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User Experience Design

Master of Science (M. Sc.)

How do you design user experiences that make technology easy to understand?

User Experience Design

Do you want to design digital products that genuinely help people move forward, and take your UX skills to the next level? On the Master’s in User Experience Design, you’ll learn to develop interactive systems that make complex technology understandable and create meaningful, positive user experiences. The programme combines computer science, design and usability research, providing in-depth knowledge of interaction design, human factors, ergonomics, and multimodal and multisensory human–computer interaction. Prototyping methods and AR/VR interfaces will also form part of your toolkit.

In addition, you will explore design strategy, design management and the critical reflection on user experiences. The programme fosters academic work and prepares you to carry out complex projects either independently or as part of international teams. The English-speaking environment creates a diverse, intercultural learning atmosphere and equips you for careers in global technology, media and innovation sectors.

Job perspectives

UX designers are the link between product development, IT, design, ergonomics and marketing. Your future appointment may therefore include the following: Programming, implementation, system design, prototyping, usability testing, user interface design, interaction design, web design, usability engineering, research, requirements analysis, user insights, surveys, evaluation, ergonomics assessment, acceptance testing, product conception and project management.

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Degree
Master of Science (M. Sc.)
Duration
3 semesters (full-time), 6 semesters (part-time)
Start of studies
Summer & Winter
Main teaching language
English
Admission restricted
Yes
Type of degree program
Full-time Studies
ECTS
90
Accreditation
Yes

Application period for the 2027 summer semester: 15 October 2026 to 15 January 2027

Curriculum User Experience Design

Presentation of curriculums
Semester
1st Semester
  1. Research Methods in HCI

    Quantitative and qualitative methods in human-computer interaction are combined. The focus is on experiment design, usability studies, and statistical and qualitative data analysis. This is complemented by UX research, interviews, and methods for analyzing and visualizing user data.

  2. Interaction Design

    Concepts and methods of interaction design are covered, from theory, processes, and design approaches to prototyping and evaluation. The focus is on graphical, physical, and multimodal interactions. In the practical part, several design projects are developed and presented through prototypes.

  3. Multimodal, Interactive Systems

    Multimodal user interfaces are designed and developed in a case study setting. The focus is on visual, acoustic, and haptic interactions as well as natural user interfaces. This is complemented by gesture control, voice interfaces, and UX concepts for intuitive and context-aware user experiences.

  4. Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) Project

    Technologies and methods for natural user interfaces are explored. The focus is on interaction types such as touch, gestures, and speech, as well as their design. This is complemented by prototyping, user-centered design, and evaluation methods to analyze and optimize user experiences.

  5. Agile Project Management

    Methods and approaches of agile project management are covered, from basic models to frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban. The focus is on lean principles, scaling approaches, and hybrid methods. This is complemented by analyzing success factors and common anti-patterns.

  6. Electives

    Interface Design, User Experience Participatory Design, Audio/Video Processing and 3D-Animation, UX Design in a GenAI World

Research Methods in HCI

<p>Quantitative and qualitative methods in human-computer interaction are combined. The focus is on experiment design, usability studies, and statistical and qualitative data analysis. This is complemented by UX research, interviews, and methods for analyzing and visualizing user data.</p>

Interaction Design

<p>Concepts and methods of interaction design are covered, from theory, processes, and design approaches to prototyping and evaluation. The focus is on graphical, physical, and multimodal interactions. In the practical part, several design projects are developed and presented through prototypes.</p>

Multimodal, Interactive Systems

<p>Multimodal user interfaces are designed and developed in a case study setting. The focus is on visual, acoustic, and haptic interactions as well as natural user interfaces. This is complemented by gesture control, voice interfaces, and UX concepts for intuitive and context-aware user experiences.</p>

Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) Project

<p>Technologies and methods for natural user interfaces are explored. The focus is on interaction types such as touch, gestures, and speech, as well as their design. This is complemented by prototyping, user-centered design, and evaluation methods to analyze and optimize user experiences.</p>

Agile Project Management

<p>Methods and approaches of agile project management are covered, from basic models to frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban. The focus is on lean principles, scaling approaches, and hybrid methods. This is complemented by analyzing success factors and common anti-patterns.</p>

Electives

<p>Interface Design, User Experience Participatory Design, Audio/Video Processing and 3D-Animation, UX Design in a GenAI World</p>

  1. Critical UX Reflections

    Current and historical critical approaches in UX design are explored. The focus is on ethical principles such as privacy, transparency, and user autonomy, as well as inclusion and accessibility. This is complemented by critical thinking, sustainable design, cultural perspectives, and the analysis of harmful design patterns.

