You may have heard the catchy phrase “data is the new oil” floating around. The implication is that data in the 21st century is what oil was in the 20th – the biggest industry around. And it’s true, as the sheer amount of data each person generates when they use the web, try out an app, or even buy from a store is digital “oil” for the companies collecting that data.
It’s also the fuel that powers the current (and growing) wave of artificial intelligence (AI) tools emerging in the market. From ChatGPT to the wave of text-to-speech tech flooding the market, everything hinges on information, and people who can harness that data through algorithms and machine learning practices are in high demand.
That’s where you can come in. By taking a Master’s degree in artificial intelligence online, you position yourself as one of the people who can help the new “digital oil” barons capitalize on their finds.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Online AI Master’s Program
When choosing an artificial intelligence online Master’s, you have to consider more than the simple accessibility the course offers. These factors help you to weed out the also-ran programs from the ones that help you to advance your career:
- Accreditation – Checks for accreditation come in two flavors. First, you need to check the program provider’s credentials to ensure the degree you get from your studies is worth the paper on which it’s printed. Second, you have to confirm the accreditation you receive is something that employers actually want to see.
- Curriculum – What does your artificial intelligence online Master degree actually teach you? Answer that question and you can determine if the program serves the career goals you’ve set for yourself.
- Faculty Expertise – On the ground level, you want tutors with plenty of teaching experience and their own degrees in AI-related subjects. But dig beyond that to also discover if they have direct experience working with AI in industry.
- Program Format – A self-study artificial intelligence Master’s program’s online nature means they offer some degree of flexibility. But the course format plays a role in your decision, given that some rely solely on self-learning whereas others include examinations and live remote lectures.
- Tuition and Financial Aid – A Master’s degree costs quite a bit depending on area (prices range from €1,000 to €20,000 per year), so you need to be in the appropriate financial position. Many universities offer financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and payment programs, that may help here.
- Career Support – You’re likely not studying for Master of artificial intelligence online for the joy of having a piece of paper on your wall. You want to build a career. Look for institutions that have strong alumni networks, connections within industry, and dedicated careers offices or services.
Top Online AI Master’s Programs Ranked
In choosing the best Master’s in artificial intelligence online programs, we looked at the above factors in addition to the key features of each program. That examination results in three online courses, each offering something a little different, that give you a solid grounding in AI.
Master in Applied Data Science & AI (OPIT)
Flexibility is the name of the game with OPIT’s program, as it’s fully remote and you get a choice between an 18-month course and a fast-tracked 12-month variant. The latter contains the same content as the former, with the student simply dedicating themselves to more intensive course requirements.
The program comes from an online institution that is accredited under both the Malta Qualification Framework and European Qualification Framework. As for the course itself, it’s the focus on real-life challenges in data science and AI that makes it so attractive. You don’t just learn theory. You discover how to apply that theory to the practical problems you’ll face when you enter the workforce.
OPIT has an admissions team who’ll guide you through getting onto the course, though you’ll need a BSc degree (in any field) and the equivalent of B2-level English proficiency to apply. If English isn’t your strong suit, OPIT also offers an in-house certification that you can take to get on the course. Financial aid is available through scholarships and funding, which you may need given that the program can cost up to €6,500, though discounts are available for those who apply early.
Master in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Disruptive Technologies (Digital Age University)
If data is the new oil, Digital Age University’s program teaches you how to harness that oil and pump it in a way that makes you an attractive proposition for any employer. Key areas of study include the concept and utilization of Big Data (data analytics plays a huge role here), as well as the Python programming skills needed to create AI tools. You’ll learn more about machine learning models and get to grips with how AI is the big disruptor in modern business.
Tuition costs are reasonable, too, with this one-year course only costing €2,600. Digital Age University runs a tuition installment plan that lets you spread your costs out without worrying about being charged interest. Plus, your previous credentials may put you in line for a grant or scholarship that covers at least part of the cost. All first-year students are eligible for the 10% merit-based scholarship again, dependent on prior education). There’s also a 20% Global Scholarship available to students from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin American countries.
Speaking of credentials, you can showcase yours via the online application process or by scheduling a one-on-one call with one of the institution’s professors. The latter option is great if you’re conducting research and want to get a taste of what the faculty has to offer.
