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University of Southampton introduces mandatory AI course for all students
The University of Southampton has announced the launch of an initiative under which every undergraduate student, regardless of their major, will complete a mandatory course on artificial intelligence skills. The university positions itself as a "leader in embedding AI competencies for all students," aiming to teach them to use neural networks effectively and responsibly.
The decision comes amid growing recognition that AI literacy is becoming a foundational competency, comparable to digital literacy. As part of the course, students will study not only the technical aspects of working with tools like ChatGPT, but also ethical issues and the critical evaluation of results produced by neural networks.
The initiative, announced on February 23, 2026, consists of two key components. First, every undergraduate student will complete a mandatory introductory course focused on AI skills, ethics, and creativity - it goes beyond basic familiarization with the technology and aims to develop "fluent" proficiency with AI tools.
Second, building on this foundation, students will study discipline-specific applications of AI, integrating the practical and ethical use of technologies across all fields of knowledge - from engineering and medicine to the arts and humanities.
In addition to the mandatory courses, the program includes extracurricular opportunities: AI hackathons, prototype workshops, and projects guided by industry representatives. As the university emphasizes, this will allow students to become not just "consumers" of AI technologies, but their "creators."
Already, the University of Southampton's curriculum for the 2026-27 academic year includes modules that will form the basis of the initiative. Among them is the course "Digital Education: Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI," which introduces students to how digital technologies can enhance teaching and learning, as well as the social and political issues associated with their implementation. As part of this module, students study the history of digital societies, AI literacy, personalized learning based on big data, digital inequality, and contemporary debates in the field of digital education.
UK Minister for AI Kaniska Narayan supported the initiative: "AI is developing rapidly, and people will increasingly need the confidence and skills to use it in their daily work. That is why initiatives such as this one from the University of Southampton are so important - they help ensure that students not only use AI tools but also understand them, question them, and shape how they are applied in the real world."
Southampton is not a pioneer by accident. The university already has a strong reputation in AI research: last year it was one of just nine universities selected by the UK government to lead the new Spärck AI scholarships, which support exceptionally gifted master's students.
Southampton's initiative also aligns with a nationwide strategy: the UK government plans to upskill 10 million workers in AI by 2030, offering free online courses for all adults.
The university will work closely with industry partners and academic experts to ensure that the course content remains at the cutting edge of technological and societal development.
