Master in Engineering Responsible AI Systems

Master in Engineering Responsible AI Systems is one of 24 English-taught Engineering programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 13 institutions. 24 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 727 a year. 16 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

What you study

This master's programme is about building AI systems that are reliable, secure, transparent and fit for real-world use. You start with the technical base: machine learning, statistics, software engineering and knowledge representation. Then you move into generative models and deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, federated machine learning, simulation and optimisation, data privacy and security, and the Internet of Things. The programme also covers AI architecture and cloud computing, and how to process and analyse large volumes of data.

Responsible AI runs through the whole degree. You look at how bias can arise in data and algorithms, how to make automated decisions understandable, and how to evaluate fairness and trustworthiness. You study the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and what it means for risk management, compliance, documentation and governance. Sustainability is another thread: how to design resource-efficient models and infrastructures, and how AI can support energy management, waste reduction, recycling and the circular economy.

How the programme is organised

It is a part-time master's over four semesters, 120 ECTS, taught in English at IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences in Krems an der Donau. The programme is built on three pillars. Semesters 1 and 2 cover the technical foundations: courses include Statistics and Big Data Analysis, Sustainability and AI for Green, Software Engineering for AI, AI Architecture and Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, and Knowledge Representation and Reasoning. You develop prototypes and run evaluations using real-world data.

Semester 3 shifts to applications in healthcare, the circular economy and sustainability. Courses include Human-centered and Explainable AI, AI Ethics, Trustworthy AI and Fairness, Applications of Responsible AI, and a Research Methods Seminar. Semester 4 is built around the master thesis, with AI Regulations & Compliance, Future Skills and a Master Exam. The programme says it collaborates with research institutions and companies, and you can use the Founders Lab alongside your studies for start-up support.

Who it suits

It is aimed at graduates of bachelor's programmes in computer science and engineering, and at professionals with practical experience in the technical field who want to become experts in developing responsible AI systems. You should be comfortable with code, data and mathematical models. The programme also asks you to think about fairness, privacy, accountability and human oversight, so an interest in the societal side of technology matters. Teaching is in English, and the international mix is part of the point.

Admission, language and next steps

Teaching language is English. Applications go directly to IMC Krems, not through a central portal. The programme page gives the application period and the separate date for non-EU nationals, so check those there. As a university of applied sciences, IMC Krems sets its own fees; the study fee is shown on the programme page. The degree awarded is Master of Science in Engineering (MSc). Graduates can go into industry or continue to a PhD at an Austrian or international university.

KI spielt eine immer wichtigere Rolle in vielen Bereichen des Lebens. Der Master-Studiengang Engineering Responsible AI Systems reagiert auf diesen Trend, indem er sich auf die Entwicklung fortschrittlicher KI-Systeme konzentriert, die ethische Richtlinien, Transparenz und Umweltfreundlichkeit gewährleisten. Der Studiengang richtet sich sowohl an Absolventinnen und Absolventen von Bachelor-Studiengänge im Bereich Informatik und Technik als auch an Fachleute mit praktischer Berufserfahrung im technischen Bereich, die sich zu Expertinnen und Experten in der Entwicklung verantwortungsvoller KI-Systeme weiterentwickeln möchten.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences. Universities of applied sciences set their own application periods and admission procedures, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Online application and admission interview. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.