Master's in AI Ethics (CSIC & UC3M): what it is and who it interests in 2026

Key data

Starting in the 2026/2027 academic year, professionals and graduates in Spain will be able to pursue the Master's in Permanent Training in AI Ethics-UC3M & CSIC, the result of an agreement signed on May 11, 2026 between the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. The publication in the BOE on June 13, 2026 responds to the legal obligation established in article 48.8 of the Law 40/2015 on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector.

The program was approved by the UC3M Governing Council on January 27, 2025, after passing a positive external evaluation, which guarantees an academic validation process prior to its launch.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement formalizes collaboration between two reference public institutions to create a specialized postgraduate program. The key aspects of the agreement are as follows:

• Type of degree: Own postgraduate degree, non-official in nature, covered under article 36 of Royal Decree 822/2021 on the organization of official university education.
• Complete academic management by UC3M: student admission, enrollment, file management, evaluation and degree issuance.
• CSIC contribution: research capacity and specialized training in science and technology, complementing UC3M's academic profile.
• Start: academic year 2026/2027.
• Prior approval: the program passed a positive external evaluation before being approved by the UC3M Governing Council on January 27, 2025.

As it is an own degree and not official, it is not subject to the same ANECA verification requirements as official university master's degrees, although it must comply with UC3M's internal quality criteria and the framework of Royal Decree 822/2021.

Economic and operational impact

The creation of this master's responds to growing demand for profiles specialized in AI ethics, largely driven by the European Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AI Act), which requires companies that develop or deploy high-risk AI systems to have ethical evaluation and regulatory compliance processes.

For organizations, this program represents a concrete way to:

• Train their technical and compliance teams in the ethical and regulatory frameworks of AI.
• Internally accredit competencies in AI ethics to clients, auditors or regulators.
• Reduce the risk of non-compliance with the European AI Act, whose penalties can reach significant figures for companies operating with high-risk AI systems.

The fact that it is an own degree means that enrollment and costs are set by UC3M with greater flexibility than in official degrees, although specific pricing data is not available in the resolution published in the BOE. To find out the exact amount, it is necessary to contact UC3M directly.

Who does it affect?

• Active professionals in technology companies, consulting firms or innovation departments working with AI systems.
• University graduates who want to specialize in ethics, regulation and governance of artificial intelligence.
• Compliance officers in regulated sectors that deploy AI (banking, healthcare, insurance, public administration).
• Researchers and educators who wish to expand their training in the field of ethics applied to AI.
• HR and training departments of companies that need to accredit competencies in AI ethics among their workforce.
• Legal advisors and consultants who advise companies on compliance with the European AI Act.

Practical example

A financial services company that uses AI models for credit risk assessment—considered a high-risk AI system under the European AI Act—needs to demonstrate to its internal auditor that it has appropriate ethical and governance processes in place.

Its compliance officer can enroll in the Master's in Permanent Training in AI Ethics-UC3M & CSIC starting in the 2026/2027 academic year. Upon completion, they will obtain an own degree issued by UC3M—with the research backing of CSIC—that accredits specialized training in AI ethics. This strengthens the company's position with regulators and clients, and contributes to building a documented and verifiable internal AI governance framework.

The management of the process—from admission to degree issuance—is entirely handled by UC3M, which simplifies procedures for the professional or company financing the training.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify internal candidate profiles: detect in your organization which roles (compliance, technology, legal, innovation) would benefit from accredited training in AI ethics, especially if your company operates with high-risk AI systems according to the AI Act.
2. Contact UC3M for enrollment information: details on pricing, registration deadlines and program structure are managed directly by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. The start is scheduled for the 2026/2027 academic year.
3. Evaluate training financing: check if the training can be covered by SEPE Foundation credits (formerly Fundación Tripartita) for worker training, which would reduce the cost for the company.
4. Link training to your AI Act compliance plan: if your company is in the process of adapting to the European AI Regulation, document this training as part of the governance measures adopted.
5. Monitor program evolution: as it is a newly created own degree, it is advisable to monitor possible additional calls or changes to the curriculum through official UC3M and CSIC channels.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is purely informational in nature 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-2026-12867