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**\*\*Background\*\***
I'm an Italian student finishing a BSc in Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence at Sapienza University of Rome (graduating September 2026, expected grade 104/110). My program is genuinely interdisciplinary — I've taken courses in ML, probability & statistics, linear algebra, optimization, databases, and Python/R programming alongside philosophy of AI, ethics, logic, and aesthetics. English C1+ (Cambridge certified).
**\*\*Career goal\*\***
I want to work in AI ethics consulting for tech companies or in think tanks / policy-adjacent institutions (e.g. AlgorithmWatch, AI Office EU, FBK). Long-term interest in science communication and writing. I explicitly do NOT want to become an ML engineer — I want a T-shaped profile: deep in AI ethics/policy, technically literate enough to dialogue with engineers.
**\*\*What I'm looking for in a master's\*\***
\- More technical than my undergrad (consolidate ML side), with ethics/policy as specialization
\- Ideally at least one year in Italy (for cost reasons) with a structured year abroad (Erasmus or double degree)
\- Open to full European programs if the value is significantly higher
\- Public Italian universities preferred for budget, but open to alternatives with scholarships
**\*\*My current shortlist (roughly in priority order):\*\***
\*\*MSc Artificial Intelligence\*\* — University of Bologna (LM-18/32, English) — strong ethics curriculum, I qualify for automatic admission based on their API/CSCI thresholds
\*\*MSc Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence\*\* — University of Milan / Bicocca / Pavia (English, ELLIS network) — explicitly interdisciplinary, open to non-STEM profiles
\*\*MSc Artificial Intelligence Systems\*\* — University of Trento (English, EMAI4EU double degree structured) — strong internationalization, but ethics component is lighter
\*\*Master of Data Science for Public Policy\*\* — Hertie School Berlin — only policy school with serious ML in the curriculum, but requires a strong technical portfolio
\*\*Digital, New Technology and Public Policy\*\* — Sciences Po Paris — great for policy, but doesn't strengthen the technical side
\*\*MPhil Ethics of AI, Data and Algorithms\*\* — University of Cambridge (LCFI) — reach, applying mainly if I can build a stronger profile by then
**\*\*My main weaknesses I'm aware of:\*\***
\- Zero practical experience (no internships, no publications- working on my under graduate thesis right now, no GitHub yet — working on a fairnes analysis project for a course right now)
\- Grade 100-104/110 is borderline for some programs (Edinburgh, Cambridge)
\- No law background (ruled out EMILDAI Law stream for this reason)
**\*\*Questions:\*\***
How competitive Is my profile right now? Any advice on how to reach my gols?
Is the T-shaped philosophy+AI profile actually valued in European think tanks, or do they predominantly hire either lawyers or engineers?
Would you swap any program on my list for something I might have missed?
For someone targeting EU policy/think tank roles, is a Italian public university master's a significant disadvantage vs. Edinburgh or Sciences Po brand-wise?
Any input appreciated — especially from people who've navigated similar interdisciplinary profiles.
Thanks for your time and attention.