
Helen Kitchen
Deputy Business Editor
1:00 AM 21st January 2025
business
Hull University Leads Northern Powerhouse In AI Education Boom
![Image by Tung Nguyen from Pixabay]()
Image by Tung Nguyen from Pixabay
The University of Hull has emerged as the UK's leading institution for artificial intelligence education, spearheading a northern renaissance in technology training. Recent data from laptop and tech retailer
Currys reveals the university enrolled 690 students in AI courses during 2022/23, significantly outpacing other institutions including the University of Edinburgh.
The Yorkshire university's success is part of a broader surge in AI-related education, with course enrolments skyrocketing by 453% nationwide over the past five years. Several other northern universities have also secured prominent positions in the national rankings, with the University of Bradford placing third with 325 students, and the University of Sheffield taking eighth place with 240 enrolments.
The strong showing from northern institutions extends beyond the top 10, with Teesside University and the University of Leeds also featuring among the UK's top 20 universities for AI course provision.
This northern dominance in AI education comes at a crucial time when technology-focused degrees are seeing unprecedented growth. Information Technology courses have experienced a remarkable 3,514% increase in enrolments since 2017, while Business Computing has risen by 2,384%.
The trend reflects changing career aspirations among students, with a recent survey revealing that over three in 10 students say their career choices have been influenced by AI's growing presence in the workplace. Notably, 63% of students believe AI will actually improve their career prospects rather than hinder them.
The data suggests the North of England is positioning itself at the forefront of Britain's AI skills revolution, with Hull University's leadership potentially creating a new tech corridor in the region. As businesses increasingly seek AI expertise, these northern institutions are playing a crucial role in developing the next generation of technology professionals.