Course details
On this UX Design course, you will learn to create engaging interfaces and interactions, appropriately evaluating usability and professionally applying key principles of experience design. You'll gain the ability to critically reflect upon and evaluate working methods and find the most effective ways to collaborate on projects. You'll also learn how to pitch your ideas; communicating concepts and presenting artefacts visually with clarity and enthusiasm.
Modules
This online UX Design course is comprised of five modules, four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). The modules have been specifically designed to be studied in a non-linear order, with the order in which you’ll study the modules depending on when you begin the course. All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.
MA User Experience Design Online: Josh's Story
MA
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover thefull course detailsfor the MA.
PGDip
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules (120 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. A dissertation (major project) is not required.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover thefull course detailsfor the PGDip.
Module details
By devising a series of small-scale creative artefacts, you'll use your existing ideas about development practice and then experiment with new approaches to challenge these ideas. This will enable you to create a personal case study, from which you can define how to expand and enrich your practice. Beyond the personal case study, you'll gain a broader sense of the contexts in which these practices are applied across disciplines.
(30 credits)
In this module you'll learn the core principles, methods and techniques of user experience (UX) design. You'll use concepts from a range of disciplines to develop a sequence of explorative designs and interactive prototypes. You'll also learn how to apply user-centered approaches to produce artefacts that meet the requirements of end users and adhere to best practice.
(30 credits)
You'll work in a team on a problem-led creative project. This will typically, but not necessarily, be a small game or creative app. You'll work together to situate, design, implement and evaluate your creative artefact. With the support of a supervisor, you'll strategically manage scope, workflow, communication roles and responsibilities. At the end, you will have produced an original artefact, based on your own intellectual property, that clearly illustrates how you can engage an audience.
(30 credits)
Here, you'll learn the key techniques of human-computer interaction (HCI). This is a multidisciplinary field focusing on the interaction between humans and computers. You'll refine your understanding of HCI through the specification, design, implementation and evaluation of an artefact. This is typically a small-scale experimental proof-of concept. Questions and challenges will be shaped by our partners from the digital creative industries and from fields relevant to creative technologies. This will enable you to work towards an industry-led brief.
You'll work on a major research and development project, either independently or with others. This will allow you to expand and consolidate your skills of devising, developing and executing an extended development project. You can build upon your projects from other modules or develop a new concept. You should finish the course with a polished project of a publishable quality. A supervisor will act as your mentor and adviser.
(60 credits)
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
Studying User Experience Design online means you'll be part of the renowned Games Academy, which was ranked in the top 30 games schools worldwide by thePrinceton Review.
MA User Experience Design Online: Viktoriia's Story
How you'll learn
You'll learn through a blend of lectures, webinars, guest talks, tasks and discussion forums, which you'll access via our dedicated virtual learning environment. This is also where you'll find all key documentation, get course announcements and access extensive learning resources.
You'll be supported academically by Online Tutors, who will also deliver weekly webinars and facilitate the online forums. If you need assistance with anything that isn't directly related to course material, adedicated Student Advisor team will be on handto help. You'll also have access to Falmouth University's excellent employability service, RealWORKs.
You'll masterkey principles of experience design, spending20-25 hours a week working on your craft. We incorporate optional face-to-face events for all our online students. There will be up to two per year and will typically run over weekends, to fit around your other commitments.
Find out more about learning online
Study hours
A postgraduate student should dedicate at least20-25 hours per week for study.
Assessment methods
Assessment provides the course team with a means of offering tailored guidance alongside advice on how to progress knowledge and skills in key areas that relate to the course Learning Outcomes. The course team will identify your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and discuss them with you throughout your time on the course.
Assessments are 100% coursework, submitted in an electronic format to the virtual learning environment, and designed to reflect professional practice. Assessment methods include:
- Projects
- Portfolios
- Pitches
- Papers
Check out the stories below to discover more about our incredible community.
Hackathon_Agri-tech 3
Hackathon explores robotic solutions for agricultural sector
25 November 2022
Falmouth University’s Entrepreneurship and Games Academy students collaborated to develop a daffod...
Hackathon explores robotic solutions for agricultural sector
GA students
Falmouth University’s Games Academy climbs The Rookies World Rankings list
30 September 2022
Falmouth’s prestigious Games Academy is once again making waves in the creative industries as glob...
