THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2025

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing (PhD with Integrated Study) - 6 Years (Part-time) (PRPHDNATLP2P)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
This programme is restricted to students registered with the CDT in Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing (PhD with Integrated Study) .

The course choice needs to be agreed with the CDT and the Supervisor.

Students need to take exactly 180 credits across the whole programme. Up to 30 credits of these can be at levels 9 or 10, the rest have to be at level 11.

In Year 1 students are expected to take 50 credits of compulsory courses (2 Compulsory courses and at least one AI Ethics course).

They should also plan for their years 1, 2 and 3 across which they will need to:
- Take between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist courses (covering at least 2 specialist areas)
- Take between 10 and 40 credits of courses on the theme of AI Ethics
- Not exceed 90 credits per year.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Researching Responsible and Trustworthy Natural Language Processing
INFR11259 20 credits
Applied Interdisciplinary Project
INFR11258 20 credits

Course options

AI Ethics Courses

Select between 10 and 40 credits of the following courses
Coloniality of Data (fusion on-site)
EFIE11044 10 credits
Algorithmic Bias, Fairness and Justice (fusion on-site)
EFIE11167 10 credits
Translational Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics (fusion on-site)
EFIE11169 10 credits
Environmental Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence (fusion on-site)
EFIE11290 10 credits
Case Studies in AI Ethics (CSAI)
INFR11206 10 credits
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
PHIL11186 20 credits
AND

Area 1 - Responsible and Explainable NLP Data and Models

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Computational Cognitive Science
INFR10054 10 credits
Automatic Speech Recognition
INFR11033 10 credits
Accelerated Natural Language Processing
INFR11125 20 credits
Machine Learning Practical
INFR11132 20 credits
Probabilistic Modelling and Reasoning
INFR11134 20 credits
Methods for Causal Inference
INFR11207 10 credits
Knowledge Graphs
INFR11215 10 credits
Advanced Topics in Machine Learning
INFR11286 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Natural Language Processing
INFR11287 20 credits
Speech Synthesis
LASC11062 10 credits
Origins and Evolution of Language
LASC11112 20 credits
Simulating Language
LASC11113 20 credits
Speech Processing
LASC11158 20 credits
Online Experiments for Language Scientists
LASC11167 10 credits
OR

Area 2 - Designing for Human-AI partnership

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Design with Data
DESI11025 20 credits
Data Science for Design
DESI11100 20 credits
Human-Computer Interaction (Level 11)
INFR11017 10 credits
Case Studies in Design Informatics 1
INFR11094 20 credits
Usable Security and Privacy
INFR11158 10 credits
Data Visualisation
INFR11190 10 credits
Privacy and Security with Machine Learning
INFR11240 10 credits
OR

Area 3 - Governance and Accountability

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Datafication, Accountability and Democracy (fusion on-site)
EFIE11074 10 credits
Evidence, Argument and Persuasion in a Digital Age (fusion on-site)
EFIE11080 10 credits
The legal challenges of information technologies
LAWS11137 20 credits
Human-Computer Interaction and Governance
LAWS11447 10 credits
OR

Area 4 - Co-Creation and NLP futures

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Histories and Futures of Technology
DESI11073 20 credits
dLab(2): Design for Technical Change
DESI11106 20 credits
Co-Creation, Workshops and Facilitation (fusion on-site)
EFIE11408 10 credits
Experience Prototyping (fusion on-site)
EFIE11412 10 credits
OR

Area 5 - Entrepreneurship

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Innovation-driven Entrepreneurship-Data Science, Technology and Innovation
CMSE11515 10 credits
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
CMSE11576 10 credits
CodeBase: Playbooks for Building Startups (fusion on-site)
EFIE11310 10 credits
AND

Level 9, 10 and 11 courses in Schedules A to Q, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 9, 10 and 11 courses in Schedules A to Q, T, W and Y

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
This programme is restricted to students registered with the CDT in Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing (PhD with Integrated Study) .

The course choice needs to be agreed with the CDT and the Supervisor.

Students need to take exactly 180 credits across the whole programme. Up to 30 credits of these can be at levels 9 or 10, the rest have to be at level 11.

In Year 2 students are expected to take 70 credits of compulsory courses.

They should also plan for their years 1, 2 and 3 across which they will need to:
- Take between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist courses (covering at least 2 specialist areas)
- Take between 10 and 40 credits of courses on the theme of AI Ethics
- Not exceed 90 credits per year.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Individual Exploratory Project
INFR11257 60 credits
Case Studies in Responsible Natural Language Processing
INFR11281 10 credits

Course options

AI Ethics Courses

Select between 0 and 30 credits of the following courses
Coloniality of Data (fusion on-site)
EFIE11044 10 credits
Algorithmic Bias, Fairness and Justice (fusion on-site)
EFIE11167 10 credits
Translational Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics (fusion on-site)
EFIE11169 10 credits
Environmental Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence (fusion on-site)
EFIE11290 10 credits
Case Studies in AI Ethics (CSAI)
INFR11206 10 credits
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
PHIL11186 20 credits
AND

Area 1 - Responsible and Explainable NLP Data and Models

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Computational Cognitive Science
INFR10054 10 credits
Automatic Speech Recognition
INFR11033 10 credits
Accelerated Natural Language Processing
INFR11125 20 credits
Machine Learning Practical
INFR11132 20 credits
Probabilistic Modelling and Reasoning
INFR11134 20 credits
Methods for Causal Inference
INFR11207 10 credits
Knowledge Graphs
INFR11215 10 credits
Advanced Topics in Machine Learning
INFR11286 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Natural Language Processing
INFR11287 20 credits
Speech Synthesis
LASC11062 10 credits
Origins and Evolution of Language
LASC11112 20 credits
Simulating Language
LASC11113 20 credits
Speech Processing
LASC11158 20 credits
Online Experiments for Language Scientists
LASC11167 10 credits
OR

