Opinion piece by Frithjof Müller
Key facts
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Title
Master of Science (MSc) in Applied AI HWZ
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Part-time degree programme
Designed to accommodate employment of up to 90% (minimum 50%)
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Start
Each September
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Fees
CHF 7'900 per semester
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Duration
4 semesters
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Language of instruction
The language of instruction is German. A good command of English is required.
Information session
Curious about this course? Join us in person or online to learn more about our programmes and study options. We look forward to welcoming you.
Target audience
The MSc Applied AI HWZ enables you to independently develop, implement and successfully deploy AI systems and AI-based products within organisations. You will learn to understand, select and adapt AI models, as well as develop reliable, scalable and economically viable AI solutions.
At the heart of the programme is the combination of technology and practical business applications. Over four semesters, you will progressively develop your skills – from understanding AI models and developing intelligent systems to operating them in production and integrating them into existing business processes.
Practice-oriented projects enable you to apply what you have learned directly and to build a portfolio of your own AI solutions.
Who is this MSc suitable for?
The MSc Applied AI HWZ is aimed at professionals who wish to go beyond the mere application of artificial intelligence and develop AI systems and AI-based products themselves.
This programme is aimed at individuals with a technical background as well as professionals and managers working at the interface between technology and business. This includes, for example, graduates in business informatics, product owners, business analysts, and solution architects.
This programme is suitable for individuals who wish to specialise in the field of applied AI, move into a technical AI role, or realise their own AI products and business ideas.
Basic knowledge of programming, mathematics and statistics is required. Any gaps in knowledge can be addressed before the start of the programme using the preparatory materials provided.
Competencies
Upon completion of the MSc Applied AI HWZ, you will be able to:
Translate business needs into specific requirements for AI systems and products.
Select, adapt and evaluate AI models based on technical and commercial criteria.
Design and develop AI systems, including retrieval-based and AI agent architectures.
Deploy, scale and operate AI solutions reliably and cost-effectively.
Integrate AI systems into existing enterprise environments while addressing security, data protection and governance requirements.
Design collaboration between people and AI agents to create measurable business value.
Why study Applied AI at HWZ?
HWZ combines technological expertise with a strong understanding of business. As a practice-oriented university of applied sciences, HWZ operates at the intersection of technology and business. The MSc Applied AI HWZ therefore focuses on a key challenge: how can AI prototypes be transformed into reliable, scalable and economically viable systems that deliver value in everyday business operations?
The programme was designed around the needs of the job market. Its development was informed by analyses of current AI roles, comparisons with existing degree programmes and discussions with industry experts and employers. The focus is on the skills needed to develop, integrate and operate AI systems in production.
A particular strength is the close connection to professional practice. Our lecturers actively work with AI technologies and bring their experience directly into the classroom. In this way, the MSc combines technical depth with entrepreneurial thinking and equips you with skills you can apply directly in your professional life.
Programme overview
The MSc Applied AI HWZ combines in-depth technical knowledge with practical application and business expertise. The focus is on developing AI systems that go beyond prototypes to operate reliably, securely and cost-effectively in real-world business environments.
The part-time degree programme is structured into four consecutive semesters, each building on the previous one: The Model, The System, In Production and The Organisation. You progressively develop your skills – from understanding and adapting modern AI models to developing and evaluating intelligent systems, operating them in production and integrating them into existing organisational structures.
In the first semester, you will explore the fundamentals of modern AI models, their architecture, and how they function. You will learn how to assess models based on their performance, cost, and potential applications, as well as how to adapt them for specific purposes and connect them with relevant information.
Module
Foundations: Architecture and Evolution: Development and architecture of modern AI models, training processes, and the impact of data quality.
Model Selection and Adaptation: Selection of suitable AI models, fine-tuning and adaptation strategies.
Working with LLMs: Context and Retrieval: Prompting, context engineering and retrieval to improve the quality and reliability of language models.
In the second semester, you will learn how to develop powerful and controllable systems from individual AI models. The focus is on systematic evaluation, the design of suitable development and testing environments, and the architecture of autonomous AI agents. You will also learn how AI agents and humans can work together, when human oversight is necessary, and how autonomous systems can be reliably controlled.
