Access, Eligibility, and Graduation: How SIAI GSB Programs Operate
Open Access Does Not Constitute Program Admission
Enrollment in online coursework confers no entitlement to residency participation or degree conferral.
SIAI GSB’s programs are structured in layers that distinguish between scalable knowledge access and institutional certification. Online coursework is provided as academic infrastructure and may be completed independently; however, degree progression requires eligibility review, residency participation, and formal evaluation under supervision. Open access reflects the economics of digital education, not automatic admission to a program.
Certification is awarded only after sustained performance under institutional oversight and successful completion of graduation requirements. This structure preserves academic standards while allowing intellectual self-selection to operate naturally. Participants are encouraged to choose tracks aligned with their preparation and objectives, recognizing that different programs serve different academic purposes. Access to learning resources is universal; certification reflects demonstrated judgment and competence under evaluation. Coursework is open. Certification is earned.
Access ≠ Admission
Online coursework at SIAI GSB is intentionally open and scalable. Digital delivery allows rigorous material to be distributed broadly without depleting institutional capacity, and access to content therefore does not function as a competitive gate. Participants may engage with lectures, readings, and assignments independently, provided they meet the stated academic prerequisites.
Admission to a degree pathway, however, is a separate institutional decision tied to eligibility and evaluation. Completion of coursework alone does not constitute program admission, nor does it guarantee progression to residency. Certification requires participation in supervised components where judgment, consistency, and performance are formally assessed. Open access reflects economic structure; admission reflects institutional responsibility.
Difficulty Is Not a Gatekeeping Tool — It Is the Standard
Each program at SIAI GSB is defined by its academic level rather than by enrollment demand. The MSc AI/Data Science and STEM tracks are benchmarked against mathematically intensive upper-year undergraduate and postgraduate standards comparable to leading European institutions. Difficulty is not introduced as a filtering mechanism; it is inherent to the level of study.
Participants are expected to evaluate their preparation honestly in relation to these standards. If coursework reveals a mismatch between background and program level, redirection to a different track reflects alignment of academic objectives rather than exclusion. Programs are defined by their intellectual scope, not by enrollment volume, and standards are maintained consistently across cohorts.
Self-Selection Is Part of the Design
SIAI GSB’s structure relies on intellectual self-selection rather than front-loaded rejection. Open coursework allows participants to assess the demands of a program directly through engagement with material, rather than through marketing descriptions or credential comparisons. This design ensures that progression is based on demonstrated readiness rather than assumptions about ability.
Movement between tracks is not a hierarchy of status but a matter of academic fit. The Non-STEM AI MBA exists to address institutional judgment and governance questions that differ from mathematically intensive research training. Redirection is therefore structural, not personal. Certification reflects alignment with program standards and successful performance under supervision, not initial enrollment in coursework.