Master in Artificial Intelligence (Three Points Digital Business School)
Three Points Digital Business School sets its stall out early by pointing out that 83% of companies say they’ll create new jobs due to AI in the coming years. That’s its way of telling you that its business-focused AI course is the right choice for getting one of those jobs. After teaching the fundamentals of AI, the course moves into showing you how to create AI and machine learning models and, crucially, how to apply those models in practical settings. By the end, you’ll know how to program chatbots, virtual assistants, and similar AI-driven tools.
It’s the most expensive program on this list, clocking in at €7,500 for a one-year course that delivers 60 ECTS credits. However, it’s a course targeted at mature students (half of the current students are 40 years old), and it’s very much career-minded. That’s exemplified by Three Points’ annual ThinkDigital Summit, which puts some of the leading minds in AI and digital innovation in front of students.
Admission is tougher than for many other Master’s in artificial intelligence online programs as you go through an interview process in addition to submitting qualifications. Every candidate is manually assessed via committee, with your experience and business know-how playing as much of a role as any technical qualifications you have.
Tips for Success in an Online AI Master’s Program
Let’s assume you’ve successfully applied to an artificial intelligence online Master’s program. That’s the first step in a long, often complex, journey. Here are some tips to keep in mind and set up for the future:
- Manage your time properly by scheduling your study, especially given that online courses rely on students having the discipline needed for self-learning.
- Build relationships with faculty and peers who may be able to connect you to job opportunities or have ideas for starting their own businesses.
- Stay up-to-date on what’s happening with AI because this high-paced industry can leave people who assume what they know is enough behind.
- Pursue real-world experience wherever you can, both through the practical assessments a program offers and internship programs that you can add to your CV.
Career Opportunities With a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence
You need to know what sorts of roles are available on the digital “oil rigs” of today and the future. Those who have an artificial intelligence online Master degree take roles as varied as data analyst, software engineer, data scientist, and research scientist.
Better yet, those roles are spread across almost all industries. Grand View Research tells us that we can expect the AI market to enjoy a 37.3% compound annual growth rate between 2023 and 2030, with that growth making AI-based roles available on a near-constant basis. Salary expectations are likely to increase along with that growth, with the current average of around €91,000 for an artificial intelligence engineer (figures based on Germany’s job market) likely to be a baseline for future growth.
Find the Right Artificial Intelligence Master’s Programs Online
We’ve highlighted three online Master’s programs with a focus on AI in this article, each offering something different. OPIT’s course leans heavily into data science, giving you a specialization to go along with the foundational knowledge you’ll gain. Digital Age University’s program places more of a focus on Big Data, with Three Points Digital Business School living up to its name by taking a more business-oriented approach.
Whatever program you choose (and it could be one other than the three listed here), you must research the course based on the factors like credentials, course content, and quality of the faculty. Put plenty of time into this research process and you’re sure to find a program that aligns with your goals.
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Bring talented tech experts together, set them a challenge, and give them a deadline. Then, let them loose and watch the magic happen. That, in a nutshell, is what hackathons are all about. They’re proven to be among the most productive tech events when it comes to solving problems and accelerating innovation.
What Is a Hackathon?
Put simply, a hackathon is a short-term event – often lasting just a couple of days, or sometimes even only a matter of hours – where tech experts come together to solve a specific problem or come up with ideas based on a central theme or topic. As an example, teams might be tasked with discovering a new way to use AI in marketing or to create an app aimed at improving student life.
The term combines the words “hack” and “marathon,” due to how participants (hackers or programmers) are encouraged to work around-the-clock to create a prototype, proof-of-concept, or new solution. It’s similar to how marathon runners are encouraged to keep running, putting their skills and endurance to the test in a race to the finish line.
The Benefits of Hackathons
Hackathons provide value both for the companies that organize them and the people who take part. Companies can use them to quickly discover new ideas or overcome challenges, for example, while participants can enjoy testing their skills, innovating, networking, and working either alone or as part of a larger team.