  2. Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications

    Fundamentals and applications of virtual and augmented reality are covered, from perception and interaction to real-world use cases. In the practical part, students develop their own AR/VR project and implement, evaluate, and document it across the full lifecycle.

  3. Design Strategy and Management

    Design processes and their management in a business context are explored. The focus is on strategic alignment, the value of design for competitive advantage, and its role in marketing and innovation. This is complemented by methods for guiding, evaluating, and managing design projects.

  4. Project

    In semester-based projects, students work on practice-oriented tasks with varying focus areas. The process includes research, ideation, user studies, prototyping, and data analysis. Results are interpreted, recommendations derived, and presented through presentations, videos, and reports.

  5. Electives

    Entrepreneurship Coaching

  6. Mobile UX Prototyping

    Key aspects of mobile user experience are covered based on current design principles. The focus is on navigation, interaction, forms, and feedback mechanisms. This is complemented by visualization, gamification, as well as best practices and common anti-patterns in mobile UX design.

Critical UX Reflections

<p>Current and historical critical approaches in UX design are explored. The focus is on ethical principles such as privacy, transparency, and user autonomy, as well as inclusion and accessibility. This is complemented by critical thinking, sustainable design, cultural perspectives, and the analysis of harmful design patterns.</p>

Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications

<p>Fundamentals and applications of virtual and augmented reality are covered, from perception and interaction to real-world use cases. In the practical part, students develop their own AR/VR project and implement, evaluate, and document it across the full lifecycle.</p>

Design Strategy and Management

<p>Design processes and their management in a business context are explored. The focus is on strategic alignment, the value of design for competitive advantage, and its role in marketing and innovation. This is complemented by methods for guiding, evaluating, and managing design projects.</p>

Project

<p>In semester-based projects, students work on practice-oriented tasks with varying focus areas. The process includes research, ideation, user studies, prototyping, and data analysis. Results are interpreted, recommendations derived, and presented through presentations, videos, and reports.</p>

Electives

<p>Entrepreneurship Coaching</p>

Mobile UX Prototyping

<p>Key aspects of mobile user experience are covered based on current design principles. The focus is on navigation, interaction, forms, and feedback mechanisms. This is complemented by visualization, gamification, as well as best practices and common anti-patterns in mobile UX design.</p>

  1. Master's Thesis incl. Master Thesis Seminar

    Students independently address a research question in UX/HCI. The focus is on literature analysis, developing concepts or prototypes, and selecting suitable methods. Results are evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finally, recommendations and future research directions are derived.

Master's Thesis incl. Master Thesis Seminar

<p>Students independently address a research question in UX/HCI. The focus is on literature analysis, developing concepts or prototypes, and selecting suitable methods. Results are evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finally, recommendations and future research directions are derived.</p>

Curriculum User Experience Design — Overview of all semesters and modules
1. Semester
  • Research Methods in HCI
  • Interaction Design
  • Multimodal, Interactive Systems
  • Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) Project
  • Agile Project Management
  • Electives
2. Semester
  • Critical UX Reflections
  • Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications
  • Design Strategy and Management
  • Project
  • Electives
  • Mobile UX Prototyping
3. Semester
  • Master's Thesis incl. Master Thesis Seminar

Part-time and full-time curriculum

Interesting Facts

  1. Important information for Master’s applicants from India

    With immediate effect, applicants from India holding bachelor’s degrees in the fields of Engineering, Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics, or Business / Management must, in addition to the VDP from uni-assist, provide evidence of having taken the Digital Master Test (dMAT) aps-india.de/dmat/ in order to obtain an APS certificate or a visa. The test costs €150. Please check whether this applies to you based on your Bachelor’s degree. THI does not answer any questions regarding the test procedure or its impact on an offer of admission from our university! 

  2. Please note the following for international shipments from outside the EU/EEC

    THI charges tuition fees of 1,200 euros per semester (Master’s programmes). We are committed to providing our students with the best possible conditions to develop their skills and personalities for the working world of the future. At our International Welcome Centre, you will find excellent services and support. Our degree programmes offer the best possible study conditions.  

