(PG Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma))MSc Human-Computer Interaction (Online)

Please note: this programme will no longer be running for the 2024/25 admissions cycle, but is expected to run again in 2025/26. The programme finder for 2025/26 will go live by October 2024.

Designing interactive products and services to support our increasingly digital lives requires a deep understanding of human capabilities, contexts and values; an appreciation of current and future directions in interface technology design; and an understanding of how design can bridge the gap from possibility to reality. This online MSc in Human-Computer Interaction meets these needs by training skilled Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) specialists who can apply and advocate for a human-centred approach to technology design, evaluation and research. As a graduate of this programme, you will possess a detailed understanding of HCI theories, frameworks and methods. You will also have communication and creative problem-solving skills of value in a variety of roles in the User Experience (UX) industry.

The programme has been designed to support applicants in mid-career roles who wish to transition into a position in the UX industry, and new graduates who wish to gain a master’s degree in HCI remotely.

Teaching will be delivered online and largely synchronously through live lectures, labs and seminars by world-leading researchers and educators based in the Bristol Interaction Group. Recordings of live lectures will also be made available.

This MSc will provide you with opportunities to develop:

• A thorough grasp of key concepts and methodologies that underpin HCI, including principles of design, human factors, accessibility and inclusion, usability, human-AI interaction, and user experience;
• Flexible and sound judgement in how to design and evaluate interactive technologies for human use;
• The practical skills required to advocate for, manage, deliver and communicate human-focused projects in both academic and professional settings;
• The ability to apply user interface design and user experience research methods;
• Knowledge and understanding of theories of human factors, cognition, behaviour, social interaction and user experience in the context of technology use, including an appreciation for the historical and socio-cultural impacts of HCI;
• Reflective practice, encouraging you to critically evaluate your own work and that of others, acknowledging the personal, social, economic, cultural, environmental, and ethical aspects that may influence HCI and adoption;
• A critical engagement with the state-of-the-art in HCI research in both academia and industry;
• Skills that will prepare you to be part of the next generation of leaders in the HCI industry. These will include project management, team collaboration, responsible innovation, problem-solving, ideation, and research translation.

By pursuing this programme, you will not only advance your understanding of HCI but you’ll develop a professional identity as a HCI practitioner, contributing thoughtfully and effectively to a field that continues to shape the future.

Please note, a one-year full-time version of the MSc will be available to take from September 2025.

An upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in Computer Science, Psychology, Social Sciences, Design, Engineering, Philosophy, Health Sciences, Business. Applications from other degree backgrounds will also be considered and will need to demonstrate relevant experience. We will consider applicants whose interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements. We may make these applicants an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so the applicant would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of their degree. Specific module requirements may still apply.

We will consider applicants whose grades are slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements, if they have at least one of the following:

• evidence of significant, relevant work experience with a minimum of 6 months in one the following roles: UX Researcher/Designer/Writer, Human Factors/Ergonomics Engineer/Consultant, Market Researcher, IT Consultant, Software Developer, Product Owner, Project Manager, Web/Industrial/Graphic Designer;
• a relevant postgraduate qualification.

If this is the case, applicants should include their CV (curriculum vitae/résumé) when they apply, showing details of their relevant work experience and/or qualifications.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.