Ethics and Governance in Artificial Intelligence

If you work in or alongside organisations adopting AI, and you want to ensure that adoption is safe, fair, and accountable, or if you need to understand the regulatory environment surrounding AI, this micro-credential is for you.

As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in decisions that affect employment, healthcare, finance, and everyday life, the need for professionals who understand the ethical and governance dimensions of AI has never been greater. This micro-credential equips you with exactly that; a comprehensive, critical understanding of what it means to develop and deploy AI responsibly.

You'll explore the distinction between Ethical AI and Responsible AI, examining the principles that should guide AI development alongside the practical frameworks needed to put those principles into action. Key regulatory frameworks including GDPR, the EU AI Act, and US AI policy are covered, giving you a grounding in the legal and institutional landscape shaping AI globally.

Through real-world case studies, you'll analyse how AI systems perform, and sometimes fail, against standards of fairness, transparency, accountability, and privacy. You'll develop your own ethical AI strategy for a business context, drawing on stakeholder feedback to refine your approach.

Crucially, this micro-credential requires no programming knowledge, making it accessible to professionals from a wide range of backgrounds including management, law, compliance, HR, and policy; anyone who needs to engage with AI critically and responsibly in their work.

Career Options

This micro-credential is highly relevant for professionals working at the intersection of technology, governance, and organisational strategy. Relevant job titles and pathways include:

AI Ethics Officer / Responsible AI Lead
Compliance Manager (Technology/AI)
Digital Policy Advisor
Risk and Governance Analyst
Technology Strategy Consultant
Legal or Regulatory Affairs Specialist (AI focus)

Transferable Skills Gained

Critical analysis of AI systems
Regulatory and policy literacy
Stakeholder engagement
Strategic thinking
Written and oral communication

Valuable across sectors including financial services, healthcare, public services, legal, and technology.

Delivery: Fully Online

The micro-credential is delivered through online lectures and seminars combining theoretical frameworks with industry case studies. Seminars include a mix of industry presentations, group critique sessions, and workshops focused on real-world AI applications, helping you identify issues such as dataset bias, consent practices, interpretability challenges, and resource demands.

Online labs/tutorials will be delivered on Tuesday's from 6pm to 9pm. To support flexible learning, pre-recorded lectures will be available one week before each lesson and can be accessed at a time that is convenient for each participant.

Assessment: 100% Coursework

Participants who successfully complete this micro-credential will be awarded 20 credit points from Ulster University and receive a Certificate of Achievement.

Participants may choose to enrol in additional post-graduate micro-credentials through Ulster University to accumulate further credit (credit values may vary by course). Upon successful completion of a total of 60 Ulster University credit points, learners will be eligible to graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development.

Start Date: Tuesday 6 October

Duration: 10 teaching weeks

Delivery: Online labs/tutorials will be delivered on Tuesday's from 6pm to 9pm.

To support flexible learning, pre-recorded lectures will be available one week before each lesson and can be accessed at a time that is convenient for each participant.

Entry Requirements

Ulster University general Postgraduate study entry requirements.

Applicants must hold an Honours or non-Honours degree or an equivalent standard in a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification in any discipline or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning. An interview may form part of the admission process. Applicants must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

Have a valid Irish PPS Number or UK National Insurance Number.

Live full‑time in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Have the required immigration permission needed to study in UK.

Funding Eligibility

Places are limited and only open to the following applicants:

Priority 1 - People who live in the North West cross-border region covering counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Derry~Londonderry, Tyrone, Fermanagh and / or people employed by companies based in these counties.
Priority 2 - People who live in Northern Ireland and the border areas of Ireland including Cavan, Louth and Monaghan and / or people employed by companies based in these areas.

North West DEPTH Terms and Conditions

There are a limited number of places on this course. Places are allocated subject to applicants meeting the relevant funding eligibility, prioritisation and entry requirements.
Within each priority group and at the point of application processing, a further level of prioritisation will be applied:
- Eligible New Learners - Applicants who have not previously participated in a NW DEPTH funded programme at Ulster University or any of the Partner institutions.
- Eligible Returning Learners – applicants who have participated in previous NW DEPTH funded programmes at Ulster University or any of the Partner institutions.
- Date and time a complete application was received - where multiple applicants have the same priority and learner status, they will be considered in the order in which a complete application was received
Learners can undertake NW DEPTH funded courses at Ulster University up to a maximum of 60 credits of study per learner across the lifetime of the programme (ends June 2029). This may be achieved through studying of, for example:
- A number of standalone micro-credentials, or
- A Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert), or
- A combination of micro-credentials and other eligible provision.
Participation in NW DEPTH programmes at Ulster University is capped at 60 credits per academic year, with no more than 45 credits permitted to be studied in any one semester.
For the purposes of this limit, enrolment on a course will count towards a learner’s total participation, regardless of whether the course is completed, except where a learner withdraws within any agreed early withdrawal period defined by the delivery institution.
Participants who successfully complete a micro-credential will be awarded credit points from Ulster University and receive a Certificate of Achievement. Participants may choose to enrol in additional post-graduate micro-credentials through Ulster University to accumulate further credit (credit values may vary by course). Upon successful completion of a total of 60 Ulster University credit points, learners will be eligible to graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development.
Learners may undertake additional study at Ulster University which is funded through other sources or is self-funded. Ulster University typically permits part-time learners to undertake up to 45 credits per semester, which may be funded through a combination of sources.
Due to the specialist nature of this programme, a minimum cohort size is required to ensure a high-quality learning experience. The University reserves the right not to commence the programme where this minimum number is not achieved. Should this occur, applicants will be contacted and alternative options discussed.
Leave of absences - TBC