Artificial Intelligence with Integrated Foundation

UCAS code: FY66

Here's what Falmouth University says about its Artificial Intelligence with Integrated Foundation course.

Develop your skills by entering the creative industries on an Integrated Foundation Year degree.

If you’re interested in taking on a new subject that you’ve not had the opportunity to study in depth before, or have been out of education for a while, then our Integrated Foundation Year courses might be for you. These four-year courses include an introductory year to help you build the core skills needed for specialist degree-level study.

This is a chance for you to let your imagination run wild and explore your creativity, expand your professional skills and develop enhanced subject knowledge in the domain you want to study. We’ll help nurture your expertise in problem solving, risk-taking, designing and making as you develop your abilities through five core modules.

After your foundation year, you’ll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skill set and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.

Artificial intelligence is transforming every corner of our world: from self-driving cars to grids that balance the planet’s energy. Intelligent interfaces and generative tools are redefining how we think, create and connect.

On this Artificial Intelligence BSc degree, you'll learn to design, train and deploy AI models that understand complex data, to help solve global challenges. You’ll work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams to solve computational problems, that inspire new ideas about the future of technology. You'll also study the infrastructures that support these systems, from APIs and software pipelines to the security and ethical frameworks that keep them safe and trustworthy for the global public.

With a focus on in-demand industry skills, you will gain hands-on experience with open-source technologies, cloud platforms and real-world data applications, while developing the technical, conceptual and critical skills needed to create intelligent systems that learn from - and collaborate with - their users.

Collaborating across disciplines, you’ll become a creative and ethically-informed technologist, with skills across intelligent, co-creative applications that respond to real needs. You’ll graduate ready to take a role in the fast-evolving world of AI as a developer, researcher, data scientist or creative technologist.

Why study this course at Falmouth? Develop technical, design thinking and production skills in your chosen specialism. Learn teamwork, leadership and project management skills through a variety of learning environments. Develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills through the development of unique and innovative projects. Complete your chosen degree over a four-year period. Technical: Master the building blocks of artificial intelligence from algorithms and data science to machine learning, neural networks, computer vision and natural language processing. Analytical: Harness computational thinking and advanced statistics to design, train and optimise models that solve complex, real-world challenges. Trailblazing: Push boundaries with generative AI, robotics and autonomous systems that redefine how humans and machines collaborate. Responsible: Tackle the ethical, social and environmental dimensions of AI to create technologies that are transparent, fair and sustainable. Experimental: Build, test, and iterate in studio environments where ideas evolve through hands-on coding, rapid prototyping and bold exploration. Collaborative: Team up with innovators across the computing and design disciplines to explore human-centred AI. Connected: Engage with researchers and industry experts pioneering real-world AI applications in a fast-moving global landscape. Professional: Step into the future as a skilled developer, researcher or data scientist, ready to shape intelligent systems that matter.

All the courses in the computing and AI subject area share a common first year. No matter your background or experience, in your first year you’ll level up your knowledge of programming and mathematics through playful experimentation in collaboration with other students across the computing subject area.

Foundation Year: In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules: three short modules in the first study block and two in the second (one short, one long). These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of both creative practice and your chosen specialism. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs.

After your foundation year, you'll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.

Modules: Explore Technique Apply Industry Launch

Year One: In your first year, you will lay the groundwork for your AI journey. Designed for beginners, this stage introduces the core principles of programming, data structures, algorithms and computational thinking, which form the foundation of intelligent technologies.

You will get hands on from day one: writing code, exploring data and experimenting with digital tools to bring ideas to life. This is where you’ll build your confidence, curiosity and technical fluency, which forms a strong foundation for creating, questioning and innovating with artificial intelligence.

Modules: Principles of Computing Digital Creativity Development Foundations Data Fundamentals Individual Programming Project Multidisciplinary Teamwork

Year Two: Your second year is where you start to specialise as an AI developer. You’ll explore ways to design, train and deploy intelligent systems, combining coding, data analysis and machine learning to create responsive and innovative AI solutions.

You’ll also develop critical awareness of how AI technologies impact society and culture, considering ethical, inclusive and sustainable approaches to design and deployment. You’ll build your analytical and research skills, connect theory with practice and work with others to solve complex technical problems.

Modules: Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Computational Mathematics Algorithms & Optimisation Responsible AI: Ethics and Society Embedded Systems

Year Three: In your final year, you’ll start with Computational Creativity, exploring procedural content generation and AI-driven techniques for building interactive, adaptive, or generative systems.

You’ll also undertake an individual research and development project under the guidance of a specialist, giving you the chance to create a substantial AI artefact, apply scientific methods and generate insights that can inform future AI development.

Alongside this, you’ll take part in the Digital Innovation and Major Collaboration projects, moving your projects from ideation to production environments. Working in multi-skilled teams, you’ll plan, design and deliver a significant project with real-world impact, while developing your own intellectual property and professional portfolio.

Modules: Digital Innovation Major Collaboration Computational Creativity Research & Development: Proposal Research & Development: Dissertation

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

Foundation Year assessments are 100% coursework based.

Assessment will take place at the end of each module, and you'll get feedback and evaluation throughout the year. You'll be assessed through visual, verbal and written assignments, including your portfolio and a reflective journal. In your foundation year all assessments are pass/fail to encourage students to take risks and engage with the feedback provided.

Progressing in your specialism Students studying on courses with an Integrated Foundation Year must successfully complete and pass all foundation modules before they can progress to the next stage of their course.

Your specialism All assessment on this course is based on coursework - there are no exams.

Throughout your degree, you’ll build a portfolio of individual and team projects, showcasing your skills and creativity. Your continuing professional development will be assessed in the Major Collaboration, helping you demonstrate your employability and readiness for a career in AI.