Artificial Intelligence BSc (Hons)

30 credits

This module demystifies artificial intelligence by exploring the tangible technology, algorithms, data structures and platforms that bring it to life. Starting conceptually, we'll move beyond the abstract and investigate where AI actually 'lives', from massive cloud servers to tiny, efficient models running on pocket-sized devices like a Raspberry Pi. You will get a hands-on introduction to the hardware and software ecosystems that power modern AI. A key focus will be on learning how to measure and evaluate what these AI systems are doing, as well as how to effectively use them to benefit (and not replace) your learning. You will learn to use basic statistics and data visualisation as powerful tools to critically evaluate an AI application’s performance, identify its limitations, and clearly communicate its real-world impact to any audience.

30 credits

This module introduces the fundamental principles of creative problem-solving and computational thinking taking active advantage of artificial intelligence tools for these purposes. No previous technical experience is assumed. We focus on translating human-centred ideas into functional prototypes by collaborating with AI development tools. This hands-on approach emphasises guiding, refining, and evaluating AI-generated solutions rather than manual coding. Students will learn to articulate their intentions, experiment with AI-driven frameworks, and build confidence in their ability to direct technology to solve problems.

30 credits

This module dives into the exciting world of creativity, Generative AI, human-centric AI and the use of tools vs. collaborators and agents, whilst being aware of the ethics and inherent biases inherent in such tools to promote critical and objective evaluation with respect to human-centric and global challenges through the lenses of the UN SDGs, user experience (UX) explainable AI (xAI). AI tools "hype" suggests anyone can create stunning images, write compelling stories & produce music, but when instructing an AI-based tool with your ideas you are writing instructions in a language that will be interpreted by a tool through an interface that is biased in many ways. With great creative power comes great responsibility and as we learn to generate new content, we'll ask the big questions: Who owns AI-generated code, art, music etc.? How do we identify and address bias in the stories AI tells? What are the ethical principles to follow with deepfakes and AI-powered bots commonplace? This module equips you to be a thoughtful and responsible creator. You will explore the emerging laws and ethical guidelines that shape this new landscape, ensuring that the technology you use is designed with human values and societal impact in mind.

30 credits

The goal of the Professional Environments module is to prepare students for professional practice firstly by ensuring they acquire suitable employability assets and secondly by equipping them with an understanding of the role of a professional in society and the role of professional bodies.

Being a professional also means understanding the key legal, ethical and societal issues relevant to the domain, and understanding the need for continuing professional development (CPD), especially when technology develops at such a rapid pace. The module is designed to support different domain areas and you will have opportunities to integrate experience from other professions. The subject areas being studied demand a global perspective which encourages the inclusion of our diverse of communities and national practices.

30 credits

This module demystifies how AI applications work in the real world. You’ll get a hands-on introduction to building a simple AI-powered application for a physical or simulated robot using a contemporary turnkey platform. We’ll explore the fundamental concepts that drive these systems, comparing the trade-offs of running AI on local hardware versus in the cloud. You’ll also investigate the crucial difference between transparent "glass box" and opaque "black box" models.

The core of the module is not just building something, but learning how to critically evaluate its performance, efficiency and possible costs, identify its limitations (including user experience, UX, and explainability, xAI) and biases, and effectively communicate your findings to others.

30 credits

This is a project-based module where you will apply your AI knowledge to tackle complex, real-world problems. Building on your foundational skills, you will work in teams on a series of intensive design sprints, each focused on a critical global theme. You will explore how AI can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, address issues in cybersecurity and globalisation, and shape the future of robotics and automation. Throughout, you will use AI-powered development tools as your primary collaborators, moving from idea to interactive demo using rapid, iterative prototyping. The core challenge is not just to build something that works, but to design systems that are human-centric, considering user experience (UX) and explainable AI (xAI) from the outset. Your learning will be captured in a portfolio of project work that demonstrates your ability to design, develop, and critically evaluate responsible AI solutions.

30 credits

This module establishes the skills required to effectively use databases for storage and retrieval of information. Students will learn how to design, build and query databases using logical data models and structured query language (SQL), and use datasets to perform data analysis and natural language processing (NLP) using appropriate AI-powered tools such as large language models (LLMs) for NLP.