Benefits for Companies and Sponsors
Many of the world’s biggest brands have come to rely on hackathons as ways to drive innovation and uncover new products, services, and opportunities. Meta, for example, the brand behind Facebook, has organized dozens of hackathons, some of which have led to the development of well-known Facebook features, like the “Like” button. Here’s how hackathons help companies:
- Accelerate Innovation: In fast-moving fields like technology, companies can’t always afford to spend months or years working on new products or features. They need to be able to solve problems quickly, and hackathons create the necessary conditions to deliver rapid success.
- Employee Development: Leading companies like Meta have started to use annual hackathons as a way to not only test their workforce’s skills but to give employees opportunities to push themselves and broaden their skill sets.
- Internal Networking: Hackathons also double up as networking events. They give employees from different teams, departments, or branches the chance to work with and learn from one another. This, in turn, can promote or reinforce team-oriented work cultures.
- Talent Spotting: Talents sometimes go unnoticed, but hackathons give your workforce’s hidden gems a chance to shine. They’re terrific opportunities to see who your best problem solvers and most creative thinkers at.
- Improving Reputation: Organizing regular hackathons helps set companies apart from their competitors, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and their willingness to embrace new ideas. If you want your brand to seem more forward-thinking and innovative, embracing hackathons is a great way to go about it.
Benefits for Participants
The hackers, developers, students, engineers, and other people who take part in hackathons arguably enjoy even bigger and better benefits than the businesses behind them. These events are often invaluable when it comes to upskilling, networking, and growing, both personally and professionally. Here are some of the main benefits for participants, explained:
- Learning and Improvement: Hackathons are golden opportunities for participants to gain knowledge and skills. They essentially force people to work together, sharing ideas, contributing to the collective, and pushing their own boundaries in pursuit of a common goal.
- Networking: While some hackathons are purely internal, others bring together different teams or groups of people from different schools, businesses, and places around the world. This can be wonderful for forming connections with like-minded individuals.
- Sense of Pride: Everyone feels a sense of pride after accomplishing a project or achieving a goal, but this often comes at the end of weeks or months of effort. With hackathons, participants can enjoy that same satisfying feeling after just a few hours or a couple of days of hard work.
- Testing Oneself: A hackathon is an amazing chance to put one’s skills to the test and see what one is truly capable of when given a set goal to aim for and a deadline to meet. Many participants are surprised to see how well they respond to these conditions.
- Boosting Skills: Hackathons provide the necessary conditions to hone and improve a range of core soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, organization, and punctuality. By the end, participants often emerge with more confidence in their abilities.
Hackathons at OPIT
The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) understands the unique value of hackathons and has played its part in sponsoring these kinds of events in the past. OPIT was one of the sponsors behind ESCPHackathon 6, for example, which involved 120 students given AI-related tasks, with mentorship and guidance from senior professionals and developers from established brands along the way.
Marco Fediuc, one of the participants, summed up the mood in his comments:
“The hackathon was a truly rewarding experience. I had the pleasure of meeting OPIT classmates and staff and getting to know them better, the chance to collaborate with brilliant minds, and the opportunity to take part in an exciting and fun event.
“Participating turned out to be very useful because I had the chance to work in a fast-paced, competitive environment, and it taught me what it means to stay calm and perform under pressure… To prospective Computer Science students, should a similar opportunity arise, I can clearly say: Don’t underestimate yourselves!”
The new year will also see the arrival of OPIT Hackathon 2026, giving more students the chance to test their skills, broaden their networks, and enjoy the one-of-a-kind experiences that these events never fail to deliver. This event is scheduled to be held February 13-15, 2026, and is open to all OPIT Bachelor’s and Master’s students, along with recent graduates. Interested parties have until February 1 to register.
The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) recently held its first-ever career fair to showcase its wide array of career education options and services. Representatives from numerous high-profile international companies were in attendance, and students enjoyed unprecedented opportunities to connect with business leaders, expand their professional networks, and pave the way for success in their future careers.
Here’s a look back at the event and how it ties into OPIT’s diverse scope of career services.
Introducing OPIT
For those who aren’t yet familiar, OPIT is an EU-accredited Higher Education Institution, offering online degrees in technological fields such as computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital business. Aimed at making high-level tech education accessible to all, OPIT has assembled a stellar team of tutors and experts to train the tech leaders of tomorrow.
