MSc Digital & AI Leadership

Explore how Agentic AI is developed and deployed in finance, covering its technologies, systems, applications, and strategic and ethical implications.

The module aims to provide training in applying data science methods to contemporary economic problems by looking at case studies. Specifically, the module aims to give you the opportunity to conduct a data science project using economic data. You will discover how to replicate and extend a data science case. The module aims to give the appropriate grounding in economic analysis, while developing your research and communication skills.

This module enables students to develop and communicate an AI startup idea through a structured process of ideation, refinement and reflection, partly using AI as a 'co-founder' or assistant. Students explore what contemporary AI systems can and cannot do, using this understanding to frame creative venture opportunities and novel applications.

The module emphasises design thinking, experimentation and iterative development, supporting students in shaping, testing and sharpening early stage startup concepts. Ethical judgement and awareness of risk are introduced as part of critical decision making.

Learning is assessed in a group-based pitch and an individual academic reflection that critically examines the assumptions, feasibility and value claims underpinning the proposed startup idea(s).

This module focuses on how digital technologies enable organisations to offer digital services that aim at improving customer experience as well as firm performance. The module assumes no prior knowledge of technology and prepares students to engage with technology-related conversations (e.g., designing a new digital service) at the modern workplace. 

The module has three themes. The first theme is gaining competitive advantage using a digital business strategy and covers concepts such as motivations for digital transformation. The second theme provides an overview of what today’s managers need to know about the advantages and disadvantages of cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, social media, and data analytics. The last theme focuses on the lifecycle of digital service provision, covering key concepts such as technology selection and sourcing, agile implementation, and risk management

The principle aims of the module are to:ockchain & Cryptocurrencies

• Gain practical and theoretical understanding of how the financial services industry has been transformed through the adoption and use of digital innovation and information technologies
• Familiarise yourself with the key technical, procedural, and business aspects of relevant financial technologies and FinTech innovations
• Get with the right mix of technical and business skills to manage IT change in a highly complex and distributed but also competitive setting in finance
• Learn how recent developments in fintech, paytech, regtech, and insuretech (e.g. open banking, blockchain and shared ledger technologies, cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, security, etc.) will affect the future of finance.

In this module you will study the contexts, components, and processes of entrepreneurial behaviour in different types of organisations and focus on key issues in developing business proposals and plans. 

The objective of the module is to teach you to develop a broad set of skills and knowledge around conducting data analytics using Python programming language. You will learn how to develop Python script to collect, pre-process, analyse the data and present the results.

• Develop script to scrape data publicly available online
• Demonstrate understanding of principles and processes to clean the data collected online
• Demonstrate familiarity and understanding of the common models used in data analytics and their implementations using Python
• Develop script to visualise analysis results
• Demonstrate familiarity and understanding of major Python libraries used in data science.

If you select the Research Paper route, Research Methods becomes a compulsory module for you and it gives you the academic skills to confidently approach your Research Paper topic. 

The focus is on epistemological foundations, the design of a research project, the preparation for and execution of valid and reliable business research (whether qualitative or quantitative), and on the writing up and presentation of research results.

The module recognises that you may wish to go on to start your own business, work in family enterprises, or use entrepreneurship as a distinctive pathway for professional development. The module therefore offers a rigorous, applied alternative to more traditional capstone experiences, connecting academic insight with practical start-up experimentation.

If you are considering further academic study (PhD), you can choose to complete a 6,000 word Research Paper on your learnings and knowledge of information systems management or digital innovation. Please note you must select the Research Methods module in order to qualify for this module.

In total you will study six core modules, three optional modules, and complete a Research Paper and a Research Methods module.