Enrolment in AI courses at university level have skyrocketed by 453% in 2022/2023 compared to 2017/2018, with women leading the way, new research shows.

A recent study by tech retailer Currys, took a deep dive into university admissions data to discover how the developments in AI has impacted course uptake in the UK.

The study found that although men have enrolled in these courses, with 5670 males enrolled in AI courses in 2022/2023 compared to the just 1075 in 17/18, a 427% rise, women’s percent increase was much higher.

In 2017/18, only 365 women were enrolled in AI courses, but the figure reached 2265 in 22/23, a whopping increase of 521%.

As well as the rapid uptake in AI across the world driving the uptake, it could also be influenced by the simple fact that AI courses are now more accessible.

In 2017/18, only 29 universities out of 291 analysed had enrolments into AI courses.

However, in 2022/23, there were 84 universities with enrolments into the same courses, nearly three times the number of universities from five years ago.

Currys also conducted a survey of 1000 students and recent graduates to understand their relationship with AI. Over three in ten of students asked said that the prospect of AI taking over has influenced their chosen career path.

Despite numerous articles stating which jobs are in danger due to this take over, 63% actually believe that AI has improved their chances of succeeding in their chosen career.

When looking at where in the country the most people are enrolling to study AI courses, the University of Edinburgh had the second most students enrolled in AI courses, at 405, only beaten by the University of Hull at 690.

Beyond specific AI courses, the research found that AI has influenced 37% of students in choosing which course to study. This mindset is reflected in the courses which have experienced a boost to enrolments over the past five years.

Technology and computing course enrolment have soared as a result.

Enrolment in information technology courses has skyrocketed 3514%, with business computing rising 2384%.

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Software engineering (265%) and other computing courses (234%) have seen similar rises, with production and manufacturing engineering also seeing an 128% uplift in enrolment.

Equally, however, are decreases in enrolments in other areas, potentially influenced by AI’s rise.

Language and area studies have seen a decrease of a fifth (20%) in enrolment, with AI making translation and language processing more accessible and automated.

Education and teaching enrolments have also decreased by 11%, which could be influenced by AI-driven learning platforms and virtual instruction.

Media, and journalism and communications also saw a slight decrease in enrolment (7%), which may have to do with the scourge of AI-generated news and written content decreasing job security.

It must also be noted, however, that jobs in these arenas – education, languages, and media – often offer significantly less income than typical occupations in technology, even before the advent of AI.