User Experience Design MSc
- Games and digital media
- Computing and information systems
- Postgraduate
Embrace the career opportunities emerging from the trend towards 'online everything, anytime, anywhere, anyhow' with the User Experience Design MSc from Kingston University. This course was developed in consultation with our industry panel, which includes Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, DreamWorks and Samsung Design Europe.
Gain the skills you need to improve a user’s journey through a product or service
You will graduate with an online professional presence and a portfolio that displays your skills.
Our User Experience Design MSc course will prepare you for a career as a usability engineer, user researcher, user experience designer or general "UX-er".
To support delivery of this course, we created Digital Media Kingston. This collaboration between the School of Computing and Information Systems and the School of Design provides the multidisciplinary perspective needed to accommodate students with backgrounds in art and design, computer science and the humanities.
This course includes the following features, intended to maintain academic standards and ease the transition from university study to commercial practice:
- project-based teaching and learning
- talks on principles and methods, and guided practical workshops support the development of UX practice
- in-class presentations and workshops, and discussions encouraging collaboration
- coursework topics tailored to development of your portfolio and destination
- balanced consideration of research, design, prototyping and evaluation in the context of project management
- a broad coverage of UX issues that covers mobile, desktop and other devices (Internet of Things)
- user performance and experiential criteria (from utility and efficiency to engagement, persuasion and brand perception)
- key topics of user journeys, design thinking, usability testing
- possibility of dovetailing study and work via externally hosted projects, placements and start-ups
Why choose this course
Online services increasingly pervade all aspects of everyday life. User experience is recognised as a key element in the differentiation and success of these services.
The trend towards 'online everything, anytime, anywhere, anyhow' seems set to continue. New computing and communications technologies are in the pipeline, online businesses are growing, and digital content is accumulating.
The User Experience Design MSc course will equip you with the behavioural theory, design practice and technology know-how necessary for a career improving user experiences through design. The course focuses upon the analysis, design, prototyping and evaluation of multimedia, multi-modal, and multi-platform user interfaces that are easy to use and support a great user experience.
Each taught module will guide you through a UX project. For example, to optimise an interaction, innovate a digital lifestyle, apply emerging technology in a persuasive way, or to collaborate on the development of virtual reality.
In the majority of modules, you will select your own coursework topic and project strategy in consultation with staff, with reference to your existing skills, portfolio and intended destination. In the digital studio practice module, you will be assigned to a multi-disciplinary group, and asked to respond to a set creative brief.
You will then undertake a final 'capstone' project to complete your portfolio.
International Success Support Scholarship
If you are an international student, you may be eligible for a £2,500 International Success Support Scholarship for this course, for September 2026 start only.
Accreditation
The British Computer Society (BCS) accredits this course. This means you can gain some exemption against BCS professional examinations, leading to Chartered membership and CEng, IEng or CSci status.
Please note: the programme delivered at our partner institution is not currently accredited by the BCS.
Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by BCS. An accredited degree entitles you to professional membership of BCS, which is an important part of the criteria for achieving Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status through the Institute. Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords. This degree is pending re-accreditation by BCS for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
This degree is pending re-accreditation by BCS, on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Course content
This programme will give you the following opportunities:
- Take the role of a user experience (UX) designer/analyst in an interdisciplinary team of students from across the Digital Media Kingston programme, and use industry-standard techniques to deliver on time.
- Learn about fundamental User Experience activities - analysis, design, prototyping and evaluation - in the context of practical projects. Projects are selected in consultation with students (and mostly individually), so that you can tailor your degree towards the industry sector, technology or job role that suits your interests and ambitions.
- Consider user experience in relation to cutting-edge technologies (big screens, tablets, smartphones, context-aware embedded devices and multi-modal games console), current industry trends (big data, multi-channel services, digital lifestyles), and contemporary theory (cognition 'in the wild', usability vs experience).
- Explore at least one kind of specialist practice in depth, to further distinguish and focus your learning, and practice track record.
- Learn how to present yourself to potential employers through your online professional presence and portfolio.
- Work with industrial hosts, and research-active academics to produce excellent, professional pieces of work that push the boundaries of current understanding and achieve design innovation.
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
The course comprises four taught modules and a final project.
Work placement scheme
Many postgraduate courses at Kingston University enable students to take the option of a 12-month work placement as part of their course. Although the University supports students in finding a placement and organises events to meet potential employers, the responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. You may find securing a professional placement difficult as they are highly competitive and challenging, but they are also incredibly rewarding. It is very important to prepare and apply yourself if this is the route you wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route visa.
Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
Year 1
Core modules
Optional placement year
Work placement scheme
Many postgraduate courses at Kingston University allow students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the work placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route visa.
Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
Final project (June to September)
Core modules
Career opportunities
Graduates of this course go on to work in roles such as:
- User Experience Designer
- User Experience Researcher
- Product owner
- Usability Consultant
- Interaction Designer
- Information Architect
- Content Strategist
You can find out more about UX careers by asking to join the User Experience course LinkedIn group.
Teaching and assessment
Mock-ups, functional prototypes, demos, videos, presentations, design documents, essays.
All taught modules are project-based and assessed by practical coursework. Typically, this involves an in-class presentation for formative feedback mid-way through a teaching-block ('term'), followed by project deliverables at the end of term i.e. as appropriate, project proposals and strategies, personas, user journeys, task models, style guides, low-fi/mid-fi/hi-fi prototypes, and evaluation reports. Project deliverables are typically accompanied by a design report, which relates project processes and decision-making, and/or explains the final design.
In the majority of modules, the coursework topic and project strategy are selected by students, in consultation with module staff and in the light of the student's existing skills, portfolio and intended destination. In the digital studio practice module, students are assigned to a multi-disciplinary groups, and asked to respond to a set creative brief.
Fees and funding
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Fees for future course years
Part time
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.
If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. Find out more through the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying User Experience Design MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
International Success Support Scholarship
The International Success Support Scholarship provides £2,500 towards tuition fees if you are an international student starting in January or September 2026 on this course or selected others. Eligible postgraduate students receive the award in their first year, helping to support their academic journey from day one.
You don’t need to apply separately. If you’re eligible, the scholarship will automatically be applied to your tuition fee invoice, empowering you to focus on achieving your goals at Kingston University.
For more details, please visit the International scholarships page.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
If the postgraduate admissions tutor requires further information or wishes to invite you to further assessment by interview they will contact you directly. You will then hear whether your application has been successful.
If you do not clearly meet the standard entry requirements and the admission tutor wishes to see a portfolio from you, you will be sent an email asking you to upload your portfolio to your Kingston University OSIS account. Further details on how to do this will be provided at the time.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
The course itself was a good balance of theory and practice whilst encouraging independent studies. As a student who was also working part time, I was given the space to pursue a dissertation inspired by my employer, which ultimately led me to a permanent position after receiving my degree.
Understanding methodologies such as design thinking during my time at Kingston has helped me throughout my career as a product manager.
By having a comprehensive knowledge of user experience of both research and design, I am able to lead and collaborate effectively with designers and researchers in my organisation and have no trouble leading my own usability testing sessions!
