DPIR and Faculty of Law launch new MSc to prepare future leaders in AI governance

Oxford’s Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR), in partnership with the Faculty of Law, has today announced a new MSc in Law, Governance and AI. 

The interdisciplinary programme will prepare the next generation of policymakers, regulators and leaders to address one of the defining governance challenges of the 21st century: ensuring artificial intelligence is developed and used responsibly.

The new 12-month, full-time programme is expected to welcome its first cohort in the 2027–28 academic year, with applications opening soon.

As AI rapidly transforms governments, public institutions, legal systems and societies, demand is growing for professionals who can navigate the complex political, legal and ethical questions surrounding its development and deployment. 

The MSc will bring together Oxford's internationally-recognised strengths in politics, governance and law to equip students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to shape AI policy and regulation in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Co-directed by Professor Ben Ansell, Professor of Comparative Democratic Institutions in DPIR, and Professor Rebecca Williams, Professor of Public Law and Criminal Law in the Faculty of Law, the programme combines the study of political institutions, governance, law and regulation with practical computational learning. 

Students will develop a shared understanding across disciplines, critically examine the implications of AI for democracy, accountability and public value, and work collaboratively on a Capstone Project tackling a real-world governance, legal or societal challenge.

Professor Ansell said: "AI raises fundamental questions about how societies make decisions, how institutions respond to change, and how democratic systems can remain accountable in the face of new technological power. These are fundamentally questions of governance.

"This programme gives students the tools to understand those challenges from multiple perspectives, combining political science, law and technical understanding so they can contribute to the responsible development and governance of AI in public life."

Professor Williams added: "The governance of AI cannot be understood through law, technology or politics alone. It requires people who can move between disciplines, ask the right questions about accountability and public value, and work collaboratively on practical problems.

"This MSc in Law, Governance and AI brings those elements together, giving students the opportunity to understand how AI systems operate, how they are regulated, and how law and governance can respond to technological change."

The MSc reflects DPIR's long-standing expertise in the study of democratic institutions, public policy and global governance, while drawing on the Faculty of Law's leadership in public law, regulation and technology. Together, the programme offers students a distinctive interdisciplinary education designed to meet the growing demand for expertise at the intersection of AI, governance and public decision-making.

Graduates and professionals from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds will be eligible to apply. The programme is designed for those seeking careers in government, international organisations, public policy, regulation, law, civil society and the private sector, where understanding the governance of AI is becoming increasingly essential.

Visit the MSc in Law, Governance and AI webpage to find out more and sign up to receive course updates, admissions information, invitations to future events and notification when applications open.