  3. Important notice on application agencies

    THI does not work with agencies. Please apply directly to THI via the uni-assist application portal for international applicants. THI never asks for money via agencies for application purposes and only sends emails from @thi.de. THI will never ask for money before you receive your letter of admission. If you require a VPD from uni-assist, you must pay a processing fee to uni-assist. However, uni-assist only checks certain documents and does not grant admission to THI.

Requirements

  • A Bachelor's degree with either 210 ECTS credits or 180 ECTS credits plus proof of compensation for the missing skills is required.
  • The detailed „study and examination regulations“ of our Master on User Experience Design (UXD) can be found linked on this page - in Art. 3 the qualification requirements are described in detail, in Art. 4 our assessment test (with regard to programming interactive systems, interaction design and practical experience) is described.
  • For application, we ask for a copy of the degree certification as well as of the transcript of records/grade sheet. Provisional certificates and transcripts as available are accepted. However, in case of admission the final certificate must be shown at registration/enrollment.
  • Please follow the link to master application from abroad for detailled information.

In addition, we ask for sufficient English language skills, documented by a certification of level B2 (until enrollment). The proof is not required provided the university entrance qualification certificate (certification of secondary school) or the Bachelor's degree was acquired in English or the applicant possesses the citizenship of a country in which English is the native language.

FAQ

I have completed my Bachelor in another field, am I still eligible for UXD-Master?

Please check on your own if your Bachelor is listed in Art. 3 in the SPO: “engineering discipline, interaction design, computer science or subjects related to these fields”. We'd like to point out that without programming AND design competence (both basic-to-advanced; obtained either in your first degree or outside in practical work) you are not eligible for admission.

What experience/modules should I mention in the curricular analysis?

Please check for yourself whether your Bachelor degree program or qualification meets the requirements according to the statutes on the aptitude test (version dated 19.02.2024), Art. 1(2).

We would like to point out that you cannot be admitted without programming AND design skills (both basic to advanced; either acquired in your first degree or outside in practical work) as well as practical professional experience.

How does the assessment test work? Does it include an interview?

The aptitude test procedure is described in detail in the corresponding statutes (Statutes on the aptitude test, version 19.02.2024).
If you fulfill the application requirements (according to Art. 1(2) and Art. 5) and submit your complete application, this application will be reviewed by two professors based on the criteria defined in Art. 5(2)b. This assessment will be based solely on your submitted application documents. An (additional) examination or interview will not take place.

I have not reached the full 210 ECTS required in my Bachelor. Can I still apply?

Please check the study and examination regulations: In Art. 3 (4) you will find detailed regulations for Bachelor's degrees with less than 210 ECTS credit points: "Applicants who can prove that they have completed a university degree or an equivalent degree for which less than 210 ECTS but at least 180 ECTS credit points have been awarded may be admitted with the approval of the examination board if proof of compensation for the missing competences is provided with the application for admission."

The various options for providing this proof are described in detail in Art. 3 (4) a) and b).

Is this a programme that I can study part-time?

The UXD Master's program is offered both full-time (standard duration of three semesters) and part-time (standard duration of six semesters) - you choose one of these modes at the time of enrollment. In the part-time program, the workload per semester is reduced to about 15 ECTS, and efforts are made to limit classroom time to two weekdays (not guaranteed). The part-time program is also conducted in-person, without any online component. 

 

My Bachelor programme was already held in English. Do I still need to prove my langugage skills?

If you studied an English bachelor no additional certificate for your English language skills is required.

What if my application gets rejected?

If your application for the UXD Master was not successful, then we most likely have received significantly more qualified applications for the UXD Master than there are available places for this programme. Therefore we had to prioritize the incoming applications (based on method which is described in the "study and examination regulations" of the UXD master). 

Due to data protection reasons, the academic advisor cannot have a detailed look at your application documents, so we can only answer your request in general here. If the application attains the result "rejected", the applicant will be permitted to reapply at a later date, at the earliest in the following year.

Questions

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about applications, admission, enrolment, student finance, accommodation or other general topics? If so, please use our contact form and select the relevant topic. This will ensure your enquiry is sent directly to the relevant contact person(s) and can be answered quickly and effectively.

People

Academic Director and Academic Advisor

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