Course Details
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform our world and becomes more prevalent in our lives, ethical considerations are increasingly critical. While "Ethical AI" and "Responsible AI" are often used interchangeably, they are distinct concepts. This module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of both, exploring the ethical principles that guide AI development (Ethical AI) and the practical application of those principles to create safe and accountable technologies (Responsible AI).
This module will examine the societal challenges posed by AI such as the impact on employment, the economy, and social structures. Students will explore how AI can be regulated through frameworks and policies essential for ensuring the ethical use of AI. The module also covers the ethics and responsible use of AI in automated vehicles, healthcare, among other critical topics.
Students will examine real-world case studies and regulatory frameworks to critically assess the ethical implications of AI technologies across diverse sectors. Through engaging with concepts such as trust, fairness, transparency, and accountability, students will develop critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills essential for evaluating and contributing to the development of safe, ethical, and socially responsible AI solutions in professional contexts.
While AI offers incredible potential to benefit humans and society, it must be designed and developed ethically and responsibly. This module will review real-world cases and policies that support the creation of socially beneficial, safe, and accountable AI technologies.
This module is designed to be accessible to students without programming knowledge.
Course Duration and Delivery Format
Course start date: September 2025
The course will be delivered through a hybrid learning model, combining both on-campus and online delivery. Each module will include four on-campus sessions, each lasting three hours, spread across a 12-week semester. The remaining module content will be delivered online.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
This module is assessed entirely through coursework, with the workload evenly distributed across the semester.
This course uses a hybrid teaching approach. Each semester, students attend four on-campus sessions, each lasting three hours, while the remaining learning is conducted online via video and audio recordings, interactive quizzes, and educational apps. Lecture materials, including PowerPoint presentations, will be made available for review and revision on the University’s online learning system.
Career Opportunities
Through completion of this module, students will gain a deep understanding of the ethical and responsible implications and technical challenges associated with AI. They will develop an understanding of AI governance frameworks, which will equip them to critically analyse AI systems focusing on trust, fairness, transparency and accountability. Students will develop the skills to review ethical concerns in the development and use of AI technology and evaluate ethical decision-making within AI systems.
Students who successfully complete this module may be eligible for an exemption on the MSc or PgCert in Ethical and Responsible Artificial Intelligence programs.
Campus
Derry~Londonderry and online
Course Credit
This is a 20 credit module
Course Entry requirements
Applicants must:
(a) have gained
(i) an Honours or non-Honours degree 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 is recognised as being of an equivalent standard;
or
(ii) an equivalent standard in a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification;
and
(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent);
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.
Fee Funding Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland (ROI);
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK or ROI for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK or ROI.
- meet the course specific entry requirements as detailed above.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements
- this programme is not available to applicants with the following residency:
- GB and Islands
- EU excluding ROI qualifying residents
- International students
Terms and Conditions
- Fee funding is only available for the September 25/26 intake and cannot be deferred to future intakes.
- Fee funding is paid directly by the Department for the Economy to Ulster University.
- Students cannot redeem the funding for an alternative programme nor redeem the cash value.
- Students cannot redeem this funding in conjunction with any other course fee funding.
- Students can redeem funding for up to three courses, which equate to no more than 60 credit points in total (with the exemption of MSc, which is 180 credit points).
Apply now
There are a limited number of places on the course.
Offers will be made to those applicants who meet the entry requirements, and have provided evidence of such, on a first come , first served basis.
Therefore, when creating your application you will need to have the following documents saved electronically as they need to be uploaded as part of the application process:
- Passport
- Evidence on meeting three year residency in NI/ROI
- Degree Certificate
- English Competency (If you have a degree from UK/ROI, you don't need to provide anything else)
- BRP - If applicable
