User Experience Design MSc

Program Overview

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MSc User Experience Design

Overview

The MSc User Experience Design programme examines how people interact with technology in the 21st Century. User Experience is now a dominant specialism in nearly every industry. Here at Edinburgh Napier, we are the top UK Modern University for Computer Science (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023), with specialist labs and facilities that provide an up-to-date learning environment.

The MSc User Experience Design will enable you to truly understand people’s relationship with technology. You will learn not only an empirical approach but also the empathic skills to truly understanding people and the digital technology they use. You will learn how to produce low fidelity and fully working prototypes to design for this new discipline.

This course will empower you with the skills to understand human-centred design. By examining and creating innovative solutions to real world issues you will develop the professional skills demanded in today’s workplace. Understanding how people want to interact with brands, products and services will furnish you with the skills to bring your expertise to the work place.

This programme is aimed at those from a variety of backgrounds wishing to convert their skills to the area of User Experience Design. This course will give you an excellent grounding in methods, approaches, and design techniques ready for industry. For those with an interest in a software or web applications development, you may wish to check our MSc Computing routes.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time (available as Part-time)

Duration:

• 1 years

Start date:

• SepJan

Course details

This full-time course will take up to 1 year (18 months if you are a January start) to complete and will be structured to support you throughout your journey. You’ll learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, guest lectures, tutorials and independent study.

How you’ll be taught

• You will be taught through lectures, hands-on tutorials, and blended experiences. When working on your dissertation and final deliverable, you will receive one-to-one supervision from a specialist member of our team.

Assessments

• The course is assessed through project work, written reports, or essays. Assessments afford the opportunity for you to drive your personal progression.

Facilities

• Our School of Computing has some of the most impressive computing lab facilities of any UK university. We offer not one, but two specialist digital media labs.
• Students who cover User Experience have access to the Sensorium, a high spec UX Lab, including Eye tracking and Facial Expression analysis software.

Modules

• Advanced Information Interactions (CSI11103)
• Design Dialogues (IMD11112)
• Divergent Interaction (IMD11114)
• Masters Dissertation (SOC11101)
• Research Through Design (CSI11101)
• User Experience and Service Design (IMD11120)
• Web Design & Development (SET11112)

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

• The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at a 2:2 or above, or equivalent. We look for applicants to have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme.

English language

• If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

International students

• We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Admissions policies

• We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £7,280
• Overseas and EU: £20,395

Tuition fees for 2025/26

• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £7,650
• Overseas and EU: £21,430

Careers

What can you do with MSc User Experience (UX) Design degree?

• User Experience (UX) Designer
• User Experience (UX) Developer
• Creative Technologist
• Front-end Designer
• Usability Designer
• Game Designer/Developer
• Mobile/Wearable App Designer/Developer
• Web Designer/Developer
• UX Researcher/Design Researcher

What does a UX Designer do?

• As a UX Designer, you will embark on a journey to enhance user experiences by utilizing your empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills. In this role, you'll be the advocate for users, ensuring that every interaction with a product or service is intuitive, seamless, and delightful.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The MSc User Experience Design program at Edinburgh Napier University focuses on the interaction between people and technology in the 21st century. It aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge to understand and design for this evolving relationship. The program emphasizes a human-centered design approach, focusing on understanding user needs and creating innovative solutions to real-world problems. The program is designed for individuals from diverse backgrounds who wish to transition into the field of User Experience Design. It provides a comprehensive grounding in methods, approaches, and design techniques relevant to the industry. The program highlights the following key aspects:

• Empathy and Understanding: Students will develop the ability to understand users' needs and motivations, fostering empathy for their experiences with technology.
• Empirical Approach: The program emphasizes a data-driven approach to design, utilizing research methods and user testing to inform design decisions.
• Prototyping: Students will learn to create both low-fidelity and fully functional prototypes, enabling them to test and refine their designs.
• Human-Centered Design: The program emphasizes a user-centered approach to design, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of every design decision.
• Professional Skills: Students will develop the professional skills necessary to succeed in the field of User Experience Design, including communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.

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Outline:

The MSc User Experience Design program is a full-time program that can be completed in one year (or 18 months for January starters). The program is structured to provide a comprehensive learning experience through a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures: Delivering foundational knowledge and theoretical frameworks.
• Hands-on Tutorials: Providing practical experience in applying design principles and techniques.
• Blended Experiences: Combining online and in-person learning to enhance flexibility and engagement.
• One-to-One Supervision: Providing personalized guidance and support during dissertation and final project development.

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Modules:

The program includes the following modules:

• Advanced Information Interactions (CSI11103): This module explores the interaction between users, systems, and content in online environments.
It covers topics such as web space content design, search engine optimization, web analytics, and information retrieval models. It covers techniques such as interviews, observation, participatory design, and usability evaluation.
• Divergent Interaction (IMD11114): This module explores divergent thinking approaches to design development.
Students will learn to use both physical and digital prototyping to create playful artifacts based on user experience theories and methods.
• Masters Dissertation (SOC11101): This module involves the completion of an individual research project.
Students receive personalized supervision and guidance from a faculty member.
• Research Through Design (CSI11101): This module introduces research through design approaches, emphasizing user empathy and understanding.
Students will conduct projects based on evidence and user needs.
• User Experience and Service Design (IMD11120): This module expands professional skills in user experience and service design.

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Assessment:

The program is assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Project Work: Applying design principles and techniques to real-world projects.
• Written Reports: Demonstrating critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Essays: Exploring theoretical concepts and research findings.

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Teaching:

The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures: Delivering foundational knowledge and theoretical frameworks.
• Hands-on Tutorials: Providing practical experience in applying design principles and techniques.
• Blended Experiences: Combining online and in-person learning to enhance flexibility and engagement.
• One-to-One Supervision: Providing personalized guidance and support during dissertation and final project development.

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Careers:

The MSc User Experience Design program prepares students for a variety of careers in the field of user experience, including:

• User Experience (UX) Designer: Designing user interfaces and experiences for websites, apps, and other digital products.
• User Experience (UX) Developer: Implementing user interface designs and ensuring optimal user experience.
• Creative Technologist: Combining creative thinking with technical skills to develop innovative digital solutions.
• Front-end Designer: Designing the visual elements of websites and web applications.
• Usability Designer: Ensuring that digital products are easy to use and accessible to all users.
• Game Designer/Developer: Designing and developing interactive games for various platforms.
• Mobile/Wearable App Designer/Developer: Designing and developing mobile and wearable applications.
• Web Designer/Developer: Designing and developing websites and web applications.
• UX Researcher/Design Researcher: Conducting user research to inform design decisions and improve user experience.

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Other:

• Facilities: The School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University boasts impressive computing lab facilities, including two specialist digital media labs.
Students have access to the Sensorium, a high-spec UX Lab equipped with eye-tracking and facial expression analysis software.

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• Tuition fees for 2024/25
Students from 2024/25 2025/26 Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £7,280 £tba Overseas and EU £20,395 £tba The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here. View Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Please note: The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.