OPIT has launched a fully online Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence, with the first intake scheduled for September 2026, as higher education providers race to turn AI demand into more flexible, work-compatible advanced qualifications.
The new programme is positioned as a Level 8 doctorate focused on applied, real-world research rather than a conventional academic PhD track. OPIT says it will run either full-time over three years or part-time over six, carry 180 ECTS credits, and culminate in a capstone research project and doctoral dissertation. The course is aimed at professionals, executives, and sector specialists who want to use AI as an operational and strategic tool inside organisations rather than study it only as a theoretical discipline.
Francesco Profumo, Rector of OPIT, said: “In a world where knowledge evolves at an unprecedented pace, education can no longer be considered a phase of life but must be a continuous process. Innovative doctoral programmes like OPIT’s represent an important step in preparing professionals capable of leading technological and social change. Investing in lifelong learning means investing in the future of individuals and our societies.”
The launch lands in a rapidly crowding market for executive and applied AI education. Recently, ESSEC launched a new online executive AI master programme, and there have been growing efforts to widen governed AI access inside universities, both signs that institutions are moving quickly to serve professionals who need AI fluency without stepping out of work. Government-backed skills initiatives are pushing in the same direction. In the UK, ministers have framed AI capability as a workforce issue as much as a technical one, with employers, education providers, and policymakers all being drawn into the question of how advanced AI skills are built and refreshed.
OPIT is trying to differentiate by going beyond taught executive education into doctoral-level applied research. That matters because many organisations now want senior leaders who can do more than commission AI projects. They need people who can evaluate evidence, test methods, govern risk, and connect technical capability to business outcomes across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, consulting, education, and public policy.
Riccardo Ocleppo, founder and director of OPIT, said: “We are seeing a very clear demand; leaders who can use AI responsibly and productively, translating technical possibilities into decisions and results. This doctorate was created to fill a gap; not a programme focused solely on theory or overly narrow areas, but a doctorate that places AI at the centre as a strategic lever to tackle real challenges faced by companies, institutions and society, with the flexibility needed by working professionals.”
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline, or a Master’s degree in another field plus at least five years of relevant professional experience in an area materially affected by AI. OPIT says students who do not continue with the doctorate from the second year can instead opt to leave with an MPhil in Applied Artificial Intelligence.
Lorenzo Livi, Programme Director, said: “The challenge is not knowing what AI is, but knowing how to govern and apply it rigorously and responsibly to generate value.”
Applications for September 2026 are now open on OPIT’s course page.
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