The Master's programme is aimed at you who want to develop future interactions between humans and IT. Through theoretical and practical elements, you will be prepared for exciting challenges within all contexts of interaction. The programme places high demands on independence and creativity and is characterised by collaborations with the surrounding society. At your disposal, well-equipped computer labs and a dedicated interaction design lab are available.
"The teachers treat you with respect and make your opinion matter"
The Master's programme in Human-Computer Interaction and Social Media is for students who want to help influence the way interaction between people and IT develops. The programme focuses on the analysis and design of interactions between people and IT across a wide spectrum of usage situations such as the workplace, where efficiency and usability is at the centre, to situations where user experience, generated by individual or collaboratively, is the main aspect.
As a student, you will encounter research areas such as design, interaction design, user experience design and social media, via both theoretical and practical courses. Whether you choose to read one or two years you will be well prepared for working in any context in which the interaction between humans and IT is in focus. The programme provides a clear structure with four informatics courses, but also flexibility through elective courses.
The programme places high demands on students in terms of independence, initiative and creativity. The studies are characterized by a pedagogy that emphasizes theory and practice as two equivalent elements and thereby prepares you for both a professional and an academic career. For developing your practical skills there are well-equipped computer labs available as well as a dedicated interaction design lab (including experimental electronics, 3D printer and laser cutter).
The programme is taught in English.
Informatics - Interior end equipment. Welcome!
After graduation, you are well prepared to work in all contexts where interaction between humans and IT is at center stage. This could consist of responsibilities related to understanding and developing usability and user experience of existing IT artifacts, evaluating implementations of these artifacts as well as participation in design and development of new artifacts.
Former students have after graduation received appointments such as:
Why should I choose the Master's programme in Human-Computer Interaction and Social Media in Umeå?
Umeå is rated as one of the top informatics departments in Sweden. The area of HCI has for a long time been a key research area at the department and several, internationally respected and influential, researchers work here.
As a student you will also have access to top facilities including a dedicated interaction design lab. You will also have access to the tutorial database Lynda.com for further developing your skills.
It is also worth mentioning that Umeå is a hospitable city with almost 30 000 students, a quarter of the total population.
How can I find a place to live?
Initially it is often tricky for students to find a place to live, but after a while things tend to work out. Click this link to get started with finding your place:
How do I study?
There are four main courses on the programme (15 credits each) that all include guest lectures, student-driven group projects, practical components and a lot of fun. There is also room for flexibility through elective courses where student can choose their specific profiles such as design, leadership, scientific methods etc.
When do I have to decide whether I should take a one-year or a two-year master?
If you are uncertain it could be wise to take the first year, write a 15 hp thesis and then decide whether you want to take another year or not. You do not have to make that decision before applying to the programme.
Will it be easier for me to get an employment if I have a masters degree?
The swedish national agency for higher education have published a report about employment after higher education and the results indicates that the answer to that question is yes. The report shows that the chances for employment increased from 80% for students with a bachelor degree to 87% for students with a masters degree.
What classmates would I have?
Last year every second student was an international students arriving to Umeå from countries such as Austria, the Netherlands, Greece, South Korea, Germany, India, Italy and Iran. Educational background of students vary but many have studied computer science, informatics, cognitive psychology, media production and information science etc. In terms of gender approximately 40 % were female students.
Do I have to know programming?
No, you don't. It is required that you have taken some IT courses, but not programming.