You will tackle one of the biggest challenges in the modern world: making sense of messy, unstructured data. Most of the data we generate contains information in written form. You'll learn how to manage this data and model it effectively using the power of modern AI platforms, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs) and their natural language processing capabilities. The focus is not on the deep theory of how these models are built, but on the practical skills of applying them to extract meaningful insights from data. You'll emerge with the ability to obtain structured, valuable insights from unstructured data, while considering the critical ethical implications of working with human and AI-generated content.

30 credits

This module is designed to encourage you to look outwards to industry and employability, and make you more confident when facing the job market upon graduation. You will develop excellent group working skills, broaden your understanding of industry and its requirements, and enhance your project management skills.

It is always exciting to watch the groups collaborating as they produce their entrepreneurial projects for Kingston University's 'Bright Ideas' scheme; students involved in this have won awards, producing fascinating artefacts for their remaining term and exploring new and different areas within their course field.

The module is an opportunity to work with many different students, working in subject areas that are innovative and unusual. Very often, a student may discover something they did not know that they could achieve. This triggers new learning and an added confidence that was not previously there. Those are the times that the learning is strongest, and our pride in the student, the greatest.

30 credits

This project-based module challenges your team to design and build a sophisticated, human-centric AI prototype with explainability at its core. Building on your practical skills from Level 5, you will undertake a significant, in-depth project in a specialist domain such as AI in Games, Robotics, Health, or intelligent Automation. The central task is not just to create a functional system, but to make its decision-making processes transparent, trustworthy, and understandable to its intended users, and evaluate it in an objective fashion. Throughout this process, you will use AI-powered tools as your advanced development partner, guiding them to implement not only the core application but also the integrated xAI features. This module requires you to work together to integrate your technical, design, and ethical knowledge to produce a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to innovate responsibly at the forefront of AI.

15 credits

The goal of the module is to further develop your skills in organisation, timekeeping, research literature, prototyping and developing real-world solutions, critically analysing results and reporting work verbally and in a written format. The end result will be an artefact or sequence of related artefacts which demonstrate creativity and technical competence as well as a written report. As this is an individual you will be guided in topic and artefact choice which could include projects with a sustainability theme (addressing/supporting the UN SDGs), a small business or other entrepreneurial focus to the final product (artefact).

30 credits

This final-year module explores the critical data architectures that underpin modern artificial intelligence, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs). We start with traditional big data analytics to address a forward-looking question: how do we design the data systems necessary to support the AI of tomorrow? You'll investigate the unique data appetites of LLMs, not just for training but for real-time knowledge retrieval and memory. The module examines the strategic trade-offs between different storage paradigms, from massive cloud databases and object stores to the emerging importance of vector and object databases for AI applications. By combining strategic thinking with practical case studies, you'll learn to design and critique data architectures, ensuring they're not only powerful but also align with human values and responsible innovation principles such as the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).

30 credits

This module supports the creation of digital enterprises through the lifecycle of innovation and entrepreneurship, financing and development, business planning, customer development, marketing and retention.

There are three key parts:

1. Starting up: innovation and entrepreneurship, funding and funders, customers and prototyping
2. Digital strategy, management, finance and planning
3. Digital marketing, customer service and retention

Digital innovation is a major driving force in creating economic growth. This module illustrates how to work in an entrepreneurial fashion. At the heart of entrepreneurship is innovation, which can come in many forms. Sometimes this can be an incremental but generally gives significant improvement to the customer or alternatively as a new breakthrough or transformational innovation. Ideas are then considered from potential customers’ and funders’ perspectives to enable realistic aspirations to be made.

From this foundation, the module explains how to develop a digital business strategy, not only to satisfy the critical needs that organisations have, but also to explore the application and use of improved value chains using the concepts of corporate venturing (spin-out/intrapreneurship) and entrepreneurship (new venture creation).

15 credits

This module gives you a dedicated opportunity to develop your Future Skills Graduate Attributes. 

At the start of the module, you will be supported to self-assess your current skills profile. You will determine which attributes and skills you need to develop to support your career ambitions. In this process, you will be supported by a dedicated career coach, helping you explore a range of options that includes self-employment/freelancing, starting your own business, higher level study, and other professional graduate-level opportunities. Throughout the module, you will be given opportunities to engage with external mentors, to support reflection and to develop a professional network.

You will undertake a tailored series of activities and projects, aligned to your goals, from a menu of development options. This could include short courses, enrichment activities and experiential learning options such as micro-placements. You will also be able to reflect on activities outside the University that develop your graduate attributes, such as work or volunteering.