University of Bristol Joins National Spärck AI Scholarship Programme to Train the Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence Leaders

University of Bristol Joins National Spärck AI Scholarship Programme to Train the Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence Leaders

(IN BRIEF) The University of Bristol has joined a new government-funded Spärck AI scholarship programme launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to support future leaders in artificial intelligence. As one of nine partner universities, Bristol will offer four new MSc programmes in AI and related fields from the 2026/27 academic year, combining technical training with a strong focus on ethics, societal impact and responsible innovation. The initiative builds on the university’s growing AI credentials, including the Isambard-AI supercomputer and plans for a National AI Data Facility, and strengthens the UK’s wider AI ecosystem through collaboration and industry engagement.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRISTOL, 28-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Bristol is set to play a key role in a new government-backed initiative designed to develop the next generation of artificial intelligence leaders, following the launch of the Spärck AI scholarships by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Announced on 28 January, the programme offers fully funded master’s degrees in artificial intelligence and related STEM disciplines at nine leading UK universities, positioning the University of Bristol as one of the anchor partners in this national effort.

Named in honour of pioneering British computer scientist Karen Spärck Jones, the Spärck AI scholarships aim to equip future AI specialists with both advanced technical expertise and a strong understanding of the wider societal, environmental and ethical implications of artificial intelligence. Alongside academic study, scholars will benefit from structured cohort activities and industry exposure, helping them build professional networks and develop skills relevant to careers across research, government and industry.

As part of the initiative, the University of Bristol will offer four new MSc programmes from the 2026/27 academic year: Artificial Intelligence, Engineering with Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence for Business, and Artificial Intelligence for Medicine and Health. These programmes are designed to deliver rigorous foundations in modern AI technologies while encouraging critical engagement with the limitations and responsibilities that accompany their use in real-world settings.

Participation in the Spärck AI scholarships further strengthens the University of Bristol’s position within the UK’s growing AI ecosystem. By collaborating with eight other partner universities, the programme will foster a connected academic community that enhances the value of the scholarship experience and contributes to the long-term development of responsible, high-impact AI capability nationwide.

The announcement builds on a series of major AI investments and initiatives at the University of Bristol over the past year. The university is home to Isambard-AI, the world’s most powerful university-based supercomputer, launched in July with £225 million in funding and operated by the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing in partnership with HPE and NVIDIA. The system delivers unprecedented computing power, enabling breakthroughs across AI research and data-intensive science.

In addition, the University of Bristol is set to develop a new National AI Data Facility as part of the government’s AI for Science Strategy announced in November, further reinforcing its role as a national hub for AI research, education and innovation.

Media contact:
Email: press-office@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)117 428 2489

SOURCE: University of Bristol