User Experience Design MSc (PGCert PGDip)
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Overview
As more and more devices now have interactive capability, there is a growing need for designers who can harness these new possibilities, creating interactive products that are engaging to use.
Our User Experience Design MSc equips students with the skills required to design, create and manage interactive and multimedia content across different digital platforms.
It is suitable for designers and software developers wishing to deepen their knowledge and practice in user-centred design and usability evaluation of software enabled products. This may be software running on a desktop computer, PDA or mobile phone, or physical products with software enabled functionality. For good interaction design the interface must not only be effective and efficient, but increasingly should also be enjoyable and even pleasurable to use. This should be the case for users with a range of capacities operating in differing contexts. These are challenging goals!
The course enables students to: apply their knowledge and interaction design skills to novel interaction paradigms; make effective use of a broad range of design methods; obtain in-depth knowledge of developments in mobile, ubiquitous or wearable systems; and understand the commercial contexts in which interaction design takes place. There is lots of scope for students to follow their own interests within the course structure.
Course duration
Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years
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Course content
Course structure
The course is flexible and can be studied full-time or part-time. The taught part of the course consists of a number of core and optional modules.
For full-time students the academic year is divided into three 15-week semesters. The taught element of the course is delivered during the first two semesters. Modules involve approximately 20 per cent classroom teaching and 80 per cent individual or group work. A full-time student is expected to put in 40 hours effort per week. The major project occupies the third semester.
Part-time students study alongside full-time students with a minimum attendance of one half day per week (depending on the number of modules taken).
At the end of the taught element there is the possibility of a placement with a digital media company for the major project module. This puts real experience on your CV as you consolidate your expertise.
Modules can be taken towards an award or as single modules for professional development.
Areas of study
Taught modules cover subjects needed to understand the industry. The elective module options include evaluation of the usability of interactive artefacts, studies into the principles behind the implementation and realisation of commercial gains from innovation, and independent research and portfolio projects.
Syllabus
New Media Applications Development
Interactive Design and Evaluation Process
Interface and Information Design
Research Methods
Project Management
Major ProjectOptions including:
Digital Television Technology and Implementation
Marketing for Interactive Technologies
Interactive Technologies Business Context
Intellectual Property Law
Web Development
Creative Design Lab
(Not all options may be offered each year)
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Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements
individual offers may varyFor non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in writing.Degree and/or experience:
Normally, a good honours degree in a relevant discipline, ie those including substantial elements of computing, psychology, information design or product design. For appropriate candidates without an honours degree, entry to the course will normally involve an interview. -
Location
Location
Moulsecoomb -
Career opportunities
Graduates of the course will be able to work as commercial interaction designers on both software and software-enabled physical products. Additionally this may be the starting point for a research career in human-centred interaction design.
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Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.
The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.
To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.
Our website wwww.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.
User Experience Design (MSc) (Full time) [J4BH025] UK/EU (Full Time) 4,320 GBP Island Students (Full Time) 8,925 GBP International (Full Time) 12,750 GBP -
Apply online
You should not apply unless you can meet all the entry requirements for this course. Please contact the course team before applying if you are unsure about any of the specific entry requirements.
Entry requirements
For non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in writing.Degree and/or experience:
Normally, a good honours degree in a relevant discipline, ie those including substantial elements of computing, psychology, information design or product design. For appropriate candidates without an honours degree, entry to the course will normally involve an interview.