Deakin University

Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence (Professional)

  • Delivery: Face to Face
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Course Type: Master's

Combine advanced artificial intelligence expertise with collaborative learning and your choice of an industry, professional practice or research-focused project.

Course overview

Move beyond understanding artificial intelligence and learn how to turn it into solutions that address complex organisational and societal challenges. Deakin University’s Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence (Professional) develops the advanced technical and professional capabilities needed to contribute to this rapidly evolving field.

At Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, you will explore machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, natural language processing, computer vision and responsible artificial intelligence. You will strengthen your ability to design intelligent software, assess the effectiveness of artificial intelligence technologies and communicate technical recommendations to diverse stakeholders.

Shape the course around your interests through a specialisation or approved electives before bringing your knowledge together through a team project, eligible professional practice experience or research project. Professionally accredited by the Australian Computer Society and recognised internationally through the Seoul Accord, the course can be completed in two years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Face to Face
Course Type
Master's
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time.
24 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
From $4,300
More Information
The estimated fee is determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.

From $1,117.125 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for CSP where the government pays part of your fees. Fees are determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.
Campus
Warurn Ponds
Intake
February, 2027
June, 2027
October, 2027
November, 2026
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
16
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans and HECS-HELP loans are available to assist eligible domestic students with the cost of a university program.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

To earn the Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence (Professional), you must successfully complete units totalling 16 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 1 credit point.

  • 8 credit points of core units
  • 4 credit points from a specialisation or approved course electives
  • 4 credit points from one Professional Studies option
Core units

Fundamental artificial intelligence studies

  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics for Artificial Intelligence
  • Engineering AI Solutions
  • Human Aligned Artificial Intelligence

Mastery applied artificial intelligence studies

  • Deep Learning
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Robotics, Computer Vision and Speech Processing
  • Reinforcement Learning
Specialisation or Electives
Professional studies

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher in a related discipline.
  • Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher in any discipline and at least two years of relevant work experience or part-time equivalent.

Related disciplines and relevant professional experience may include the broad field of information technology.

Academic history, work and life experience and individual circumstances may also be considered. Meeting the minimum academic and English language requirements does not guarantee admission.

Mandatory student checks

Students selecting the Professional Practice option or an elective involving work-integrated learning, community placement or interaction with the community may be required to complete a police check, Working with Children Check or other mandatory checks. Requirements will be confirmed in the relevant unit information.

English language requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of at least one of the following:

  • A bachelor's degree completed in a recognised English-speaking country.
  • An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent.
  • Other accepted evidence of English language proficiency.

Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

  • Develop an advanced and integrated knowledge of the technologies of artificial intelligence, including deep learning and reinforcement learning, with detailed knowledge of the application of AI algorithms across a range of domains and applications, including computer vision and speech processing.
  • Design, develop and implement software solutions that incorporate novel applications of artificial intelligence.
  • Apply advanced knowledge of artificial intelligence to the research and evaluation of AI solutions and provision of specialist advice.
  • Design artificial intelligence solutions that incorporate safe ethical decision making.
  • Have a broad appreciation of advanced topics within the IT domain through engagement with research or specialist studies.
  • Communicate in professional and other context to inform, explain and drive sustainable innovation through artificial intelligence and to motivate and effect change by drawing upon advances in technology, future trends and industry standards, and by utilising a range of verbal, graphical and written methods, recognising the needs of diverse audiences including specialist and non-specialist clients, industry personnel and other stakeholders.
  • Identify, evaluate, select and use advanced digital technologies, platforms, frameworks, and tools from the field of artificial intelligence to generate, manage, process and share digital resources and justify digital tools selection to influence others.
  • Questions assumptions and seeks to uncover inconsistencies and ambiguities in information and judgements, critically evaluates their sources and rationales, to inform and justify decision making in the field of artificial intelligence.
  • Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of artificial intelligence and apply expert, specialised cognitive, technical, and creative skills from artificial intelligence to understand requirements and design, implement, operate, and evaluate solutions to complex real-world and ill-defined computing problems.
  • Apply reflective practice and work independently to apply knowledge and skills in a professional manner to complex situations and ongoing learning in the field of artificial intelligence with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility, and personal and professional accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner.
  • Work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary environments to achieve team goals, contributing specialist knowledge and skills from artificial intelligence to advance the teams objectives, employing effective teamwork practices and principles to cultivate creative thinking, interpersonal adeptness, leadership skills, and handle challenging discussions, while excelling in diverse professional, social, and cultural scenarios.
  • Engage in professional and ethical behaviour in the field of artificial intelligence, with appreciation for the global context, and openly and respectfully collaborate with diverse communities and cultures.

Career outcomes

Graduates may pursue roles including:

  • Artificial intelligence technology software engineer
  • Application programming interface integration expert
  • Artificial intelligence researcher
  • Data scientist
  • Language model trainer
  • Prompt engineer
  • Natural language processing engineer
  • Artificial intelligence product manager
  • Artificial intelligence ethicist
  • Artificial intelligence architect
  • Machine learning engineer

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $8,937 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $34,400 (Full-fee paying place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

  • The number of units studied.
  • Choice of units.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
  • Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.