Semester One [Sept-Jan]
- User Research (10 ECTS)
- Interaction Design (10 ECTS)
- Psychology of UX Design (5 ECTS)
- Critical Research (5 ECTS)
DL936-MA/MSc User Experience
Design
User Experience (UX) Design is the process of designing the experience a user has with a product, service or system, with the primary focus of making it easy and accessible, useful and enjoyable and hopefully beautiful.
IADT’s MA/MSc in User Experience Design provides learners with an advanced understanding of user needs, emerging technologies and the principles of effective experience design. This programme builds on over a decade of IADT’s recognised expertise and strong graduate record in UX education.
This full-time 18-month Master’s programme develops the research, design and analytical skills required to work in UX practice today. Through studio-based teaching, applied research and hands-on testing, you will learn to design human-centred solutions grounded in evidence, creativity and critical insight.
Students complete a shared 30 ECTS Semester 1 (Sept–Jan) before selecting the MA (design-led) or MSc (science and evidence led) pathway for Semester 2 (Jan–Apr) and the Major Research Project for Semester 3 (Sept–Jan).
Why do this course?
- Develop advanced UX skills: user research, interaction design, prototyping, testing and evaluation
- Learn from an interdisciplinary team with experience in design, psychology, computing, universal and inclusive design
- Study on-campus in dedicated studios, labs and collaborative workspaces that reflect IADT’s strong design-school teaching mode
- Engage with industry and alumni working across UX, inclusive design and future-focused design innovation
- Explore emerging areas including AI, novel interfaces and speculative futures
Build a professional UX research or design portfolio to support your career progression
What is the course about?
This programme provides a comprehensive grounding in user experience design. You will examine how people interact with products and technologies, learn to investigate and frame complex problems, and develop design concepts informed by research, creativity and analysis.
Teaching combines lectures, workshops, critiques and applied studio projects. You will work iteratively, receiving regular formative feedback to support your development.
All students complete a shared 30 ECTS Semester 1 before choosing the MA or MSc route for Semester 2 and the Major Research Project.
Choosing the MA or MSc Pathway
The MA and MSc share the same foundational curriculum in Semester 1. From Semester 2 onwards, the awards diverge through different Research Proposal modules and different orientations in the Major Research Project.
MA in User Experience Design
A design-led, practice-based pathway suitable for students who wish to pursue applied, exploratory and creative UX investigations.
- Emphasis on design research, creative inquiry and reflective practice
- Major Research Project centres on design investigations, prototyping and applied artefacts
- Ideal for applicants from design, visual communication or creative media backgrounds
- MA students present their Major Research Project at the IADT Graduate Exhibition (OnShow)
MSc in User Experience Design
A science and evidence led pathway suitable for students who wish to undertake structured empirical research.
- Emphasis on hypothesis-driven inquiry, testing and data-led evaluation
- Major Research Project focuses on experimental design, usability studies and analytical depth
- Ideal for applicants from computing, psychology, engineering, HCI or technical fields
Students select their pathway of MA or MSc after Semester 1 and before Semester 2 begins.
Summary of Differences
| User Experience Design | MA | MSc |
| Research approach | Practice-led, design inquiry | Scientific, empirical, data-driven |
| Research Proposal (5 ECTS) |
Design-focused | Science-focused |
| Major Research Project (30 ECTS) | Applied design investigation | Experimental or analytical study |
| Typical Backgrounds | Design, media | Psychology, computing, engineering |
| Typical graduate roles | UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Product Designer, Design Researcher | UX Researcher, Usability Specialist, UX Analyst, HCI Researcher |
What will I do?
You will work across research, design, prototyping and evaluation.
Activities include:
- Conducting primary and secondary user research
- Mapping journeys, systems and problem spaces
- Designing interactive prototypes and interfaces
- Exploring emerging technologies and speculative design futures
- Applying principles of inclusive and accessible design
- Planning and executing UX tests and evaluations
- Completing a substantial 30 ECTS Major Research Project (MA or MSc)
What modules will I study?
Programme Duration and Weekly Structure
Full-time programmes in IADT run across three 15-week semesters, each with:
- 12 teaching weeks
- 3 assessment/reflection weeks
- Summer independent research period between Semesters 2 and 3
Fixed weekly timetable across all semesters
- Tuesday 14.00-17.15 (incl. 15 min break)
- Weds 14.00-17.15 (incl. 15 min break)
- Thursday 14.00-17.15 (incl. 15 min break)
Semester 1
| Week Range | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| Weeks 1–12 | User Research | Interaction Design | Psychology of UX; Critical Research |
Semester 2
| Week Range | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| Weeks 1–12 | Universal and Inclusive Design | Speculative Design for Sustainable Futures | UX of Emerging Technologies; Research Proposal (MA or MSc) |
Semester 3
| Week Range | Activity |
| Weeks 1–3 | Topic refinement; methods; supervisor meetings |
| Weeks 4–7 | Data collection; prototyping; experiments |
| Weeks 8–10 | Analysis; synthesis; draft writing |
| Weeks 11–12 | Final Submission; MA exhibition preparation |
Hear from our students & lecturers
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