The Master of Science in Next-Generation Computing is a master's programme that includes three tracks:   Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods for Cybersecurity; Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Healthcare; and Quantum Technology. This exciting new program will be taught by highly qualified and experienced professors from top-ranked universities.

​The​ track of this program in Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods for Cybersecurity is distinguished from other classic graduate programmes in the field of cybersecurity as it offers an innovative academic approach that combines the advanced techniques of artificial intelligence and formal methods. Thus, it progresses into the next level of cybersecurity which is required to face the increasing size and sophistication of cyberattacks. Indeed, artificial intelligence helps security operations analysts to be proactive against threats. Furthermore, formal methods have become well established as powerful techniques to demonstrate the absence of security vulnerability allowing for the construction of highly secured protocols and critical systems.

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The ne​​w master's programme includes a second track, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Healthcare. This track focuses on the global health sector and the use of artificial intelligence technology; needless to say, this is very pertinent in today's global health issues. Indeed, artificial intelligence allows for an early, accurate and automatic diagnosis of many diseases. It also advances the organisation and management of the huge numbers of medical data produced during the stages of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients. Artificial intelligence algorithms reduce human error and ensure the high quality of health services. It additionally has the potential of reducing the prohibitive costs of comprehensive healthcare.  

The third track of the new programme is Quantum Technology. This field is anticipated to produce radical changes and a scientific revolution in major areas of human life. While the traditional computer relies in its work on a binary system that has only two possibilities; namely 0 or 1, or what is known as bit, the quantum computers use qubits (or quantum bits) that can exist as a 1 or 0 or both at the same time, or somewhere on a spectrum between the two. The transition from a bit to a qubit increases computing power astonishingly. For example, Google recently built a quantum computer that performed a computation in 200 seconds that would take approximately 10,000 years for the fastest supercomputers to accomplish. It is expected that quantum computing will revolutionize many fields including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, medicine, healthcare and drug research and development. 

This Master's programme has been designed to create an academic bridge that allows students of the GCC countries to launch into the world of artificial intelligence, formal methods, and quantum technology. In this program, students will acquire the high-level skills essential to these very promising fields. They would achieve the economic and social advances that benefit the region in various vital sectors such as cybersecurity, medicine and healthcare.

Program Structure

The master's program is a full-time two-year curriculum (four semesters).

To graduate, a master's degree student must complete at least 36 credits as follows:

Semester 1 is dedicated to common courses which provide students with the basic required skills in mathematics, logic, artificial intelligence, and programming. Semesters 2 & 3 are dedicated to core/elective and research-oriented courses. Semester 2 contains introductory courses to help student gain required knowledge in the field. Semester 3 has courses that are further advanced. The fourth and last semester is exclusively dedicated to the master's thesis.

The graduation requirements are as follows: ​

• Successful completion of a minimum of 36 credits (one credit corresponds to 84 hours of workload).
• Completion and successful defense of a master's thesis.
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.
  
  

Admission Requirements

Admission Procedure