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 a top 10 Modern UK University for Computer Science (The Times/Sunday Times), 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.

Typical entry points to this course are in January and September.

Mode of Study:

• Part-time (available as Full-time)
• Duration: 2 years
• Start date: September or January

Course details

This part-time course will take up to 2 years 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. We also aim to timetable the programme to facilitate part time study.

Here’s the structure of what you’ll study across both years:

• Year 1
  • Trimester 1 – 2 modules
  • Trimester 2 – 1 module
  • Trimester 3 – no modules
• Year 2
  • Trimester 1 – 1 module
  • Trimester 2 – 2 modules
  • Trimester 3 – dissertation

Modules

Modules that you will study as part of this course:

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

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.

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.
• We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional work experience within the industry.

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.
• This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course).

International students

• We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
• Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

Admissions policies

• We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.
• Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Fees & funding

• The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying.
• We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland-Taught modules: £1,105
• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland-60 credit Dissertation module: £650
• Overseas and EU-Taught modules: £3,050
• Overseas and EU-Dissertation module: £2,095

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. You will be conducting user research, gathering feedback, and iterating on designs to create solutions that meet user needs and exceed expectations.