The Minister for AI and Digital Government launched the UK’s first of its kind AI for Science Master’s programme at King’s College London.
Feryal Clark MP joined leading King’s interdisciplinary scientists at the Quad to announce the new programme, which will draw expertise from across disciplines, including biosciences, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, security and law – preparing AI experts of the future in an ever-changing world.
The Master’s is part of King’s major £45.5 million investment into science – helping to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing us all. The investment is advancing knowledge, strengthening skills and powering exploration across the sciences, through education, research and state-of-the-art facilities.
AI and Digital Government Minister Feryal Clark said: “AI is transforming how we solve the world’s biggest challenges, and this new Master’s at King’s will create a generation of AI-minds ready to turn scientific ambition into real world solutions – just like the road that can mend its own cracks and assistive robot I saw today.
“Building this talent pipeline is central to our Plan for Change and builds on the £187 million we announced this week to give Brits the skills needed for the jobs of the future - investing in the talent and expertise that will keep us leading on AI and delivering for working people.”
The visit was hosted by Vice-Chancellor & President of King's College London, Professor Shitij Kapur, and Minister Clark saw ongoing interdisciplinary AI research from the very experts who will deliver teaching for the new course and who are leading the digital revolution in science.
Vice-Chancellor & President of King's College London, Professor Shitij Kapur said: “We are delighted to welcome Minister Clark to King’s for the second time this year as we celebrate the launch of our new AI for Science MSc. King’s is at the forefront of interdisciplinary AI research and innovation, and this programme, the first of its kind, will help build a future pipeline of specialists fluent in both science and AI. Through our world-leading education and research at scale and across disciplines, we look forward to continuing to support the government to deliver on its bold ambitions for the future of AI – one that will support economic growth, nurture talent and improve lives in the UK.”
Dr Dan Nicolau AI for Science Programme Lead, King’s College London, said: “The AI for Science programme is for science or maths graduates, seeking to be at the forefront of scientific discovery. It will provide a thorough grounding in AI techniques and applications for solving complex and real-world scientific challenges.
“The programme will help students to enter the dynamic, uncertain job market defined by the need to remain flexible and at the forefront of developments in AI technologies, which will alter the practice of these disciplines, industrially, academically and in the public sector.
“Students will become bilingual in science and AI, with a grasp of the very latest technical, as well as social, ethical and legislative developments, equipping them to thrive in the future as AI science natives."
At the launch, Dr Heba Sailem, Senior Lecturer of Biomedical AI and Data Science, shared how she is developing AI approaches to improve patient treatment and welfare – combining insights from histopathology, genetics, pharmaceutical medicine and cell biology.
Dr Francisco Martin-Marinez, senior lecturer in Chemistry, explained how he is combining AI and materials science to address the country’s £143 million pothole problem, developing a self-healing, sustainable road surface made from recycled oils.
Feryal Clark MP then received a demonstration of an assistive robot which is being programmed by researchers at King’s to help people live independently for longer, for example by helping people to feed themselves.
The announcement of the AI for Science Master’s follows a successful launch of a new Natural Sciences undergraduate course in 2024, which is in the top 10 in the UK for Natural Sciences (QS by subject 2025).
Professor Elena Simperl, King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence Co-Director said: “This AI for Science Master's programme showcases what AI at King's is all about: world-class research and education focused on harnessing AI for the benefit of humanity. The King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence is a strategic King's-wide initiative to bring cohesion to the remarkable reach and impact of AI across the university. By developing a deeper pool of AI expertise and talent equipped to create, deploy and apply AI solutions, we’re ensuring AI serves society’s greatest challenges with the quality data and responsible frameworks needed to benefit everyone.”
18 new academics have also joined the University to supercharge its science research and education, driving interdisciplinary research in wide ranging areas, from computational neuroscience to net zero.
Find out more about the AI for Science programme https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/artificial-intelligence-for-science-msc