MA User Experience Design
iN Hamburg
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ACADEMIC PARTNER
University for the Creative Arts is a specialist creative institution dedicated to art, design, fashion, media, and creative business disciplines. With campuses across the south of England, it is highly industry-focused and known for producing graduates in the creative industries.
Overall ranking: placed 100th in the Guardian University Guide 2026, with strong performance in student satisfaction (80.1%), feedback quality (78.8%), and solid graduate outcomes in creative sectors. UCA is one of the UK’s leading specialist creative universities, particularly recognised for fashion, animation, and design-related programmes
KEY FACTS
LOCATIONS
Hamburg, Germany
DURATION
18 Months
PRICE**
€13,920 (International and EU)
FORMAT
On-campus
CERTIFIED BY
University for the Creative Arts
MODE OF STUDY
Full-time
LANGUAGE
English
INTAKES*
February, May, October
*Intakes are subject to change
** Discounts upto 40% available, see all pricing and fees
The School’s admissions process is subject to the Consumer Contracts (Terms and Conditions). Information on your Right of Withdrawal and our Refund Policy can be found in the BSBI study agreement.
SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS PROGRAMME BY APPLYING TODAY.
FIND OUT HOW TO APPLY HERE
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
In a fast-changing world, how do we live together and how can design be part of that? UCA’s MA User Experience Design course equips you with the skills and competencies to help you become a research-led, interdisciplinary, and human-centred designer, ready for advanced practice or study and the challenges and opportunities of the future.
The MA User Experience Design will help you develop skills and competencies in the analytic, creative, and technical aspects of user experience, rigorous research methods, and a critical, collaborative approach. The course is based in dedicated studios and taught through broad projects that connect you with other postgrad students or partners in industry and wider society, helping you to build essential professional teamwork and project management skills, as well as a socially and environmentally relevant portfolio.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAMME FOR
The MA User Experience (UX) Design course is ideal for individuals who are passionate about creating seamless and impactful digital experiences.
This programme is well-suited for:
- Design Enthusiasts: If you have a genuine interest in design principles, user interfaces, and creating engaging digital interactions, the MA User Experience Design course is for you.
- Communication and Media Professionals: Professionals working in communication and media industries, including marketing, advertising, and public relations, can benefit from gaining expertise in user experience design.
- Tech and IT Professionals: Individuals with a background in technology or information technology who want to expand their skill set into the design and user experience realm will find this course valuable.
- Graduates in Design or Related Fields: Recent graduates with a background in design, graphic design, or related fields can further enhance their skill set and marketability by specialising in user experience design.
- Inquisitive Minds: If you are curious about how people interact with digital interfaces and are eager to create positive user experiences, this course is tailored for individuals with inquisitive minds who want to explore the intricacies of user-centric design.
WHAT WILL THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE?
Amidst a rapidly changing world, the MA User Experience Design programme at BSBI is your gateway to becoming a research-driven, interdisciplinary, and human-centric designer. Here, you’ll explore how people experience and interact with designed products, services, systems, and spaces.
Our students collaborate to challenge and redefine their understanding of user experience, fostering global creative networks. This MA equips you with analytical, creative, and technical skills, emphasising rigorous research methods and a critical, collaborative approach. You’ll work on diverse projects, connecting with peers and industry partners to develop vital teamwork and project management skills while creating a socially and environmentally relevant portfolio.
Your journey will be personalised, following four key principles: practice-led, professionally contextualised, critical examination of industry opportunities and threats, and a deep dive into historical and contemporary frameworks for insights into the industry’s future.
WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS PROGRAMME
Our MA User Experience Design programme offers a specialist focus and practical application to elevate your skills, preparing you for career advancement or even doctoral study.
Why Choose MA User Experience Design Direct?
Our programme is tailored to provide you with a specialised skill set, directly applicable to your work. Whether you’re eyeing career progression or contemplating doctoral study, our curriculum is closely aligned with industry practices, ensuring you stay at the forefront of UX design.
