Master’s programs

Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral Economics

Artificial Intelligence Technologies Faculty

Format of study

full-time

Language

russian

Place of study

st. petersburg, russia

Outcome (diploma/credits)

master of science

Duration

2 year

Annual tuition fee

710 000 ₽

Application deadline

28 august 2026

Special features

AI-focused programs

Program manager

Ekaterina Andreevna Tsvetkova

katerina@itmo.ru

+7 (900) 633-26-21

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Subject areas

01.04.02 Applied Mathematics and Computer Science

Tuition-free

Fee-based

09.04.04 Software Engineering

Tuition-free

Fee-based

About the program

The Master’s program trains specialists in machine learning, large language models (LLMs), and behavioral economics. Within two years, you’ll learn to analyze digital footprints, recognize patterns in decision-making, and turn behavioral data into AI solutions for business, finance, and digital products.

Here, you'll work with genuine UX data (transactions, clicks, customer scenarios, texts, time series, and digital metrics) and solve applied tasks (scoring, personalization, customer churn prediction, A/B testing, and the impact of AI on product and business metrics). In particular, you’ll learn to not just build models – but also understand how their results can be applied in decision making.

Most classes are taught in the evening, allowing students to fit a job around their studies.

By the end of their studies, students will have a portfolio of projects at the intersection of AI, behavioral analytics, product data, and applied research.

The program’s partner is Sberbank.

Program partners

Program team

Curriculum

Explore your curriculum (in Russian) to see what you will study

Career

Possible career options for AI and behavioral economics majors include:

– ML and LLM engineers;
– AI product managers;
– ML researchers.

You will get to work at these companies

Or at ITMO’s laboratories

OUR GRADUATES

I’ve always been curious about financial tools. The way the program combined finance with IT technologies made it exciting and well-balanced for me....
I’ve always been curious about financial tools. The way the program combined finance with IT technologies made it exciting and well-balanced for me. I enjoyed the intro course into the crypto industry the most. It felt like the program keeps track of all trends in the industry, focusing on the most relevant. I also really liked that lecturers, specifically my supervisor, Alexey Dukhanov, supported all student initiatives. The program fulfilled my expectations to the fullest. The knowledge, even in fields that I possess less expertise in, came in very handy. Once a semester, we prepared a thesis report. Each semester – you present a new chapter and the results of your work. At first, it didn’t resonate with me as I’m used to doing everything at the last moment but, eventually, it helped me build a kind of a system and, as a result, write a good thesis.

Thanks to the program, I got into entrepreneurship, including in fintech-related fields. I learned to interact with developers on equal terms and understood how different development processes work, including product testing and scaling. I recommend students to participate in the Potanin scholarship contest starting from their first year and apply for the easiest-to-get, in my view, grant for student startups from the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises to immediately apply their skills and develop a valuable product. I also think it’s worth applying for an exchange program and spending a semester in a different university.
Show all
Roman Gorifyanov
Graduate, class of 2023
1/3

Student successes

AI Teaches Sberbank Employees To Speak in Public

ADMISSION OPPORTUNITIES

International students can study tuition-free by securing a scholarship through the Rossotrudnichestvo federal agency as part of a Russian Government scholarship. Applications can be submitted to the Rossotrudnichestvo office at a Russian Embassy/Consulate or an office of the Russian Center of Science and Culture.

Visit our international website for more information.

International opportunities

ITMO supports and encourages students to participate in online and offline educational events in Russia and abroad. We also count 70+ leading scientific institutions around the world among our partners.

You can apply for participation in online and offline conferences, seminars, schools, crash courses, competitions, championships, research internships, and other events in Russia and abroad that are organized by ITMO’s partner universities as well as other scientific and educational organizations.

Educational events and internships

Want to take part in a conference, summer school, or seminar abroad? ITMO University will cover up to 70% of your expenses.

Semester exchange / Study abroad

Found an interesting program in another country and want to go on an exchange semester? Tell us why you chose it and receive financial support.

Study Abroad at Home

Get your international learning experience without leaving ITMO: study in English with international students from all over the world!

Buddy System

From your first day at ITMO as an international student you will be supported by a buddy – another student, who will help you settle in, solve any issue, and explore the city! Maybe one day you, too, will want to support a newcomer at ITMO and get to share your experience as their buddy. You can learn more about the opportunity here

FAQ

What can I do with a degree in artificial intelligence and behavioral economics?

Graduates are sought-after in a wide range of fields, including banking, IT, and telecommunication, retail, insurance, and logistics, as well as organizations that require strong analytical and IT competencies.

Can I combine studies with work? Is it possible to find employment at a laboratory or other departments at the university?

There are students in our program who successfully combine studies and work. However, you shouldn’t overestimate yourself when deciding to get a job while still at the university as getting a quality education takes a lot of time and energy. Our students can seek employment at laboratories and research centers under the National Center for Cognitive Research or the Research Center “Strong AI in Industry.”

Which internship options do students have?

You can work at the National Center for Cognitive Research on R&D projects in data analysis and modeling based on a data-driven approach, including as part of industrial partnerships with leading Russian and international companies, or intern at financial institutions, system integrators, and companies producing information systems for financial companies and banks (e.g., Sberbank, Tochka Bank, and Itiviti).

What level of fluency in programming do I need to apply?

Students applying for Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral Economics are expected to perform laboratory and practical projects using an object-oriented programming language, for instance, Python. If you feel like your skills aren’t enough, we recommend taking a programming course before starting the program because you won’t have separate programming classes. Our teachers can only provide methodological support with your practical and laboratory projects. All in all, a foundation course should be enough to help you get ready for course assignments and research projects.

Can students take part in hackathons, summer schools, internships, and academic exchange programs?

Of course. In addition, students are welcome to join all the events offered by ITMO and the Artificial Intelligence Technologies Faculty in particular, including the annual Young Scientists Conference in Computational Science (YSC) and high-ranking international conferences.

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