Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of October 21, 2026, from the Autonomous University of Madrid, publishing the curriculum of the University Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence |
|---|---|
| Publication | November 2, 2026 |
| Entry into force | November 2, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Graduates in engineering, computer science or related qualifications interested in specializing in AI |
| Category | Education |
| Total credits | 60 ECTS |
| Knowledge branch | Engineering and Architecture — Computer Engineering |
| Recognition | National (throughout Spanish territory) and European Higher Education Area (EHEA) |
| Verification | Council of Universities and authorization by the Community of Madrid |
The UAM has had, since November 2, 2026, an official Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence with full academic and professional validity. The Resolution of October 21, 2026 publishes the final curriculum after passing verification by the Council of Universities and obtaining authorization from the Community of Madrid. This step makes the UAM one of the Spanish public universities with regulated postgraduate offerings in AI within the Engineering and Architecture branch.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution publishes the complete curriculum of the University Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence at the UAM, structured in three distinct blocks:
Mandatory block — 30 ECTS
Covers the essential fundamentals of the discipline. Mandatory subjects include:
- Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence
- Ethics in Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Vision
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- Cognitive Robotics
Elective block — 18 ECTS
Students choose from a selection of specialties with high professional and regulatory demand:
| Elective subject | Area of application |
|---|---|
| AI for Cybersecurity | Information security and systems protection |
| Computational Neuroscience | Modeling of neural systems with AI |
| Medical Imaging | AI-assisted diagnosis in healthcare |
| Radio Communications | Network and telecommunications optimization |
| Smart Industry with IoT | Industrial automation and Internet of Things |
Master's Final Project — 12 ECTS
The TFM represents 20% of the total master's degree and allows students to apply the competencies acquired to a research or development project in AI.
Economic and operational impact
For companies, the existence of this official degree has immediate practical consequences on three fronts:
- Recruitment of certified talent: Technology companies, consulting firms and data departments will be able to require this degree as official accreditation of AI competencies, differentiating candidates with regulated training from those with only private certifications.
- Regulatory compliance: The European AI Regulation (AI Act) requires that high-risk AI systems be developed and supervised by profiles with accredited training. Having graduates from this master's degree strengthens companies' compliance position.
- Access to public calls: Many public tenders and R&D+i projects funded with public funds require accreditation of human capital with official AI qualifications. This master's degree meets that requirement.
From a training perspective, recognition in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) allows graduates to work and pursue doctoral studies in any EU country without the need for additional homologation.
Who does it affect?
- Graduates in computer engineering, telecommunications, mathematics or related qualifications seeking official specialization in AI.
- Technology companies and consulting firms that need to incorporate profiles with official AI qualifications for regulated projects or public tenders.
- HR and talent acquisition departments that must update search profiles for AI roles with official qualification requirements.
- Companies in the healthcare, industry, telecommunications and cybersecurity sectors interested in the master's elective specialties (medical imaging, industrial IoT, cybersecurity, radio communications).
- Compliance and CTO managers who must demonstrate qualified teams to auditors of the European AI Act.
Practical example
A cybersecurity company that develops AI-based threat detection systems needs to demonstrate to a financial sector client that its technical team has accredited AI training. Until now, it could only present private certifications (without official validity in the EHEA). With the entry into force of this curriculum, the company can incorporate or accredit its engineers with the University Master's degree in AI from the UAM, which specifically includes the elective "AI for Cybersecurity" within its 18 ECTS electives. This degree has official recognition throughout the national territory and in the EU, which strengthens the value proposition to regulated clients and in public tender processes.
What should companies do now?
- Review AI hiring profiles: Update job descriptions for AI roles to include the University Master's degree in AI from the UAM as a reference official qualification, especially in regulated sectors.
- Assess internal upskilling needs: Identify engineers or technicians in your workforce who could take this master's degree to accredit their AI competencies with official qualification recognized in the EHEA.
- Review AI Act compliance requirements: If you develop or deploy high-risk AI systems, verify whether you need to accredit official AI qualifications in your technical team to comply with current European regulations.
- Contact the UAM for collaboration agreements: Companies can establish agreements with the UAM for the completion of TFM (12 ECTS) applied to real company projects, thus obtaining specialized talent at reduced cost.
- Update tender criteria and technical proposals: If you participate in public competitions with an AI component, incorporate this degree as accreditation of your team's technical capacity.
Frequently asked questions
How many credits does the UAM Master's in AI have and how are they distributed?
The master's degree has 60 ECTS in total, distributed in three blocks: 30 mandatory credits (AI fundamentals, ethics, computer vision, NLP and cognitive robotics), 18 elective credits (to choose from AI for cybersecurity, computational neuroscience, medical imaging, radio communications and smart industry with IoT) and 12 Master's Final Project credits.
Is the UAM Master's in AI valid in other EU countries?
Yes. As an official degree verified by the Council of Universities and authorized by the Community of Madrid, it has recognition throughout the national territory and in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), allowing graduates to work and access doctoral programs in any EU country without additional homologation.
What elective specialties does the UAM Master's in AI offer?
The 18 ECTS elective block includes five specialties: AI for Cybersecurity, Computational Neuroscience, Medical Imaging, Radio Communications and Smart Industry with IoT. These electives allow students to orient their specialization toward sectors with high professional and regulatory demand.
When did the UAM Master's in AI curriculum come into force?
The curriculum came into force on November 2, 2026, the date of publication of the Resolution of October 21, 2026 in the BOE (reference BOE-A-2026-23008).
What knowledge branch does the UAM Master's in AI belong to?
The degree falls within the Engineering and Architecture branch, within the field of computer engineering. It is aimed at graduates in engineering, computer science or related qualifications seeking high-level specialization in artificial intelligence.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-23008