Fuel your passion for communication by unleashing your individual technical and conceptual potential. Our programme is designed to empower you, allowing you to explore and excel in the dynamic field of UX design.
Demonstrate a holistic approach to your work by showcasing critical thinking, practical skills, and a professional demeanour. We emphasise social perspectives, providing you with a well-rounded understanding to contextualise your practice within broader societal frameworks.
Gain a diverse range of industry experiences, knowledge, and skills that are directly applicable to a wide array of graduate careers in the communication industry. Be well-equipped to contribute to research activities at the doctoral level, opening doors to varied opportunities in your field.
Develop the ability to address complex issues systematically and creatively, making sound judgments. Our programme equips you with the skills to navigate and solve intricate challenges inherent in the ever-evolving landscape of UX design. Foster an independent learning ability, a crucial aspect of ongoing professional development. Our programme empowers you to take charge of your learning journey, ensuring you remain adaptable and resilient in a rapidly changing industry
REASONS TO STUDY THIS PROGRAMME
01
Defining Your Practice
You’ll explore creative practices in order to inform the detailed development of your project proposal later in the course. The unit aims to provide a structured framework to allow you to investigate the potential of methods, ideas and themes in your discipline as well as helping inform and locate your practice.
02
Context and Method
Through a series of lectures and seminars, you’ll actively engage in a range of current debates which provide cultural and intellectual context for the consideration of ideas in visual communication.
The programme addresses interdisciplinary issues through the discussion of theory and the consideration of specific design-led work and texts.
03
Project Development
In this unit, you will develop the themes and focus of your final project in the fields of illustration, graphic design, animation or visual communication. This will allow you to evaluate and test out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study. At this stage, the development of your project will be guided and questioned through tutorials, group critiques and presentations, which will support the progress of your work and provide rigorous critical appraisal from staff, peers and professional practitioners.
While encouraging the continued exploration and questioning of your ideas, you will continue the process of developing appropriate methods and strategies for your project’s realisation as you begin to work more independently as a researcher and practitioner, refining your research questions and the research methods you are using.
04
Realisation and Dissemination
You’ll apply knowledge and experience gained in previous units to the realisation of your final MA project – the culmination and consolidation of your studies in the form of a resolved piece, or body of work. It should show coherence and innovation at a professional level of resolution.
You’ll also be required to prepare a critical paper intended to reflect upon the specific practical outcome of the MA project, its interpretation and its success as a demonstration of your approach to creative practice through research.
programme structure
This 18-month (Level 7) User Experience (UX) Design MA consists of three terms of study and six months dedicated to your dissertation.
The first two terms include a range of lectures and seminars and you’ll start to explore your creative practice in order to inform the detailed development of your project proposal later in the course.
In the third term you begin developing your MA project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study.
The modules of this programme are offered and delivered 100% on campus.
Term 1
Research and Professional Contexts 1
Term 2
Research and Professional Contexts 2
Term 3
Major Project
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Profile
- Min age: 21
- Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
- Consideration will also be given to applicants with a minimum of 3 years relevant managerial experience, demonstrating an ability to study at postgraduate level.
- If you do not meet the academic requirements, you may be assessed based on 3 years of relevant work experience (illustration, animation, graphic design or general visual communication), demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.
- Computer Equipment : In recent developments of hybrid learning, we require each student to arrive equipped with a laptop. We, therefore, recommend the purchase of a design-friendly mobile laptop. Please click below to read more about the technical requirement. Technical Entry Requirement
English Proficiency
- IELTS: 6.0 overall TOEFL IBT: 80 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17). Pearson Test of English (PTE): 56 (with min 51 in each component). Duolingo English Test: 105+.
portfolio submission
- You are required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal. Before submitting your artwork, please have a look through the Portfolio Cookbook
- What is a Portfolio?
- Your portfolio is a collection of your best work. We want to see what inspires you, how you develop your work, your creative thinking processes, how and what you create and what makes you a unique creative individual.