Module:
Evaluation und Messung: Development of evaluation methods, benchmarks and statistical procedures for measuring system quality.
Harness and Environment Engineering: Design of controlled test environments, automated assessments, and optimisation processes.
Agentic Systems Architecture: Development and management of autonomous AI agents with tools, memory, and multi-stage decision-making processes. Design of collaboration between humans and AI, as well as reliable control and error-handling mechanisms.
In the third semester, the focus is on the practical application of AI systems. You will learn how to operate, monitor and further develop AI solutions reliably. In doing so, you will take into account technical requirements as well as aspects such as security, scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Module
Engineering for Non-Deterministic Systems: Development of robust AI applications, testing, monitoring and security.
Inference, Serving and Cost Engineering: Optimisation of computing power, infrastructure, response times and operating costs.
AI Operations: Drift, Incidents and Maintenance: Monitoring and maintenance of operational AI systems, managing model changes and disruptions.
In the fourth semester, you will learn how to integrate AI systems into existing enterprise architectures, processes, and organisational structures. You will address the requirements for governance, data protection, and security, and engage with international developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
Module:
Enterprise Architecture and Integration: Integration of AI systems into existing IT landscapes, business processes and data structures.
Governance, Security and Regulation: Regulatory requirements, data protection, documentation and responsible use of AI.
Immersion Week: International study week offering insights into innovative AI companies, start-ups, research institutions and universities.
Applied Research and Scientific Practice
Academic work will accompany you throughout the entire MSc Applied AI HWZ.You will learn how to systematically analyse technical issues, test hypotheses, and evaluate results using scientific methods.
In doing so, you will combine current research findings with your own practical projects and document your results in a transparent and comprehensible manner. The skills you acquire will form the basis for your cumulative master's thesis, in which you will address a practice-oriented question from the field of applied AI using scientific methods.
Practice-oriented study model
In the MSc Applied AI HWZ, you will learn from experienced professionals who develop and operate AI systems themselves. The teaching combines theoretical foundations with practical exercises and projects.
During your studies, you will work on specific issues from your own organisation or develop your own ideas.You will develop, test and operate AI systems, gradually building up a portfolio of your own projects.
The study model combines weekly online teaching with several-day on-campus blocks at HWZ in Zurich. At the start of each semester, the necessary fundamentals are refreshed and explored in greater depth during an additional preparatory block.
Selected lecturers
In the MSc Applied AI HWZ, you will benefit from the expertise of experienced specialists who are themselves actively involved in the development and application of AI systems. They bring up-to-date practical experience from the technology sector directly into the classroom.
The teaching staff includes, among others:
Dr Pavlin Mavrodiev, Senior Principal Data Scientist, Zalando
Tony Kumin, AI Architect, Adcubum AG
Dr Nitin Kumar, AI Founder, meisterpath.com
Almost anyone can develop an AI demo today. Learn how to build AI systems that continue to function reliably even a year later.
International Study Week (Immersion Week)
As part of the MSc Applied AI HWZ, you will gain insights into a selected AI ecosystem during an international study week. By visiting companies, start-ups, research institutions and universities, you will learn about current developments and innovative applications of artificial intelligence. Further information will follow.
Assessment and Master's Thesis
The assessments are predominantly practice-oriented.Instead of traditional written examinations, the focus is on the development of practical AI applications, project work, and the professional and academic justification of technical decisions.Each module typically concludes with a practical project and a brief defence of the results.
The projects build upon each other over the four semesters and feed into the master's thesis. This thesis combines the practical development of an AI system with academic methods. You will investigate practice-oriented questions, evaluate your results using academic criteria, and document your findings in a transparent and comprehensible manner.
The programme concludes with the presentation and defence of your master's thesis before a panel comprising members from academia and industry.
FAQ
You will need a basic understanding of technology, but you do not need to be a mathematician or an experienced software developer.
It is important to have a fundamental understanding of programming, mathematics and statistics. Modern AI systems can support many tasks, such as programming. However, you should still be able to understand how the generated code works, assess the results, and correct errors if necessary.
