University of Nottingham

What you'll study

This programme combines taught modules with a substantial individual research or design project. Core topics cover theoretical foundations of HCI, user-centred design methods, and empirical evaluation techniques. You will study subjects such as interaction design and prototyping, usability testing and metrics, human factors and accessibility, research methods for HCI (qualitative and quantitative), and software/technology foundations relevant to interactive systems (including front-end development and sensor/embedded interfaces where appropriate).

• Principles of human-computer interaction and human-centred design
• User experience (UX) research methods: interviews, observation, surveys, and ethnography
• Prototyping techniques: low- and high-fidelity prototyping, wireframing, and rapid physical/digital prototyping
• Evaluation and usability testing: lab- and field-based studies, data analysis and interpretation
• Specialist topics such as accessibility, pervasive and ubiquitous computing, interactive visualisation, and AI-enabled interfaces
• Research methods and statistics for designing rigorous HCI studies
• Individual dissertation or project spanning design, implementation and empirical evaluation

Teaching is delivered through lectures, hands-on lab sessions in usability and interaction labs, design studios, seminars and supervised project work. The programme emphasises an iterative, evidence-led approach to designing interactive systems and often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with psychology, design and engineering students and researchers.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally need a good undergraduate degree in computer science, software engineering, interaction design, cognitive science, psychology, human factors, engineering or a closely related discipline. A UK 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent) is commonly expected; applicants with a 2:2 may be considered if they have relevant professional experience or strong supporting evidence of aptitude for HCI study.

You should have practical experience or demonstrable interest in programming, design, user research or related areas; a portfolio of projects, a dissertation, or work samples helps strengthen an application. Applicants whose first language is not English will need to demonstrate an appropriate English language qualification.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to a range of roles in industry, government and research. Typical career paths include UX/UI designer, user experience researcher, interaction designer, usability analyst, product designer, service designer, front-end developer with a focus on interaction, and user-centred product manager. The degree also prepares students for doctoral study and academic or industrial research roles in HCI, mixed reality, assistive technologies and interaction design.

The programme’s mix of practical projects and research methods equips graduates with skills employers value: designing and testing interfaces with real users, analysing qualitative and quantitative data, building prototypes, and communicating design rationale to multidisciplinary teams.

Why study at University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham hosts active HCI and Mixed Reality research groups, offering students access to experienced supervisors and a strong research environment. Teaching is research-led and benefits from facilities such as usability and eye-tracking labs, fabrication and maker spaces, and computing resources for prototyping and evaluation.

Students can engage with interdisciplinary projects across computing, psychology and design, and benefit from industry links and collaborations that provide opportunities for practical projects, placements or consultancy. The university’s campus environment and support services provide a setting where students can develop both technical expertise and professional experience in human-centred computing.