MSc Human-Centred Interactive Technologies
Prepare for a career in interdisciplinary, collaborative teams in user experience design and research industries.
Year of entry: 2027 (September)
This is a highly innovative degree which will equip you for a career in industry and research in our increasingly digitised and connected world.
This course is designed for those with a background in computer science or a related human computer interaction discipline such as design, information technology or psychology. The course will provide industry relevant practical skills in iterative, user-centred research methods, and principles underpinning the design and evaluation of user experiences (UX) with interactive technologies.
The course will ensure you develop skills and expertise in gaining deep, human-centred, understanding of users across a range of contexts, where you will learn how to use qualitative and quantitative research techniques drawn from the diverse fields of psychology, computer science, sociology, and beyond. By the end of the programme, you will be able to elicit and analyse the goals and capabilities of potential users, propose inclusive, ethical design solutions for interactive technologies, and evaluate the quality of user experiences with designs applied for a range of purposes: all skills in demand in modern, UX related careers.
The course is also suitable if you are considering a research-focused career in academia or industry, as it provides breadth in an expanding and thriving research field, and the opportunity to specialise in particular areas through an independent research project.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional - CITP Further Learning.
It is also accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.
Find out more about what this professional accreditation means.
Course content
On the course you will undertake core modules comprising a mixture of lectures, practical classes, and seminars, plus a significant amount of personal study time.
Following the modules, you will undertake a six-month individual study module with assessed dissertation.
Modules
Core modules
- Research Methods in Computer Science
- Interaction Design and Evaluation
- Qualitative Approaches to Investigating UX
- Professional and Academic Development
- Human Factors: Technology in Context
- Player Experiences in Digital Games
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Final project
Work on your individual project will start around the beginning of April, and you will receive regular one-to-one supervisions throughout your project.
You will continue to work on your individual project over the summer, and there will be continuing supervision and research-group meetings to discuss your project. You will finish the course when you hand in your dissertation and paper for your project in September.
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Evaluate interactive technologies and systems in terms of usability, accessibility and user-experience using a broad range of analytic, expert and user-based methods.
- Generate substantial quantitative and qualitative data relating to interactive systems by planning and executing focused empirical research of diverse users.
- Design interactive technologies by conceptualising designs and prototyping interactive systems based on detailed analyses of target user and other stakeholder data.
- Identify and implement the most effective and appropriate approaches to specific user-centred design and research by taking a pluralistic approach to emerging research, commercial ideas and disciplinary fields beyond Computer Science.
- Present complex HCI and UX information and data-supported arguments to technical and non-technical audiences, in an accessible and professional manner, using appropriate media.
- Contribute to high performance teams by taking responsibility for their work in the team structure, coordinating productively with others, and contributing to collective decision-making.
- Advocate and build consensus for high quality, moral and ethical design and operation of interactive technologies by using professional, ethical and legal frameworks and standards to guide their design and research practice, while aiming for the broadest inclusion of users based on individual needs and preferences.
- Read, understand and critique existing literature in HCI and UX for purposes of informing new research and practice to evolve and improve the field beyond the state-of-the-art.
The lecturers are all exceptional. They are very approachable and the group dynamic lends itself well to extending teaching beyond the classroom. Informal chats outside of class have helped me to put abstract ideas into focus and I have always felt that the lecturers treat us as peers rather than students.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £14,390 | £33,900 |
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Additional costs
There are unlikely to be any mandatory additional costs associated with the course, although you may want to set aside £200 for optional photocopying and personal stationery over the duration of the course.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2027/28 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Teaching and assessment
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Teaching format
Part of this course is taken up by taught modules. Each module comprises a mix of lectures, problem classes and practical classes, plus personal study time. In the second half of the course, you'll undertake an individual research project under the supervision of a member of staff.
Throughout the course you will have a personal tutor, who will provide academic and pastoral advice. When you undertake your individual project, you will be allocated a supervisor within your area of interest. The taught modules will take place in the first half of the course. You should expect to be working on open assessments during vacation periods.
Work on your individual project will start around the beginning of April, and you will receive regular one-to-one supervisions throughout your project. You will continue to work on your individual project over the summer, and there will be continuing supervision and research-group meetings to discuss your project. You will finish the course when you hand in your dissertation and paper for your project in September.
Due to the intensive nature of the course, you will need to be in York throughout both semesters and over the summer while you undertake your individual project.
Facilities
Built to the highest specifications in a modern, self-contained building, the Ian Wand Building houses professional grade software and hardware laboratories.
In addition we have specialist spaces used by our research teams and, depending on the topic of your research project, you may also use some of these environments.
Our study and social pod is open 24/7 for group and individual study. It can also be booked for student society meetings and for events.
Find out more about our facilities, including a video tour, showing our labs, teaching and research spaces.
Teaching location
Computer Science is based on Campus East. While much of the teaching on this course may take place in the Ian Wand Building, additional teaching will take place at other locations across across Campus East and Campus West.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment and feedback
All the modules you take will be assessed, and we employ a variety of forms of assessment. These include practical exercises, reports and closed examinations. Your project assessment will be made up of a dissertation.
Assessments take place at various times during the year. Closed examinations are taken in the three week assessment periods that follow each semester.
Practical exercises, reports and other forms of open assessment are typically issued towards the end of the teaching sessions of a module. Work for these assessments must be submitted by fixed deadlines normally well after the conclusion of the taught sessions.
Careers and skills
Graduates completing the course will be equipped to play leading and professional roles related to the design and evaluation of interactive technologies in industry, commerce, academia and public service. The MSc in Human-Centred Interactive Technologies is also intended to provide a route into a PhD or research in this rapidly expanding field.
Career opportunities
- User researcher
- UX consultant
- Games user researcher
- UX designer
- Information analyst
- PhD researcher
Transferable skills
- Communication with technical and non-technical audiences in both writing and oral presentations
- Project planning and delivery
- Collaboration and consensus building
- Ability to critique research and practice
- Decision making and problem solving
- Time management
Accelerate your professional network. We'll connect you with the guidance, industry links and experiences to help you stand out and find your career advantage.
Discussing my time at York and my MSc in my Capgemini interview was a definite advantage, as it put me a step ahead of the rest.
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Computer Science or an relevant discipline related to human-computer interaction, such as design, information technology or psychology, or equivalent industrial experience. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 60 with 52 in Listening, 53 in Reading, 65 in Speaking, and 59 in Writing |
| TOEFL | 4.5, with 5 in Listening and 4.5 in each other component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions
Discover York
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.