Explore how artificial intelligence (AI) shapes our psychology, and how we shape AI in return.
Join our School of Psychology online for a course designed to help you understand – and influence – the future of human-AI interaction.
In this thought-provoking short course, you’ll develop your understanding of:
- deep learning basics and the technical capabilities of AI
- psychological theories of trust and persuasion
- the impact AI has on our decisions, beliefs, and behaviours, and
- methods to collect data to measure and verify AI’s influence.
Learn from experts in psychology and AI
You’ll be guided by Dr Kevin Allan, who specialises in building controllable AI agents with stable psychological profiles, and Dr Peidong Mei, whose research spans AI ethics across industries from air traffic control to education.
Develop in-demand skills
You’ll build skills that are in demand across industries adopting AI, including the ability to make evidence-based recommendations about AI deployment.
Examine the ethics of AI
Evaluating real-life cases of flawed and biased AI, you’ll explore how AI should be designed and deployed appropriately, legally, and ethically.
Who can join this online psychology and AI course?
This distance-learning course is relevant across sectors, from technology and marketing to law and public policy.
Delivered at Masters level, the course is aimed at graduates and professionals from any discipline, particularly:
- those interested in AI’s impact on the human mind, society, and daily life
- employees of companies who are using, or thinking of using AI, and want to know more about how this will influence customers or clients
- legal or regulatory professionals who want to find out more about AI’s persuasive effect, and its ethical and legal impact
- computing scientists or engineers who want to understand the influence their systems are having on people.
What you’ll study
In this flexible online course, you’ll take a comprehensive look at both the technical capabilities of AI and its psychological impact.
With expert guidance, you will study:
- the history and capabilities of generative AI, including large language models like ChatGPT, and generative image systems
- psychological mechanisms of influence discovered in work on human-human interaction, and how to apply them to human-AI interaction
- analysis of how AI should persuade us, in different circumstances or for different purposes
- how to collect data from human-AI interactions to measure and verify the influence AI systems have on people
- real-life cases of biased AI deployment, analysing failings and potential psychological and societal impacts
- the ethical considerations of AI and how it can be designed to persuade us appropriately, legally, and ethically.
You’ll cover topics including:
- deep learning and gen AI: a basic introduction
- bias in AI
- AI-generated fakes
- persuading humans
- normative influence
- informational influence
- bias propagation and vicious cycles
- accuracy signals and the Goldilocks Zone
- future prospects.
By the end of this psychology and AI course, you’ll be able to...
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Discuss recent developments in AI technology.
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Summarise how recent developments have allowed AI to appear intelligent and interact with us in human-like ways.
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Understand sources of bias within deep learning AI systems, particularly those deriving from human stereotypes.
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Apply credibility and bias propagation considerations to different types of human-AI interactions.
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Apply theories of human persuasion and conformity to human-AI interactions to diagnose problems in AI’s persuasive effect.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for online psychology and AI courses
Fits around full-time work
This online course fits around work, with flexible hours and 24/7 study access.
Over 525 years of excellence
Study with the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1495.
Learn anywhere
On smartphone, desktop and laptop, with no need for a student visa.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning psychology of AI course is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can study with us anywhere in the world, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
This course is taught at Masters level.
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- videos and pre-recorded video lectures
- audio clips
- podcasts
- slide shows
- reading materials
- quizzes
- discussion boards with your tutors and peers
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Interdisciplinary insights
In a series of podcasts created for this course, you’ll hear from experts from different disciplines on the effects that AI will have on our daily lives, including philosophers, computer scientists, and lawyers.
Your tutors
This course is delivered by our School of Psychology.
The course is taught by two lecturers, both experts in different fields of human-AI interaction.
Dr Allan has been working on applying theories of human persuasion to human-AI interaction and developing new technological platforms to control AI agent identity within human-AI communication.
Dr Peidong has worked on public and expert opinion of AI in industry, in air traffic control for example, and is particularly interested in human-AI relationships in the workplace, and in education and learning.
This course is assessed online.
You’ll be assessed throughout your course via:
- two online multiple-choice exams (each worth 30% of your final course grade)
- an 800-word case report examining real-life deployment of an AI that went disasterously wrong (40%).
