PhD in Artificial Intelligence
Saint Julian's, Malta
PhD
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 450 / per month *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* highest regular fee | flexible schedule and payment installment options
Take the next step in shaping your future with a PhD in AI. Whether your ambitions lie in driving business innovation, advancing technology and computer science, or influencing policy and governance, this program will equip you with the expertise and opportunities to lead in the ever-evolving world of Artificial Intelligence. Join us and make your mark on the future of AI.
What drives you to pursue a PhD in Artificial Intelligence? Is it the desire to be recognized as a leader in one of the most transformative fields of our time, or the ambition to secure your place among the experts shaping the future of technology? Perhaps it’s the challenge of mastering a discipline that demands intellectual rigor and offers unmatched prestige, positioning you for roles where your voice carries weight in both boardrooms and research forums.
Our PhD in AI provides a platform to develop practical skills that impact industries, governments, and societies. With three core pillars—AI Business, AI Technology, and AI Law—you will be equipped to address pressing challenges while contributing to meaningful advancements. Whether it’s pioneering AI-driven business solutions, optimizing public operations, or addressing the ethical and regulatory frameworks that guide the deployment of AI, your work will have the potential to make a tangible difference.
At the same time, this accredited artificial intelligence program offers a unique opportunity to focus on your own career ambitions. Whether you aim to lead innovative projects, influence global AI policies, or secure a competitive edge in a rapidly expanding job market, a PhD in AI positions you at the intersection of knowledge, influence, and opportunity. If you’re ready to take this step and define your place in the world of AI, we invite you to join us.
Our fully online program is ideal for international students and working professionals alike, allowing you to fit your education around your other commitments. International applicants will need to provide proof of English language proficiency.
Whether you aim to lead innovative projects, influence global AI policies, or secure a competitive edge in a rapidly expanding job market, a PhD in AI positions you at the intersection of knowledge, influence, and opportunity.
So, if you already have a master’s degree and ready to take this step and define your place in the world of AI, we invite you to join us.
Three focus areas to match your expertise in AI
Depending on your professional background and interests, our PhD in AI enables you to research areas that align with your expertise and goals. Build on your basic knowledge of AI or delve into ever-evolving avenues of data science to work towards the career of your dreams.
Whether your experience lies in business, technology, or law, the programme provides opportunities to advance AI in ways that are both significant and aligned with your ambitions. Once you’ve chosen your area of focus, you’ll complete your graduate coursework and conduct advanced research to put towards completing your doctoral dissertation.
- AI Business: Driving Strategic Innovation: For professionals with a business background, the PhD offers the chance to research how AI enhances organisational strategies and performance. You could examine how predictive analytics improves decision-making, study AI’s role in streamlining operations, or explore its potential to create personalised customer experiences. With this focus, a PhD will prepare you to lead AI-driven business transformations and develop strategies that harness AI’s full potential in competitive industries.
- AI Technology: Building Intelligent Solutions: If you’re a developer or engineer, this programme provides an opportunity to focus on the technical challenges in AI. Research topics might include designing more efficient machine learning algorithms, improving AI interpretability, or developing applications for autonomous systems. A PhD in this area allows you to deepen your technical skills and contribute to innovations that push the boundaries of AI, positioning you as a certified expert in a rapidly advancing field.
- AI Law: Defining the Legal and Ethical Standards of AI: For those with a legal or policy background, the PhD enables you to focus on frameworks that govern AI’s development and use. Your research might explore data privacy regulations, intellectual property rights, or ethical challenges in AI. Specific frameworks could include the EU AI Act, GDPR, UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, OECD AI Principles, and ISO/IEC standards. You may also examine regional approaches, such as the United States’ Executive Order on AI or China’s AI Governance Principles. A key focus could be developing AI systems that comply with diverse frameworks, ensuring they are ethical, transparent, and legally compliant when deployed globally.
Do you have a research idea but feel uncertain whether it’s the right fit for a PhD in AI? Defining a strong topic is an important step, whether it involves solving a business challenge, advancing technological innovations, or addressing legal and ethical issues in AI. Your idea has the potential to become a meaningful contribution to this ever-evolving field.
If you’re unsure about your research idea, you are strongly encouraged to connect with our SMC PhD AI coordinator, Dr. Walter Kurz, before deciding to enrol. He will help you assess its potential, offer valuable guidance, and refine your focus to ensure it aligns with your ambitions and the field’s requirements.
Graduates of our PhD in AI, with its emphasis on AI Business, AI Technology, and AI Law, are uniquely positioned for leadership roles at the forefront of AI innovation. Here are examples of career paths reflecting the diverse expertise this programme cultivates:
- Chief AI Officer (CAIO) (AI Business Focus): As a Chief AI Officer, you will lead the integration of AI technologies within an organisation to drive innovation and growth. Responsibilities include developing AI strategies aligned with business goals, overseeing AI implementation, and ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards. This role is pivotal in industries like finance, healthcare, and public administration, where AI is transforming operations and creating competitive advantages.
