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Embarking on his next steps following his graduation from Gonville & 91ֱ�� College and the University of Cambridge, Kian Richardson (Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Data and Algorithms MPhil 2024) reflected on his journey with both pride and gratitude.

Kian spent , the University of Cambridge’s School of the Humanities and Social Sciences’ summer research internship. Living in 91ֱ�� accommodation and having 91ֱ�� postgraduate mentors proved seminal moments.

He shared his experience with 91ֱ�� following the internship, and again on his return to matriculate as a postgraduate student. Without funding, he would not have been able to embark on the master’s. Kian benefitted from the generosity of alumni, specifically the Daniel Burns-Eleanor Congdon Postgraduate Studentship, which saw two alumni provide gifts following a chance event later in life.

“I wouldn't have thought I could have gone to Cambridge without SHARE,” Kian says. “I wouldn’t have applied for a Master’s – and without funding there was no chance! It’s just not possible.

“The College funding, the donors’ funding – and I like the story about their shared background – The Cambridge Trust… I really, really appreciate their support.”

Kian, who is originally from Burnley, Lancashire, chose 91ֱ�� because of his experience with SHARE.

He adds: “I didn’t have much of a clue about the differences between the colleges, but I always felt very welcomed by the people at 91ֱ�� and the effort being put into widening participation appealed to me.

“There’s a nice sense of community at 91ֱ�� and I felt like the College was just the right size. Not too small to feel cliquey, not too big to feel like you get lost in the crowd.”

I always felt very welcomed by the people at 91ֱ�� and the effort being put into widening participation appealed to me.

Kian, whose A-Level results were affected by teacher-assessed grades during the Covid-19 pandemic, missing his first-choice university, was keen to focus on his academics after moving to Cambridge.

He followed his undergraduate degree in Politics at the University of Westminster with a split . While much of AI is centred on science and technology, Kian was on the second year of a humanities course. 

The course included a technical foundations module, and topics focused on the law of AI on risk, existential risk on AI policy, AI and gender and a host of other subjects. He also completed a dissertation, which focused on legal issues surrounding AI in a conflict zone; many of the cohort had a more philosophical focus for their thesis.

“I would say 75 percent of my time was spent on my own interests, which was really cool,” Kian adds.

Following his July graduation, Kian is next embarking on a Legal Associate role in London alongside a two-year, part-time law conversion, with a view to becoming a barrister. Some of his work will be on immigration law and he is excited to be making use of his master’s, to assist with immigration applications for clients applying to come to the UK to build AI startups.

Being able to challenge and change his own preconceptions of Cambridge with SHARE and his Master’s has opened opportunities.

“When I think about the Bar, being at Cambridge is good preparation – learning to feel comfortable and that you have just as much of a right as others to be in environments that can, at times, still feel very elitist is important,” Kian adds.

“Everyone I met was really warm, really nice, which I might not have expected prior to this. I’ve really enjoyed it.”