Stefano Pieri - Artificial Intelligence
Stefano Pieri
Artificial Intelligence MSc (Distance Learning)
Stefano graduated from the Artificial Intelligence MSc course in 2023. He studied from overseas in Italy and travelled to the UK to attend his graduation on campus. Stefano credits the 100% online delivery of the course for giving him the flexibility to be able to continue working full-time whilst studying. Discover more about his distance learning journey...
My online learning experience
There were only two online Master's courses in the field of Artificial Intelligence that I was interested in, one in UK, the other in Germany. In the end, I chose Huddersfield, and I am very happy with my decision.
The structure of the AI course was really nice. Honestly, before starting the course I didn't know what to expect but all of the modules met my expectations. My favourite modules were AI planning, Robotics, and Machine learning,
The video lessons, in particular, were of a high quality and introduced the technical topics very well and in good depth, which gave us students the tools to work independently and complete our assignments successfully.
The quality of teaching was really good. The academics were experienced and highly knowledgeable of their specialisms. I always felt supported by them and they answered any questions I had very quickly.
What I like about studying online
Studying online gave me the opportunity to not only study during the Pandemic, but also with a prestigious overseas university. It also allowed me to study while continuing to work full time, as I could access my study materials online at any time.
My advice for students considering distance learning
I strongly recommend it.
Be passionate about what you are studying, be consistent, follow a schedule, and try to dedicate some time on a daily basis (even just 30 minutes) to your learning activities. This will help you to stay focused on your final goal and achieve success.
When it comes to fitting your studies around your everyday life, it can be challenging. However, it is definitely possible – motivation is the key.
Flexible course structure
I really liked that the course was part-time as this gave me the freedom to organise my own time and create my own working plan for each module which fitted around my work commitments. I believe that this flexibility is key to the success of working students looking to complete a Master’s.
I also liked that each module was divided into two parts, one part focusing on the theoretical and the other focusing on the practical. In the first part of each module you learn to interact with the scientific literature and research into challenges within the field; then in the second, you get to implement AI languages and architectures to resolve these challenges. I found this structure really enjoyable.
One of my favourite things about the AI course was that it part-time and 100% online.
Targeting my career goals
My career goals include undertaking a PhD, working within the field of AI, managing complex projects and possibly creating my own start-up. The AI course gave me enough knowledge and experience to work by myself on small-to-medium projects, as well as teaching me to interact independently with the literature, implement scientific procedures and learn new techniques.
My campus graduation
Attending graduation at the University of Huddersfield campus was a very good experience for me, as it gave me the opportunity to meet my coursemates and tutors in-person. It was my first time visiting a university campus and I have to say it was really awesome! I particularly enjoyed the seeing modern, large facilities and I was really impressed with the professionality of the people working there.
Why study AI at Huddersfield
I would definitely recommend the University of Huddersfield to people considering studying an Artificial Intelligence Master’s.
The course is very well structured and organised and the online delivery is ideal for working professionals who need the flexibility to fit their studies around their work responsibilities. The teaching staff are very organised, professional and helpful, meaning you will always feel supported in achieving your goals.
Overall, my experience as an AI student at the University of Huddersfield was a positive one.
