Master of User Experience Design

Boost your professional value with versatile skills in a fast-growing sector. The MUXD equips you to create compelling user experiences, even if you don’t have a design background.

Build a rewarding career in UX design

User Experience (UX) Design focuses on how people interact with and experience products and services.

These experiences could be on a screen, like a website or an app. Or they could be in a physical space, like wayfinding in a museum. They can also be a complex mixture of both online and offline elements.

UX designers are skilled researchers, critical and creative thinkers, interaction designers, and effective communicators who create a variety of design outputs.

What you'll learn

Learn the role of a UX designer. They carry out a range of tasks:

• understanding and framing problems through a variety of research methods
• interpreting their findings and prioritising options
• working collaboratively with others to build on their ideas
• developing concepts to solve problems
• refining concepts through testing before and after the experience is launched for public use.

Who the MUXD is for

The Master of User Experience Design (MUXD) is for designers, recent graduates, and those wanting to move into UX Design.

It’s a 12-month, 180-point Master’s degree. You don’t need to have an undergraduate Design degree to apply.

If you have a background in Design the MUXD will help you:

• build on your existing skillset across all parts of the design process
• deepen your practice with critical approaches
• open doors to more advanced roles.

You can also enrol in the MUXD if you want to shift into a new career in UX design. Our students have come from a range of areas, including:

• anthropology
• architecture
• computer science
• health
• government policy
• journalism
• marketing
• psychology
• social sciences
• software engineering
• teaching.

Find out more

Sign up now to find out more about what the Master of UX Design can offer.

Duration and workload

The programme starts each year in the first trimester. You’ll typically complete the MUXD in one year of full-time study spread over three trimesters: March to June, July to October, and November to February.

Studying full time, you can expect a workload of 25 to 35 hours a week in each trimester.

Part-time study

Part-time study over two to three years is also possible. We have a recommended approach for undertaking the MUXD part-time. Contact the MUXD Programme Director for more information.

Remote study

The MUXD is an in-person programme, but it can be studied remotely with permission. Remote students, like those based in Wellington, are expected to attend classes at the scheduled times. Those in Auckland can come to our Auckland premises at 50 Kitchener Street to attend classes together with other Auckland-based students.

If you’d like to study the MUXD remotely, contact our Programme Director to learn more.

Duration and workload

The programme starts each year in the first trimester. You’ll typically complete the MUXD in one year of full-time study spread over three trimesters: March to June, July to October, and November to February.

Studying full time, you can expect a workload of 25 to 35 hours a week in each trimester.

Remote study

The MUXD is an in-person programme, but it can be studied remotely with permission. Remote students, like those based in Wellington, are expected to attend classes at the scheduled times. Those in Auckland can come to our Auckland premises at 50 Kitchener Street to attend classes together with other Auckland-based students.

If you’d like to study the MUXD remotely, contact our Programme Director to learn more.

How you'll study

You can study the MUXD in two different ways, finishing with a Capstone Project or a Research Portfolio.

The Capstone Project pathway includes four integrated courses, and finishes with the Capstone Project course. For most students, this involves an external organisation.

The Research Portfolio pathway includes three integrated courses, and an independent research project with supervised by academics with UX Design expertise.

Capstone Project pathway

In the Capstone Project pathway, you’ll complete four MUXD courses in Trimesters 1 and 2.

In Trimester 3, you’ll complete a 60-point Capstone Project. You’ll apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout the programme to a supervised project with an external organisation, or a personal project you define.

The Capstone Projects gives you a chance to work in a professional context, applying what you’ve learned to a real-world situation. You’ll develop your project and process management abilities, as well as the collaborative skills you’ll need when working as a UX Designer.

Research Portfolio pathway

In the Research Portfolio pathway, you’ll complete three of the four MUXD courses offered in the first two trimesters.

In Trimester 2, you’ll begin your 90-point Research Portfolio that you’ll finish in Trimester 3.

The Research Portfolio pathway is ideal for people who have a background in UX design or a related field. You’ll have the chance to delve deeper into specific areas that align with your interests, professional goals and experience, and you’ll have greater flexibility in tailoring your studies to your individual aspirations.

The Research Portfolio pathway also gives you the chance to build skills in conducting independent research and presenting your findings effectively.

You can apply for, enrol, and begin the MUXD without deciding on your pathway. Contact the MUXD Programme Director for more information.

Teaching approach

Most students attend classes in person in Wellington, while each year some students get permission to study remotely. Because Design is a ‘learning by doing’ discipline, you’ll get the most out of the MUXD programme by learning and exploring together in a class or studio environment.

MUXD classes consist of a combination of:

• presentations from lecturers and guests
• discussion
• hands-on workshops
• studio time working on projects.

All teaching materials are made available online.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Future careers

MUXD alumni are currently working in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally as:

• UX designers
• digital product designers
• service designers
• design researchers
• UX writers
• content strategists.

Potential employers

Recent MUXD graduates work at a wide variety of organisations including:

• universities—Canterbury University, Deakin University, RMIT
• public sector organisations—ACC, Ministry of Corrections, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry of Social Development, Stats NZ, Wellington City Council
• banks—ANZ, BNZ, Westpac
• tech companies and agencies—Accenture Song, IDIA, Orion Health, Sharesies, Springload, Trade Me, Xero
• other private sector companies—PwC, Spark, Stanley St.

Scholarships

You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.

We have postgraduate scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.