How a Master of Applied AI can help you future-proof your career

*The Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence is subject to regulatory approval from Universities New Zealand, expected in April.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how decisions are made in every sector — from hospitals and classrooms, to courtrooms and government agencies. As a result, Kiwi organisations need professionals who can apply AI systems responsibly and effectively — not just technical experts who can build them. 

To meet this need, UC Online’s Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence (MAAI) is designed to help people upskill into emerging AI roles. Open to learners from any background, the programme focuses on applying AI in real-world contexts — no coding experience required.

Delivered fully online via flexible nine-week courses, the programme is designed for people to upskill into roles such as AI product manager, policy advisor, innovation lead, digital transformation consultant and more. Graduates will be equipped to use, evaluate and implement AI tools in real-world contexts, with a strong focus on practical application.

"We’re incredibly excited to launch this new qualification," says expert contributor, Dr James Williams. "It reflects the extraordinary pace of innovation in AI and the growing demand for graduates who can apply these technologies responsibly and effectively." 

Williams, a Senior Lecturer in Data Science, as well as the founder and lead engineer for two AI consulting companies, is working with Professor Clemency Montelle, Associate Professor Anoop Saxena, and other UC and industry experts to develop this innovative new programme.

Professor Montelle is the Head of UC's Mathematics and Statistics school, who was recently the first person outside the UK to be awarded the renowned Agnes Mary Clerke Medal for Historical Research in Astronomy or Geophysics. Associate Professor Saxena is an expert academic and consultant, whose experience spans universities and transporation businesses across Aotearoa, Canada and the UK.

Together, they're working to develop learning that gives people advanced AI skills, as well as the ethical know-how needed to take to the leadership table.

"The programme is designed to prepare graduates not just to use AI tools, but to understand them deeply," says Professor Montelle. "In a world increasingly shaped by intelligent systems, that depth of understanding is empowering. Almost every organisation now relies on data-driven decision-making."

The programme blends machine learning, data science, and applied AI development with real-world problem solving and ethical reasoning. Learners will have the chance to specialise in a subject aligned to their career goals, with endorsement options in Business & Technology, Health, Education, or Law, Policy & Ethics.

"Learning how to leverage data and AI to solve problems is becoming an essential skill in any sector," says Williams. "What excites me is that we're moving past the idea that this field belongs only to engineers, and towards something far more interesting: genuinely interdisciplinary problem-solving at scale."

Through UC Online's innovative digital delivery, the MAAI enables learners to upskill alongside their work, whānau and community commitments, with bite-sized, interactive study modules.

"Artificial intelligence is transforming every sector of society," says Williams. "This new master's degree is designed to equip graduates with the applied skills and critical insight needed to thrive in the future of work."

Future-proof your career with the fully online Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence.