Technology has a significant impact on people’s lives and well-being, as well as on the planet. It is important that, amidst all this progress, people and their individual, social and environmental needs remain at the centre of attention. On the UXD study programme, you will develop complex services and design digital products that enable users to experience these services. The design profession is set to undergo significant changes in the coming years. UXD focuses on empathy and translating real needs into creative solutions. This will certainly ensure you are well prepared for a future career in design.

The study programme combines academic rigour with creative practice. The focus is on project-based learning in our project laboratories, where you will work on issues of future relevance to people and society. We are supported in this by partners and lecturers with direct experience in the field.

At the Media Campus of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, you can look forward to an exceptional learning environment offering a dozen Bachelor's and master’s degree programmes in the media sector. Over 50 professors and more than 200 lecturers with industry experience create a learning environment equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, enabling a close integration of theory and practice in small study groups. A particular advantage for you is that you can network with the media industry’s future experts during your study programme, and you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons, as there are regular inter-programme opportunities that you can also attend.

Our professors and lecturers work in close collaboration to combine all key specialist areas into a unique transdisciplinary field of study – ranging from future and user research, design theory and practice, self-management and project management, through to technology and prototyping, video and sound production, 2D and 3D design. External practitioners from innovation centres, agencies and companies complement the team and bring the latest industry knowledge to the teaching.

Yes, in the 5th semester you’ll complete a full practical semester at a company, which will give you an insight into the practical tasks and processes involved in being a UX designer. Here, you’ll put the knowledge you’ve already gained during your study programme into practice. You’ll be surprised at the tasks the company trusts you to carry out, given your skills. You’ll also make valuable contacts for your bachelor’s degree and when you start your career.

We do not require you to have completed a pre-study internship before applying. Of course, gaining some practical experience beforehand can’t do any harm when it comes to forming your own opinion about where you see yourself in the future.

Empathy, curiosity and a critical view of the world are what define prospective UXD students. To shape the future, you are prepared to question the old and set out creatively in search of the new. This requires conceptual talent, the ability to apply knowledge across disciplines, an interest in technology and the ability to express yourself. Our students should be keen to look beyond the façade of design as a profession that simply ‘makes things beautiful’ and to find a modern, critical definition of it for themselves.

We are looking for critical thinkers who are keen to make a difference and have a curiosity about technology and society. An enjoyment of analysis, conceptualisation and turning insights into new digital products and services is a good prerequisite for the UXD study programme.

After the application deadline on 1 July, the Student Service Centre will review the applications and check that they are complete. All applicants with a complete set of documents will then be invited to a one-day aptitude test workshop on campus. We will also get to know you during an online interview on a separate day. Once you have been notified that you have passed the assessment, you must submit your acceptance and the necessary documents, and pay the semester fee (details on the application process and enrolment).

There are rules for every study programme. These set out, for example, the entry requirements for the study programme (Admissions Regulations), which course modules and opportunities the study programme comprises (Module Handbook), how many credits you should aim to earn each semester, what the examinations involve and how often you can retake them (Examination Regulations for the study programme). You can find all the regulations for the study programme here.

UXD is a close-knit degree programme. We work closely together in small teams on projects. This means that teaching staff and students get to know one another quickly and can support one another. For more challenging personal situations or individual goals, we offer one-to-one sessions with our personal coach to support personal development.

You should definitely bring your own laptop. Our Uselab is equipped with the latest eye-tracking equipment and other professional technology. The Thingslab offers everything you need to develop smart products – from soldering stations and microcontrollers to 3D printers. In our Sound Lab, you can produce and edit audio and, for example, combine it with video. At the Mediencampus equipment hire service, you can borrow any kit you might need for your projects, such as for filming videos or producing podcasts.

After completing your study programme, a wide range of relevant careers will be open to you – whether in large companies, agencies, start-ups or as a freelancer. You’ll work as a UX designer, UX researcher, service designer, interaction designer, design lead, creative technologist, innovation consultant, strategic designer, accessibility specialist or in usability engineering – in agencies, start-ups, companies across a wide range of sectors, public institutions, in research or in private practice. Your trained critical eye for technology and society, combined with your ability to identify problems and transform them into positive experiences, make you an attractive candidate for all these roles.

If you have any questions about applications, entry requirements or funding, the Student Service Centre (SSC) is here to help. Our student counsellors are also happy to give you an insight into everyday student life. You can also meet us in person at the University Information Days (hobit) in January or, if you’re interested, arrange a visit to the Media Campus.