Health and Artificial Intelligence: a pioneering Master’s Degree shaping tomorrow’s experts

Humanitas University and Bocconi University have joined forces to offer a two-year program in English, aimed at forging professionals who can combine medical and digital skills for the healthcare sector.

Artificial Intelligence is profoundly transforming the world of healthcare, not only in terms of technology and research but also in terms of organisation and services. Innovation is advancing at a rapid pace, supported by increasingly substantial investments. The numbers speak for themselves: in the medical field alone, the AI market reached a value of one billion dollars in 2023, with growth projections up to 14 billion by 2032.

The future of healthcare

It is essential to create a meeting point between the world of technology and medicine, training professionals capable of operating with cross-disciplinary skills in these ever-evolving fields. This need gave rise to the Master’s Degree in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences (DAIHS): a two-year program, entirely in English, promoted by Humanitas University in collaboration with Bocconi University.

“This is an innovative degree program designed to train the professionals of the future,” explains Prof. Letterio Politi, President of the DAIHS program. “It was created with the aim of combining Bocconi University’s excellence in economic, financial, regulatory, and Artificial Intelligence training with Humanitas’ clinical and research excellence. Humanitas has been recognised as the top Italian hospital in Newsweek’s World’s Best Smart Hospitals ranking, thanks to the use of advanced technologies, Artificial Intelligence, robotic surgery, telemedicine, and digital services. Innovation in healthcare is moving fast: it is therefore essential to train professionals who can not only understand these transformations, but also lead and apply them competently. This is precisely the motivation behind the creation of this new university program.”

Course value

“The value of this course lies in its ability to respond to a real and already present need in the healthcare world. Artificial Intelligence is now widely used in clinical settings, from diagnostics to therapy, to scientific research, with an increasingly evident impact on the quality and efficiency of care. In the coming years, its role will be even more central: AI will not be limited to enhancing individual applications, but it will contribute to profoundly transforming screening, diagnosis, and treatment models, redefining the entire patient care pathway. Training professionals capable of understanding and leading this evolution is, therefore, an essential challenge.”

Objectives

“The goal is not to train researchers exclusively. The program aims to train a new generation of professionals capable of combining medical-scientific skills with data analysis and Artificial Intelligence. During the two-year program, students will learn to interpret and use clinical data, develop predictive models, evaluate the impact of new technologies in diagnosis and treatment processes, and actively contribute to the innovation of the healthcare system. The course offers solid and interdisciplinary training, combining theory and practice, science and strategic vision, ensuring the opportunity to work directly alongside doctors and researchers. This allows them to understand clinical and research needs and seek new solutions with artificial intelligence, almost at the patient’s bedside.”

Career opportunities

Once graduated, students will find opportunities in numerous fields: from healthcare facilities, where they can contribute to digitization and personalised medicine projects, to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, startups, regulatory bodies, and public institutions, to tech companies operating in digital health. The skills acquired will also be valuable for those wishing to work in research or within public bodies and institutions, where Artificial Intelligence is increasingly at the center of healthcare policies. In a world where data is revolutionising medicine, this course represents a key to becoming protagonists of change.

How to apply

A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biology, Biotechnology, Statistics, or an economics-related degree is required. There is no entrance test, but a holistic curriculum evaluation is conducted by a combined Bocconi University and Humanitas University committee. At least 30 credits in biological or STEM fields are required. Additionally, scholarships covering up to 60% of the annual tuition are available.