- AI Consultant (AI Business and Technology Focus): AI consultants provide expert advice to businesses and governments on maximising the potential of AI technologies. In this role, you will assess organisational challenges, recommend AI-driven solutions, and support implementation. Consultants are particularly in demand in sectors such as management consulting, manufacturing, logistics, and retail, where operational efficiency and decision-making improvements are critical.
- AI Policy and Ethics Advisor (AI Law Focus): With expertise in the legal and ethical dimensions of AI, you can guide organisations and governments through complex regulatory landscapes. You might focus on developing ethical AI frameworks, ensuring compliance with international standards, or advising on global policy trends such as the EU AI Act. This career is crucial for shaping responsible AI deployment and is often found in think tanks, governmental agencies, or corporations prioritising ethical governance.
- AI Research Scientist (AI Technology Focus): As a research scientist, you will lead innovation in areas such as machine learning, natural language processing, or autonomous systems. This role often involves publishing in academic journals, presenting at international conferences, and developing groundbreaking AI tools. Research scientists typically work in tech companies, academic institutions, or specialised R&D labs, driving the advancement of AI knowledge.
- AI Systems Architect (AI Technology and Business Focus): AI systems architects design and implement AI-driven solutions tailored to business needs. Responsibilities include creating scalable AI frameworks, optimising systems for real-time data processing, and ensuring integration with business strategies. This role is ideal for those who want to work at the intersection of AI development and practical business applications, with opportunities across tech companies, multinationals, and large enterprises.
- AI Governance and Regulatory Specialist (AI Law Focus): Specialists in AI governance and regulation ensure that organisations comply with AI-related laws, from data protection to intellectual property. You might also contribute to developing governance frameworks that balance innovation with responsibility. Roles in this area are found in regulatory bodies, international organisations, and large corporations adopting AI technologies.
Doctoral Research Phases
This Doctor of Philosophy degree program has a clear milestone system made up of eight successive phases. Students are initially registered as MPhil. Students. The enrollment status is upgraded to PhD status after at least 24 months of part-time study once the candidate passes the Transfer Interview. Transfer is allowed on clear evidence of progress in their work (Phase Five). The applied milestone system provides a rigorous quality assurance system making sure that only those who reach the expected level of scholarship are allowed to move on.
Phase 1: Developing a Letter of Intent
Phase One consists of the writing of a 1000-word Letter of Intent aimed at communicating one’s intentions regarding the area of study.
Phase 2: Developing a Research Proposal
An affirmative reply to the Letter of Intent from the SMC Doctoral Committee constitutes the approval for the candidate to move on to the formal Research Proposal. The length of the proposal should be around 3,000 words.
Phase 3: Research Proposal Interview
The proposal is reviewed by the SMC Doctoral Committee, followed by a presentation, interview and Q&A session.
Phase 4: Commencement of Studies
The research phase commences once the candidate receives a formal letter of acceptance, which includes the approved title of the thesis, the supervisor and co-supervisor, and the timeframe in which the thesis has to be conducted.
Phase 5: Transfer from MPhil to PhD Interview
Transfer occurs on condition that the work submitted is approved by the appointed Board of Examiners. The transfer can take place after a minimum of 24 months and a maximum of 48 months of part-time study.
Phase 6: Writing of the Thesis
Ph.D. candidates need to attend the quarterly SMC Doctoral Seminars and present chapters from their thesis. Candidates are also expected to attend international conferences related to their studies as well as online webinars. Candidates are also expected to meet with their tutors on a regular basis and engage in discussions about their research.
Phase 7: Submission of Thesis, Evaluation & Oral Defence
The candidate submits a thesis of around 100,000 words. An appointed Board of Examiners is set up to examine the thesis.
Phase 8: Doctor of Philosophy degree is Conferred
Following the verification of the Board of Examiner’s declaration that the student has passed the dissertation component of their course, and the verification of any required changes, the Doctor of Philosophy degree is conferred.
PhD Dissertation
Doctoral Thesis
Students work closely with the assigned supervisors to go through the Eight Phases of the program. Research Candidates are to write a thesis that clearly demonstrates competence in the subject area at an advanced level and contribute towards new knowledge. The length of a thesis is around 100,000 words. At the end of each term, the researcher and their supervisors must each submit a progress report to the SMC Doctorate Committee. When the supervisors are satisfied that the work is ready for examination, the thesis is submitted to an appointed Board of Examiners. After examination, the Chairperson may give approval for the oral defence or ask for resubmission with corrections.