The First OPIT Career Fair
OPIT’s first career fair was held on November 19 and 20. And as with OPIT’s lectures, it was an exclusively online event, which ensured that every attendee had equal access to key lectures and information. Interested potential students from all over the world were able to enjoy the same great experience, demonstrating a core principle that OPIT has championed from the very start – the principles of accessibility and the power of virtual learning.
More than a dozen leading international companies took part in the event, with the full guest list including representatives from:
- Deloitte
- Dylog Hitech
- EDIST Engineering Srl
- Tinexta Cyber
- Datapizza
- RWS Group
- WE GRELE FRANCE
- Avatar Investments
- Planet Farms
- Coolshop
- Hoist Finance Italia
- Gruppo Buffetti S.p.A
- Nesperia Group
- Fusion AI Labs
- Intesi Group
- Reply
- Mindsight Ventures
This was a fascinating mix of established enterprises and emerging players. Deloitte, for example, is one of the largest professional services networks in the world in terms of both revenue and number of employees. Mindsight Ventures, meanwhile, is a newer but rapidly emerging name in the fields of AI and business intelligence.
The Response
The first OPIT career fair was a success, with many students in attendance expressing their joy at being able to connect with such a strong lineup of prospective employers.
OPIT Founder and Director Riccardo Ocleppo had this to say:
“I often say internally that our connection with companies – through masterclasses, thesis and capstone projects, and career opportunities – is the ‘cherry on the cake’ of the OPIT experience!
“It’s also a core part of our mission: making higher education more practical, more connected, and more aligned with what happens in the real world.
“Our first Career Fair says a lot about our commitment to building an end-to-end learning and professional growth experience for our community of students.
“Thank you to the Student and Career Services team, and to Stefania Tabi for making this possible.”
Representatives from some of the companies that attended also shared positive impressions of the event. A representative from Nesperia Group, for example, said:
“Nesperia Group would like to thank OPIT for the warm welcome we received during the OPIT Career Day. We were pleased to be part of the event because we met many talented young professionals. Their curiosity and their professional attitude really impressed us, and it’s clear that OPIT is doing an excellent job supporting their growth. We really believe that events like these are important because they can create a strong connection between companies and future professionals.”
The Future
Given the enormous success of the first OPIT career fair, it’s highly likely that students will be able to enjoy more events like this in the years to come. OPIT is clearly committed to making the most of its strong business connections and remarkable network to provide opportunities for growth, development, and employment, bringing students and businesses together.
Future events will continue to allow students to connect with some of the biggest businesses in the world, along with emerging names in the most exciting and innovative tech fields. This should allow OPIT graduates to enter the working world with strong networks and firm connections already established. That, in turn, should make it easier for them to access and enjoy a wealth of beneficial professional opportunities.
Given that OPIT also has partnerships in place with numerous other leading organizations, like Hype, AWS, and Accenture, the number and variety of the companies potentially making appearances at career fairs in the future should no doubt increase dramatically.
Other Career Services at OPIT
The career fair is just one of many ways in which OPIT leverages its company connections and offers professional opportunities and career support to its students. Other key career services include:
- Career Coaching: Students are able to schedule one-on-one sessions with their own mentors and career advisors. They can receive feedback on their resumes, practice and improve their interview skills, or work on clear action plans that align with their exact professional goals.
- Resource Hub: The OPIT Resource Hub is jam-packed with helpful guides and other resources to help students plan out and take smart steps in their professional endeavors. With detailed insights and practical tips, it can help tech graduates get off to the best possible start.
- Career Events: The career fair is only one of several planned career-related events organized by OPIT. Other events are planned to give students the chance to learn from and engage with industry experts and leading tech firms, with workshops, career skills days, and more.
- Internships: OPIT continues to support students after graduation, offering internship opportunities with leading tech firms around the world. These internships are invaluable for gaining experience and forging connections, setting graduates up for future success.
- Peer Mentoring: OPIT also offers a peer mentoring program in which existing students can team up with OPIT alumni to enjoy the benefits of their experience and unique insights.
These services – combined with the recent career day – clearly demonstrate OPIT’s commitment to not merely educating the tech leaders of the future, but also to supporting their personal and professional development beyond the field of education, making it easier for them to enter the working world with strong connections and unrivaled opportunities.
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