Falmouth University’s Games Academy climbs The Rookies World Rankings list
MA UX Design graduate Jack Jenkins
Graduate spotlight: a UX Designer with ambition in abundance
01 September 2022
MA User Experience Design (Online) graduate Jack Jenkins is always creating. With a CV full of impre...
Graduate spotlight: a UX Designer with ambition in abundance
MA UX Design graduate Jack Jenkins
Graduate spotlight: a UX Designer with ambition in abundance
01 September 2022
MA User Experience Design (Online) graduate Jack Jenkins is always creating. With a CV full of impre...
Graduate spotlight: a UX Designer with ambition in abundance
Spaceport team
Mission Possible: Falmouth students unveil VR rocket launch experience
11 August 2022
A group of students in Cornwall have launched the first iteration of a brand-new educational VR expe...
Mission Possible: Falmouth students unveil VR rocket launch experience
Rookie award
Support the Falmouth students shortlisted at the 2022 Rookie Awards
21 July 2022
Three Games Academy student teams havesecured positions as finalists in the 2022 Rookies Award...
Support the Falmouth students shortlisted at the 2022 Rookie Awards
Matty McGrory
An interview with: Matty McGrory – module leader, MA Indie Game Development (Online)
14 July 2022
Matty McGrory is a senior gameplay designer, lecturer and module leader on our online master’s deg...
An interview with: Matty McGrory – module leader, MA Indie Game Development (Online)
Game art Blade Gunners
Student projects celebrated at 2022 Games Expo
06 June 2022
The Falmouth Games Academy have celebrated the end of the academic year in style with the latest ite...
Student projects celebrated at 2022 Games Expo
UX Design Principles lead image
The 6 key UX design principles to follow
16 May 2022
Here are 6 key UX design principles that should form the foundations of every new project
The 6 key UX design principles to follow
Showcase 2022
The Falmouth Showcase is coming: 21-26 May 2022
10 May 2022
Hungry for inspiration? On the hunt for fresh talent? Discover our next generation of incredible cre...
The Falmouth Showcase is coming: 21-26 May 2022
User Experience Design face to face event
Online UX Design students revel in collaborative workshops with industry leaders
22 April 2022
Students on Falmouth's online master's course in user experience design recently met up in person fo...
Online UX Design students revel in collaborative workshops with industry leaders
Roblox cropped
Student secures internship with gaming giant Roblox
19 April 2022
First year Game Development student James Cox has been accepted onto the accelerator programme for R...
Student secures internship with gaming giant Roblox
GA students
Games Academy ranked alongside the best in the world
29 March 2022
Falmouth University’s Games Academy has once again secured a place on the Princeton Review’s lis...
Games Academy ranked alongside the best in the world
Olivia Dias Bagott UX Design student
A career shift in progress: From Brand Design to UX Design
28 March 2022
User Experience Design MA (Online) student, Olivia, explains why she chose to pursue a career shift ...
A career shift in progress: From Brand Design to UX Design
Josh Brough
Emotional maturity and thinking deeply: How studying an online MA has helped this UX Design student to thrive
04 March 2022
UX Design student Josh Brough has recently secured a job at Cornwall fashion and lifestyle brand Sea...
Emotional maturity and thinking deeply: How studying an online MA has helped this UX Design student to thrive
Madison Riley
How the Games Academy helped this graduate realise her creative potential
17 February 2022
Madison Riley tells us how her degree helped her accelerate into the games industry....
How the Games Academy helped this graduate realise her creative potential
Game Jam Drawer
Students level up at the Global Game Jam 2022
10 February 2022
Games Academy students co-created games with gamers worldwide as part of the 2022 Global Game Jam....
Students level up at the Global Game Jam 2022
Dull Dude logo
Indie Game Development lecturer scores prestigious funding for indie game company
11 January 2022
MA Indie Game Development (online)Senior Lecturer Iain Lobbhas been awarded funding by t...
Indie Game Development lecturer scores prestigious funding for indie game company
Women In Esports 1
Widening participation in Esports: in conversation with Elise Dennis
08 December 2021
Elise Dennis is a final year Game Development student and a professional esports player. Here, she d...
Widening participation in Esports: in conversation with Elise Dennis
Sol705 Cover
Indie Game Development student shortlisted at national game awards
18 November 2021
MA Indie Game Development online student Patricio Land was nominated in the Best Entertainment Game ...
Indie Game Development student shortlisted at national game awards
Staff
The course is part of Falmouth’s Games Academy, one of the largest dedicated game development studio spaces of any UK university.You'll learn from a multidisciplinary team from Falmouth Games Academy with expertise across disciplines, bringing together user experience design, programming, art, animation, audio, design and writing.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.
