Digital technologies play a significant role in all areas of everyday life. Modern societies need professionals with a thorough understanding of how to design and develop user-friendly interactive products and engaging ways to interact with various technological devices.
User Experience Design (M. Sc.)
Master of Science (M. Sc.)
3 Semester
Summer & Winter
Yes
Yes
Yes
English
Contents
In the master program User Experience Design, students will gain up to date knowledge on interaction design, human factors & ergonomics, as well as multimodal and multisensory human-computer interaction. Audio/video processing and game design, interface solutions for augmented/virtual reality are also part of the program as are design strategy and management. In a broader context, graduates are skilled for scientific thinking and writing and are enabled to participate in or manage complex projects.
They have further developed the intercultural and communicative competencies required for an international context.
Curriculum
1. Semester
Research Methods in HCI (incl. HFSE)
Interaction Design
Programming for Multimodal, Interactive Systems
Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) Project
Agile Project Management
Individual Electives
2. Semester
Audio/Video Processing and 3D-Animation
Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications
Design Strategy and Management
Project
Individual Electives
3. Semester
Master's Thesis incl. Master Thesis Seminar
Quick Info
Applying for a degree course
The programme starts in summer term (March 15th) as well as in winter term (October 1st).
Application periods
November 15th – January 15th in case of admission for the summer term;
May 2nd – July 15th in case of admission for the winter term;
Requirements
- A Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline with either 210 ECTS credit points is required.
- The detailed „study and examination regulations“ of our Master on User Experience Design (UXD) can be found here: Study and Exam Regulations Master UXD (pdf) - 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 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.
We do not require a formal proof or documentation of English language skills (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS). Note that the study programme is offered completely in English, therefore sufficient knowledge of the English language is vital. There is no requirement to formally prove German language skills for your admission. You may start with little or no German language proficiency.
For daily life and for many (student) jobs, however, German is still a necessary key qualification and prerequisite. Even the best degree will hardly help you later on if you don't speak German well. That's why we not only provide you with the best possible support in your studies, but also offer a variety of German courses to help you learn German quickly and well. The transition from your home country to the German university system and everyday life will be easier for you the more German you know. In addition, knowledge of German will greatly increase your chances of getting a student job or an internship in a German company.
THI does not run any student housing – neither on-campus nor off-campus – and therefore cannot provide you with accommodation. Below is a link, which helps finding accommodation in Ingolstadt.
Our International office / counselling is established especially for the international academic programmes. The International Office provides an all-round service to help you with all necessary prearrangements for the organization of your study and everyday life in Ingolstadt.
The Master UXD-programme is part of the German Academic Exchange Service: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/international-programmes/en/detail/6140/
A UX designer provides the link between product development, IT, design, ergonomics and marketing. As such, the job can involve the following (word cloud):
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 tests, product conception, project management, etc.
FAQs
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.
In section 2a of the curricular analysis you enter all modules in computer science which you have completed during your studies. If you have not completed courses in some of the mentioned areas, simply leave the corresponding lines blank. In area 2b, the design subjects are assigned in a similar way. Practical work experience has to be entered in section 2c and converted accordingly (25 hours correspond to 1 ECTS). In area 2d you can enter further competencies.
The assessment test is described in detail in Art. 4: If you fulfill the application requirements (according to Art. 3) and submit your complete application (1), this application will be checked by two professors (2) on the basis of the criteria defined in (3). As a result, the assessment test is performed on the basis of your application – not on the basis of an exam / an interview / anything else.
Please check the SPO/study and exam regulations: In Art. 3 (4) you will find detailed regulations for bachelors with less than 210 ECTS credit points: "Applicants who are able to provide evidence of a completed university course of study or equivalent degree qualification for which less than 210 ECTS but at least 180 ECTS credit points have been awarded may be admitted with the consent of the Examination Commission if evidence of compensation for the respective missing skills is provided with the application for admission." - the different possibilities for providing this evidence are described in detail in Art. 3 (4) a) and b).
If it is not possible for you to significantly reduce your workload for 18 months, we would recommend a part-time study programme (unfortunately, at THI we do not offer this option for the UXD Master at the moment). At THI you must complete your UXD master's degree after five semesters at the latest!
If you studied an English bachelor no additional certificate for your English language skills is required.
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.
Academic Director
Prof. Dr. techn. Priv.-Doz. Andreas Riener
Phone: +49 841 9348-2833
Room: B210
E-Mail: Andreas.Riener@thi.de
Academic Advisor
Prof. Dr. Simon Nestler
Phone: +49 841 9348-2727
Room: B203
E-Mail: Simon.Nestler@thi.de
Module Handbook
The course description contains information on prerequisites, contents, learning outcomes, ECTS points, duration, work load, literature, references of the offered modules and lectures.
Study and Examination Regulations
Study and examination regulations (SPO) (German and English versions) deal with judicial matters concerning your study course. For more information please turn to the pages of the legal department for statutes of this course.
For any questions on requirements, exams regulations and more, please turn to the Service Center Study Affairs.