- What Should My Portfolio Contain?
- Your portfolio might contain sketches and paintings, digital art and design. It might also contain sound work, short films.
- Upload up to 12 pieces of work which can include audio or video files.
- How Do I Submit My Portfolio?
- We’ll only be accepting portfolios digitally. You can do this once you’ve applied via our online submission system within the Applicant Portal.
- You can also link to external websites such as Vimeo and YouTube.
- Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided by our admissions team via our admissions portal once you have applied.
online application
- Create an account here
- Select the programme and intake you want to apply for
- Complete all sections of the online application
- Submit online application
- Our Admissions Team will liaise with you with regards to next steps
Edge Student Hub
Finding the perfect place to live while you study is crucial. BSBI has partnered with Edge Student Hub, to provide an accommodation package that ensures you have a comfortable from day one in Germany. Located just 45 minutes from central Berlin, the accommodation provides convenience and ease. Shared rooms start at €599 per month, with single rooms and shared apartments also available. Secure your ideal living arrangement and focus on your studies without any worries.
Bring a Friend and save €500!
If you have a friend who is also planning to study in Berlin, let your Accommodation Advisor know. You can receive a €500 discount on your final month’s rent for a shared room*. Please note that your friend must be enrolled at Gisma, BSBI, UE Germany, or Arden Berlin to qualify for this offer.
CAREER PROGRESSION
MA User Experience students armed with a solid foundation in UX principles and methodologies can start as UX designers or researchers in various industries. As they gain experience and expertise, they may advance into leadership roles such as UX managers, design directors, or product strategists, where they oversee teams and drive the strategic direction of user experience initiatives.
With the demand for UX talent on the rise, opportunities for advancement are plentiful, allowing individuals to carve out diverse and fulfilling career paths tailored to their interests and aspirations. Through ongoing skill refinement and a commitment to staying abreast of industry trends, MA UX alumni are well-equipped to thrive in this ever-evolving field, making meaningful contributions to the intersection of technology and human-centered design.
BSBI’s dedicated Careers Service helps user experience (UX) students and alumni reach their career goals and realise their potential. The Service offers specialised support and aims to build long-lasting relationships with local and national employers.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Innovation and Creative Exploration
Students will immerse themselves in the world of UX design by experimenting with innovative approaches, emerging technologies, and creative methodologies. The programme encourages continuous exploration and the development of original ideas, enabling students to create meaningful and engaging user experiences that respond to evolving industry needs.
Research and Design Practice
The programme develops advanced research and analytical skills through the exploration of contemporary UX design practices, industry trends, and user-centred methodologies. Students will learn to identify opportunities for investigation, select appropriate methods of inquiry, and establish a strong theoretical and practical foundation for their design work through critical evaluation and reflection.
Professional Communication and Project Development
Students will create high-quality UX design outcomes that demonstrate innovation, conceptual depth, and thoughtful execution. They will strengthen their ability to communicate ideas effectively through written assignments, multidisciplinary projects, and collaborative initiatives, while also developing critical frameworks for the research and development of start-up ventures and creative projects.
Ethical Awareness and Professional Growth
A strong emphasis is placed on understanding the ethical, social, and cultural contexts of UX design. Students will learn to think critically and responsibly about the environments in which their work is used, while developing the confidence to manage learning, exercise initiative, and make informed decisions in complex and unpredictable situations. These skills prepare graduates to make a positive impact within the UX design industry and the wider creative sector.
OUR NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Built from more than 2,800 student responses across BSBI campuses, the results reflect strong student satisfaction, support, and career-focused learning.
87%
overall student satisfaction
88%
feel BSBI provides a diverse and inclusive environment
90%+
satisfaction with career services
84%
would recommend BSBI
96%
satisfaction with enrolment support
400+
students secured jobs or internships in 2025
HOW TO APPLY
Apply for your enrolment today and secure your place at BSBI.
Speak with an expert and plan your academic future at BSBI.
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