Area 2 - Designing for Human-AI partnership

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Design with Data
DESI11025 20 credits
Data Science for Design
DESI11100 20 credits
Human-Computer Interaction (Level 11)
INFR11017 10 credits
Case Studies in Design Informatics 1
INFR11094 20 credits
Usable Security and Privacy
INFR11158 10 credits
Data Visualisation
INFR11190 10 credits
Privacy and Security with Machine Learning
INFR11240 10 credits
OR

Area 3 - Governance and Accountability

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Datafication, Accountability and Democracy (fusion on-site)
EFIE11074 10 credits
Evidence, Argument and Persuasion in a Digital Age (fusion on-site)
EFIE11080 10 credits
The legal challenges of information technologies
LAWS11137 20 credits
Human-Computer Interaction and Governance
LAWS11447 10 credits
OR

Area 4 - Co-Creation and NLP futures

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Histories and Futures of Technology
DESI11073 20 credits
dLab(2): Design for Technical Change
DESI11106 20 credits
Co-Creation, Workshops and Facilitation (fusion on-site)
EFIE11408 10 credits
Experience Prototyping (fusion on-site)
EFIE11412 10 credits
OR

Area 5 - Entrepreneurship

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Innovation-driven Entrepreneurship-Data Science, Technology and Innovation
CMSE11515 10 credits
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
CMSE11576 10 credits
CodeBase: Playbooks for Building Startups (fusion on-site)
EFIE11310 10 credits
AND

Level 9, 10 and 11 courses in Schedules A to Q, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 9, 10 and 11 courses in Schedules A to Q, T, W and Y

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
This programme is restricted to students registered with the CDT in Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing (PhD with Integrated Study) .

The course choice needs to be agreed with the CDT and the Supervisor.

Students need to take exactly 180 credits across the whole programme. Up to 30 credits of these can be at levels 9 or 10, the rest have to be at level 11.

In Year 3 students are expected to have taken all their compulsory courses and to only have AI Ethics and Specialist course credits to take in order to meet the programme requirements.

They should also plan for their years 1, 2 and 3 across which they will need to:
- Take between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist courses (covering at least 2 specialist areas)
- Take between 10 and 40 credits of courses on the theme of AI Ethics
- Not exceed 90 credits per year.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Course options

AI Ethics Courses

Select between 0 and 30 credits of the following courses
Coloniality of Data (fusion on-site)
EFIE11044 10 credits
Algorithmic Bias, Fairness and Justice (fusion on-site)
EFIE11167 10 credits
Translational Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics (fusion on-site)
EFIE11169 10 credits
Environmental Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence (fusion on-site)
EFIE11290 10 credits
Case Studies in AI Ethics (CSAI)
INFR11206 10 credits
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
PHIL11186 20 credits
AND

Area 1 - Responsible and Explainable NLP Data and Models

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Computational Cognitive Science
INFR10054 10 credits
Automatic Speech Recognition
INFR11033 10 credits
Accelerated Natural Language Processing
INFR11125 20 credits
Machine Learning Practical
INFR11132 20 credits
Probabilistic Modelling and Reasoning
INFR11134 20 credits
Methods for Causal Inference
INFR11207 10 credits
Knowledge Graphs
INFR11215 10 credits
Advanced Topics in Machine Learning
INFR11286 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Natural Language Processing
INFR11287 20 credits
Speech Synthesis
LASC11062 10 credits
Origins and Evolution of Language
LASC11112 20 credits
Simulating Language
LASC11113 20 credits
Speech Processing
LASC11158 20 credits
Online Experiments for Language Scientists
LASC11167 10 credits
OR

Area 2 - Designing for Human-AI partnership

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Design with Data
DESI11025 20 credits
Data Science for Design
DESI11100 20 credits
Human-Computer Interaction (Level 11)
INFR11017 10 credits
Case Studies in Design Informatics 1
INFR11094 20 credits
Usable Security and Privacy
INFR11158 10 credits
Data Visualisation
INFR11190 10 credits
Privacy and Security with Machine Learning
INFR11240 10 credits
OR

Area 3 - Governance and Accountability

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Datafication, Accountability and Democracy (fusion on-site)
EFIE11074 10 credits
Evidence, Argument and Persuasion in a Digital Age (fusion on-site)
EFIE11080 10 credits
The legal challenges of information technologies
LAWS11137 20 credits
Human-Computer Interaction and Governance
LAWS11447 10 credits
OR

Area 4 - Co-Creation and NLP futures

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Histories and Futures of Technology
DESI11073 20 credits
dLab(2): Design for Technical Change
DESI11106 20 credits
Co-Creation, Workshops and Facilitation (fusion on-site)
EFIE11408 10 credits
Experience Prototyping (fusion on-site)
EFIE11412 10 credits
OR

Area 5 - Entrepreneurship

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Between 20 and 50 credits of Specialist Courses, covering at least two specialist areas must be taken across years 1, 2 and 3.
Innovation-driven Entrepreneurship-Data Science, Technology and Innovation
CMSE11515 10 credits
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
CMSE11576 10 credits
CodeBase: Playbooks for Building Startups (fusion on-site)
EFIE11310 10 credits

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
This programme is restricted to students registered with the CDT in Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing (PhD with Integrated Study).

There are no taught courses in years 4-6 of this programme.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Year 5 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
This programme is restricted to students registered with the CDT in Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing (PhD with Integrated Study).

There are no taught courses in years 4-6 of this programme.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Year 6 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
This programme is restricted to students registered with the CDT in Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing (PhD with Integrated Study).

There are no taught courses in years 4-6 of this programme.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

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