Course duration
The September run of this course is 10 weeks long.
The January run of this course is 13 weeks long – it contains the same 10 weeks of teaching, but includes a three-week spring holiday.
Study hours
The course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.
This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.
You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities at fixed times
There may be some activities scheduled for fixed times. This could include coursework and assessments with deadlines, or online meetings with your tutor. Otherwise, you can access and work through the course at your convenience.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your tutors via MyAberdeen and email. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:
- Careers and Employability Service – including one-to-one advice sessions
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, stress, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – study support, with advice sessions available via phone or Skype
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – clever apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
Your teaching team
Dr Kevin Allan
Kevin is a Lecturer in our School of Psychology and will be your course coordinator.
He is an Experimental Psychologist whose research focuses on the psychology of human-AI interaction.
Kevin is especially interested in trying to build and control Agents that perform specific tasks in stable ways underpinned by a ‘psychology’.
View Kevin’s profile
Dr Peidong Mei
Peidong is a Lecturer in our School of Psychology.
Before joining us in 2024, she worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Exeter and The Alan Turing Institute, investigating the social and ethical dimensions of AI in Air Traffic Control.
Peidong was also a Visiting Scholar at the University of Oxford, examining the moral permissibility of AI deployment across industries.
View Peidong’s profileWhere this will take you
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) when you complete this course successfully. You may be able to use these credits towards further study.
Build your learning in psychology
This course is part of a suite of flexible psychology courses that we offer online.
You can use these short courses to build your skills and earn credits towards postgraduate qualifications:
- Organisational Psychology
- The Psychology of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Work
- The Psychology of Social Bias
- The Psychology of Wellbeing
All these online courses are part-time and fit around full-time work.
Careers in psychology and AI
The knowledge and skills you’ll gain in this course are valuable for diverse career paths and across sectors.
You’ll build competencies that are increasingly in demand across industries adopting AI.
You’ll develop skills that are particularly valuable for roles in:
- AI ethics and governance
- user experience (UX) and human-computer interaction
- digital marketing and consumer psychology
- legal and regulatory affairs
- AI product management
- research and academia
- consultancy.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Further study paths
This course also provides a strong foundation for pursuing further learning or research in psychology, AI ethics, or human-computer interaction, including:
- PhD programmes
- advanced research degrees focusing on digital psychology or technology ethics
- professional certifications in AI governance, ethics, or UX design
- specialised postgraduate programmes in AI policy, digital transformation, or technology law.
Free career support
Access our free careers service while you study.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.
But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.
If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.
Visa requirements
You do not need a student visa to study online with us.
English language requirements
Teaching is delivered in English.
You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.
Recommended level of English
For this course, we recommend the following level of English language proficiency.
These are our Postgraduate Standard requirements, and these are minimum scores.
IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, or IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
- 6.5 overall
- 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 90 overall
- 17 for listening
- 18 for reading
- 20 for speaking
- 21 for writing
- TOEFL DI code is 0818
Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall
- 162 for listening, reading and speaking
- 169 for writing
LanguageCert Academic / LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall
- 60 for listening, reading and speaking
- 65 for writing
Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
- 7.0 overall
- 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- 62 overall
- 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
Skills for English: SELT
- B2 pass with merit
Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
- 120 overall
- 95 for listening, reading and speaking
- 105 for writing
University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
- Pass
- Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
- Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
- B2 in all four skills
- Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course
For full information about language requirements, see our English Language Requirements page.
You will need access to:
A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) with an up-to-date operating system
Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneDrive and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.
See our detailed IT requirements for more information.
When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.
But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.
Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.
Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:
- Be realistic
- Create a weekly schedule as a guide
If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.
Fee payment
Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.
We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.
Ways to save
You may be able to get help funding this course via:
- discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
- employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.
Find out more about funding options.
Student card
All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.
Learning resources
Access to all the essential books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.
We also provide optional recommended reading lists. Many of these resources are available electronically through our library, although purchases may be required if you wish to read the full list.
Printing
You may want to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, you’d usually have at least:
- a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
- relevant professional experience that supports this level of learning.
