Study User Experience and Service Design MDes at Ulster University in the UK, Ulster University

User Experience and Service Design MDes

UK

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What will I learn?

Imagine a world where every interaction with a digital product or service is seamless, intuitive, and delightful. The MDes User Experience and Service Design course is your gateway to mastering the art of creating exceptional user experiences across various digital platforms and services. On the course you will dive deep into understanding user behaviour, creating content that captivates, and crafting services that exceed expectations. Through a blend of theory and hands-on practice, you will learn to use design thinking as a powerful tool to solve complex problems. From wireframing to prototyping, you will have the opportunity to both develop and hone your skills in translating ideas into tangible solutions. In addition, you will explore the intricate relationship between technology and psychology, ensuring that every touchpoint resonates with users on a deep level. What sets our program apart is its focus on real-world applications. Collaborating with industry partners, you can tackle authentic challenges, gaining invaluable experience that transcends the classroom. The course is run by seasoned experts and supported by industry professionals who are ready to guide you towards becoming visionaries in user-centric design and research. By the end of this journey, you will emerge not just as a designer or researcher, but as a strategic thinker who can shape the future of digital experiences and services. Join us at Ulster University and embark on a transformative adventure where creativity meets functionality, and where your passion for design and research finds its true purpose. Through ongoing development during the course, students are able to identify themselves with a variety of outcomes: Become a Designer – Thrive as part of in-house or agency teams or as a self-employed creative. Pursue Design Research – Join in-house or agency teams, or lead academic research as a PhD student. Emerge as a Designer Leader – Propel your career towards business leadership or strategic thinking in the creative industries. The MDes in User Experience and Service Design equips graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in these roles. The program emphasises practical learning, collaboration with industry partners, and a research-focused approach that prepares students for the dynamic design and research field. Graduates benefit from cutting-edge thinking, practice-led learning, and exposure to diverse perspectives that enhance their employability in high-demand areas of design and research.

Which department am I in?

Ulster University

Study options

Full Time (1 Year)

Tuition fees
£18,310.00 (US$ 23,646) per year
This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2026

Venue

Belfast Campus.

2-24 York Street,

Belfast,

BT15 1AP, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Full Time (1 Year)

Tuition fees
£18,310.00 (US$ 23,646) per year
This is a provisional fee yet to be approved

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2027

Venue

Belfast Campus.

2-24 York Street,

Belfast,

BT15 1AP, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Entry requirements

For international students

Applicants must hold a degree (with at least 2ii Honours standard) or equivalent or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior learning. The specific requirements for admission are detailed below: Applicants should normally hold a good honours degree in design practice or cognate subject from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council of National Academic Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; Applications are welcomed from diverse backgrounds however where there is a discipline shift the applicant must present a coherent rationale for this shift and evidence prerequisite understanding and skills/experience; Interview by portfolio and proposal. Portfolios must be digital but multiple file types are acceptable (e.g., .pdfs, .docx, .pptx, .jpegs, etc.). Portfolios may also take a variety of forms. For example, if applicants come from a non-design background (e.g., the social sciences), they may use the portfolio to demonstrate research competencies or outline a series of possible projects.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About Ulster University

With an international reputation for teaching excellence, Ulster offers students a welcoming, safe and supportive environment to live and study.

  • Scholarship of GBP 2,000 towards tuition fees
  • Guaranteed accommodation for overseas students
  • Top 50 UK universities (Times Good University Guide, 2026)
  • Lowest student cost of living in the UK (NSMS, 2025)

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