User Experience Design MSc



The MSc User Experience Design programme examines how people interact with technology in the 21st Century.

Overview

User Experience is now a dominant specialism in nearly every industry. Here at Edinburgh Napier, we are the top UK Modern University for Computer Science (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023), 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. 

This programme is aimed at those from a variety of backgrounds wishing to convert their skills to the area of User Experience Design. This course will give you an excellent grounding in methods, approaches, and design techniques ready for industry.  For those with an interest in a software or web applications development, you may wish to check our MSc Computing routes.

Typical entry points to this course are in January and September. Please enquire for more information.

 

Mode of Study:

Full-time (available as Part-time)

Duration:

1 years

Start date:

SepJan

Course details

This full-time course will take up to 1 year (18 months if you are a January start) 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. 


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    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. 
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    Assessments

    The course is assessed through project work, written reports, or essays. Assessments afford the opportunity for you to drive your personal progression.
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    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.

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for User Experience?

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.]

Can I get admission into User Experience based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the Postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

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). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

International students
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on 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.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

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 2024/25 2025/26
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £7,280
Overseas and EU £20,395
Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please read our full T&C here
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.
View Tuition Fees for 2025/26

Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

Design studio

What can you do with MSc User Experience (UX) Design degree? 

In our innovative programme, you'll learn to place the user at the center of the design process, mastering the skills needed to create intuitive and engaging digital experiences that delight users and drive business success. From conducting user research to prototyping and usability testing, you'll gain a deep understanding of the principles and practices of UX design. User experience design courses equip students with the skills required for a successful career in the following fields:

  • 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
You will study the latest methodologies and tools in UX design, gain practical experience through hands-on projects and industry collaborations. As you explore topics such as information architecture, interaction design, and user interface prototyping, you'll acquire the expertise sought after by top companies and design agencies.

You'll emerge as a highly skilled UX designer, ready to tackle the challenges of designing innovative digital products and services that meet the needs of users and exceed their expectations. Whether you dream of working in tech startups, digital agencies, or corporate innovation labs, our programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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.

From wireframing and prototyping to conducting usability testing, you will be working alongside designers, developers, and stakeholders to create user-centric experiences. Whether you're designing mobile apps, websites, or software interfaces, your focus will be on creating experiences that are not only visually appealing but also intuitive and accessible to a diverse audience.

As a UX Designer, you'll have the power to shape the way people interact with technology, making complex systems feel simple and intuitive. Your passion for understanding user behavior and solving design challenges will drive you to create experiences that leave a lasting impression, fostering loyalty and engagement among users.

Student with VR Set