The MSc Applied AI HWZ is therefore not aimed exclusively at individuals from computer science or engineering backgrounds. Those with an interest in business informatics, business, the financial sector, and other technology-oriented fields may also meet the necessary entry requirements.
What matters most is not your previous degree, but rather your existing technical knowledge.
Yes. Before starting your studies, you will take an entrance test assessing your basic knowledge of programming, mathematics and statistics. The test takes approximately 60 minutes.
To help you prepare, HWZ will provide you with the relevant learning materials, which you can work through independently and at your own pace. You should expect to spend approximately one week on preparation, depending on your prior knowledge.
The entrance test is designed to ensure that you possess the necessary foundational knowledge to successfully complete this technically demanding programme.
The MSc Applied AI HWZ prepares you to advance in your current professional role, take on a technically oriented AI position, or realise your own AI products and business ideas.
Depending on your previous education and professional experience, potential career paths include roles such as AI engineer, machine learning engineer, AI solutions engineer, AI developer, full-stack AI developer, or AI/ML platform engineer.
The degree programme imparts practical skills required for the development, integration, and productive operation of AI systems. In addition, HWZ aims to promote exchange with companies and potential employers, and to support students in preparing for application processes.
Yes. Practice-oriented learning is a central component of the MSc Applied AI HWZ. You will apply theoretical foundations directly, develop your own AI systems, and work on real-world problems.
The projects build upon each other over the four semesters. In this way, you gradually develop a portfolio that enables you to demonstrate your practical skills and the AI solutions you have developed to companies and potential employers.
Yes. As part of the MSc Applied AI HWZ, you will complete a cumulative master's thesis that is both academically rigorous and practice-oriented.
You may pursue your own project idea or address a relevant issue from your organisation. For example, you could develop an AI-based product, solve a specific business problem, or investigate an applied research question.
The master's thesis combines practical application with academic methods and is presented and defended before a panel comprising representatives from both academia and industry.
The MSc Applied AI HWZ is taught by experienced professionals from the field. These include AI developers, engineers, researchers, and specialised experts who are actively involved in the development and operation of AI systems.
The lecturers bring current experience from companies and organisations in Switzerland and internationally into their teaching. As a result, you benefit from practical insights into modern AI technologies, their applications, and the challenges involved in their productive use.
Admission
The following requirements apply for admission to the MSc Applied AI HWZ. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for admission, we will be happy to advise you personally.
Bachelor’s degree
3 – 5 years of professional experience
No “sur dossier” admissions
For holders of a higher vocational diploma: at least 90 of the 180 ECTS credits required for a bachelor’s degree must be completed at an accredited university of applied sciences or university.
This programme is aimed at individuals with either a technical or a business management academic background.
Basic knowledge of programming, mathematics and statistics is required. To help you prepare thoroughly for your studies, HWZ provides appropriate learning materials that enable you to refresh or deepen your knowledge independently.
Before commencing your studies, you will take an entrance test to assess your knowledge of programming, mathematics and statistics. The test lasts approximately 60 minutes and includes basic programming tasks as well as questions on mathematics and statistics.
Fees
The tuition fees are CHF 7,900 per semester, amounting to a total of CHF 31,600 for the four-semester programme.
The costs for the international study week (Immersion Week) are not included in the tuition fees. Further information will follow.
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Further information
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Part-time degree programme
Designed to accommodate employment of up to 90% (minimum 50%)
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Title
Master of Science (MSc) in Applied AI HWZ
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Recognition
90 ECTS credits
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Class size
24–28 participants
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Study format
Primarily classroom-based teaching, supplemented by online sessions (see study data)
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Start
Each September
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Duration
4 semesters
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Course days
Per semester: - 15 input sessions of 4 lessons each (online, every Tuesday evening) - 4 workshops of 3 days each (Thu / Fri / Sat)
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Location
Teaching is delivered in a hybrid study model. The weekly teaching sessions are held online, while the multi-day on-site blocks take place at the HWZ Sihlhof campus in Zurich, located in close proximity to the main railway station.
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Fees
The tuition fees are CHF 7,900 per semester, amounting to a total of CHF 31,600 for the four-semester programme. The costs for the international study week (Immersion Week) are not included in the tuition fees. Further information will follow.