Dr Jamie White
Course Coordinator, UX Design and Indie Game Development
As Course Leader for the Games Academy's online master's courses, my responsibilities involve managi...
Dr Jamie White
Liz Coulter-Smith
Lecturer and Module Leader, UX Design MA (Online)
Liz Coulter-Smith (MFA, BFA, PGCHE, PGCertResMeth) is a researcher, designer/creative coder, educato...
Liz Coulter-Smith
LJ Hazzard
Online Tutor, User Experience Design MA (Online)
LJ is a User Experience Designer and in 2021 took a step into higher education from the UX industry....
LJ Hazzard
Facilities
- Dedicated easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE)
- Study alongside students from around the world
- Accessible online audio / visual content
- Optional face-to-face events*
- Invitation to attend alumni events
- 24/7 access to Falmouth's extensive online library of contextual books, journals and resources
- Access to online software tutorials at LinkedIn Learning
- Students' Union community
- A Student Advisor to support you throughout your studies and access to our Student Support Services
- Access to our Careers and employability service RealWORKS
*Please bear in mind that the Covid-19 pandemic may impact these events. You can view thelatest information here.
Careers
This UX Design master's degree is for anyone who is excited by the opportunities presented by technology and who wants to carry out practice-based research to create thoughtful and engaging user experiences.
Games Academy graduates have worked as:
- Creative practitioners at companies such as MediaTonic, Firesprite, Creative Assembly, Project Gamechanger and Rare
- Creative AI specialists at companies including Ultrahaptics, Solutionpath and Bewsign
- Researchers and developers at companies such as Facebook
- Further study at doctoral-level in artificial intelligence and/or data science, sponsored by the likes ofGoogle
How to apply
Find out more about how to apply directly with us for our online postgraduate degrees.
How to apply
If you'd like to talk to an Advisor about this course, or your application, request a call back using the form below. We'll answer your questions and support your application journey.
Request information
Apply now
Ready to apply for postgraduate study? You can apply for the next intake of MA User Experience Design (Online) below.
Apply for MA
Apply for PGDip
An honoursdegree or Level 6 equivalent qualification is desirable. However, candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply. If you'd like to discuss our entry requirements,speak to an advisor.
For more information regarding equivalent international qualifications and Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) eitherrequest informationwith our easy online form, or read about it onour apply page.
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to demonstrate English language skills that are sufficiently developed for successful completion of your studies. We accept a range of recognised English language qualifications that are equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic minimum score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
This course has three intakes per year:January,MayandSeptember.
Academic start date* | Application deadline |
---|---|
23 January 2023 | 5 January 2023 |
29 May 2023 | 8 May 2023 |
Please note:
*Virtual Welcome Week begins the week before the academic start date. During this time, our Student Advisor team will host Welcome Webinars and be in touch with practical information on how to study online.
An Early Bird discount is available for early applications. The scheme offers a£300 MA tuition fee reduction if you apply by the Early Bird discount submission deadline:
Early Bird discount submission deadline* | Academic start date |
---|---|
28 November 2022 | 23 January 2023 |
3 April 2023 | 29 May 2023 |
*If you receive an offer and within two weeks you accept the place and pay the acceptance fee, you will then qualify for a further £300 offyour MA tuition fees. Both these payments would be applied to your final fee instalment.
To discuss all our discount opportunities, contact an advisor.
Speak to an advisor
- Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) Policy (407.33 KB)
- Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) Procedure (369.06 KB)
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
£11,795 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - 2 years part time - MA/MSc course
£7,865 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - PGDip course
£TBC total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - 2 years part time - MA/MSc course
£TBC total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - PGDip course
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy.Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
The figures above don't includeaccommodation and living costs
Request information
Typical course costs
As part of studying User Experience Design MA you will require:
Laptop/computer
You’ll require a desktop/laptop at an expense of around£1,300. This machineshould havea minimum operating system of Windows XP SP3 or Mac OSX 10.6, 1GB of RAM, and a 2GHz processor.It will alsoneedto be capable of running our virtual learning environment.
Optional face-to-face events
You will be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation and subsistence costs to attend these events.
Postgraduate funding
There are loans, awards, graduate discounts and alternative funding sources for postgraduate studies. Read about them on our Postgraduate Funding page.
Find out about funding