If you are planning to go to grad school to get your MFA or MS in UX design, these are the top 10 grad schools in the U.S. and abroad. To view more details about the top 10 and beyond, visit our Top UX Schools page.
Here is the list:
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Master of Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU):
This is the most established master’s program in UX design in the world, and it has a worldwide reputation for excellence in interactive design. It is entirely devoted to interdisciplinary research and education in human-computer interaction, and it has a fully-equipped lab in which students can design and build prototypes of real-world interactive systems. The program gives students the skills to be innovators in the design of products and tools that will be used by millions of people in the future.
Master of Human-Computer Interaction and Design from the University of Washington (UW):
This is the top graduate program in human-computer interaction in the U.S., and it is among the best in the world. It was among the first programs in the world to focus on the design of human-computer interaction, and it has a reputation for excellence in helping students learn to create innovative and useful interfaces that are easy to use. The program gives students the skills to design and build innovative interfaces that are useful and usable by everyone.
Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction Design from Georgia Institute of Technology (GT):
This is the top graduate program in the world focused on HCI design. The program is designed to give students a broad and deep understanding of the design and implementation of human-computer interaction and to give them the skills to create innovative and useful software, websites, and other interactive systems. The program gives students the hands-on skills and deep understanding of how people interact with technology and the skills needed to design innovative and usable interfaces.
Interaction Design Programme from Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID):
The program is run by a consortium of three universities, and it gives students the skills to design innovative and usable interfaces for websites, software, mobile devices, and other interactive systems. The program combines the best of interaction design principles and practices with the latest trends and techniques in interaction design. It is the top interaction design program in Europe and has over 20 years of experience in training the next generation of innovative designers.
MFA in Interaction Design from Umea University (Umea IxD):
This is the most established MS and MFA program in the world focused on interaction design, and it has a worldwide reputation for excellence and innovation. The program gives students the skills to design innovative and usable interfaces for websites, software, mobile devices, and other interactive systems. It is a truly interdisciplinary program that combines research, design, and business skills with the latest interaction design trends and techniques.
IDEO team hires directly from this class so you should definitely consider to apply.
MSc in HCI from University College London (UCL):
This is the top graduate program in the U.K. focused on HCI design, and it has a worldwide reputation for excellence in research and education. It was the first program in the world to focus on the design of human-computer interaction, and it has a reputation for innovation in teaching and research. The program gives students the skills and deep understanding needed to design innovative and usable interfaces.
MA/MSc in Design Informatics from the University of Edinburgh (UoE):
This is the top master’s program in the U.K. focused on design with a data emphasis. The program gives students the skills and deep understanding of how people interact with technology, and it gives students the skills needed to design innovative and usable interfaces. The program is run by the Design Informatics group at the University of Edinburgh, which has a worldwide reputation for excellence in research and education.
MS in Design Impact from Stanford University (Stanford):
This is the top master’s program in the U.S. focused on design for social impact. The program gives students the skills to design innovative and usable interfaces for websites, software, mobile devices, and other interactive systems. It is the first program of its kind in the world, and it gives students the skills and deep understanding needed to design innovative and usable interfaces that have a positive impact on people and communities.
MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons The New School for Design (Parsons):
This is the top graduate program in the U.S. focused on design and technology. The program gives students the skills and deep understanding of how people interact with technology to create innovative and usable interfaces and products. The program is run by the Parsons School of Design, which has a worldwide reputation for excellence in research and education.
Media, Arts and Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):
This is the top graduate program in the U.S. in a range of fields including interaction design, cognitive science, and human-robot interaction. It gives students the skills to design innovative and usable interfaces for websites, software, mobile devices, and other interactive systems. The program gives students the skills and deep understanding needed to design innovative and usable interfaces that are used by millions of people.
That’s all!
See the rest of the top UX schools here.
Tips for Applying to UX Schools
The process of applying to grad school in UX design is the same as applying to grad school in any other field. If you are thinking about applying to grad school, here are some tips to help:
- Take a look at the website for the program you are interested in. Find out what the program is all about and what the admissions requirements are.
- Create a list of schools that you are interested in and that meet your requirements.
- Create a list of questions to ask the program you are interested in and the faculty who will be teaching there.
- Set up an interview with faculty at the program you are interested in.
- Create a list of the things you want to do while in school to get the most out of your experience.
- Create a list of things you want to do after graduation to get the most out of your degree.
- Submit your application to the grad programs you are interested in.
- Submit your application to other grad programs.
- Get ready for an interview.
- Go to grad school!
