please select ‘Professional Develop Progs PG’ as the application type then choose the course name from the list - 'Artifi Intel AICC SKILLS PG Cert, Part time Belfast':
Application Process
Subject to place availability, to receive an offer for this course and secure a place, you must complete each step listed below.
- Complete an application via our direct application system. Please ensure you have selected the correct course name.
- You may need to provide documentation. Please provide with your application to ensure a timely processing of your application.
- Ensure you have submitted the application. This includes confirmation of the application and your consent to our Data Protection Statement. You must complete this step for your application to be sent to the Admissions team for consideration.
- You will receive a confirmation email that the application has been submitted, please ensure you check your junk mail as well as the inbox of the e-mail address listed on your application.
- If you have sent all required information and you have been successful, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
- If you have not sent all required information, you will be asked to send outstanding items. If a place is still available and you have met all requirements, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
IMPORTANT: If we have requested additional items, you do not have a guaranteed place. You may lose your space if you do not provide any required information by the deadline supplied in the Request for documentation Email - Once your place is accepted, you will receive an enrolment email. You must complete the online enrolment to confirm your place and start your course.