Master in Human-Computer Interaction

Master in Human-Computer Interaction is one of 8 English-taught Computer Science & IT programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 7 institutions. 8 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 727 a year. 5 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters. The same programme title is offered at 2 institutions, so compare the content, campus and requirements before you choose.

This is a joint master's run by Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and Paris Lodron University Salzburg. You spend time at both: the University of Applied Sciences campus at Urstein and the Center for HCI at the University of Salzburg's Science City Itzling campus. The degree is a Master of Science in Engineering (MSc), taught in English, worth 120 ECTS over four full-time semesters. Around 30 study places are open each year.

What you study

The programme pulls together computer science, design and psychology. It is built around the research, design and development of interactive systems and new forms of interaction. The topics it covers are HCI theory, methodology and prototyping, human factors and user experience engineering, interaction design and digital innovation, contextual interfaces, and HCI innovations and future technologies.

Courses go into usability and experience engineering methods alongside the fundamentals of HCI theory and methodology. You can specialise in the research and development of interactive settings, ambient assisted living, public spaces, smart mobility, or virtual and augmented reality.

As a joint programme, you pick electives from both institutions totalling 12 ECTS. From the University of Applied Sciences the offers include Animation, Game and Mixed Reality, Web and Mobile Development, Audio, Film and Media Studies, and Communication Design. From the University of Salzburg they include Data Science and Big Data, Geoinformatics, and Cognitive Psychology. The offers can vary each semester.

How the programme is organised

It runs full-time over two years. During your studies you complete one research project and one industry project, both supervised by academic staff. There is also the option of an internship in industry to get hands-on work experience.

If you want to go abroad, the fourth semester is the slot for it, while you work on your master thesis. You can draw on the partner networks of both universities for a semester abroad.

Who it suits

The programme is aimed at international graduates from fields such as human-computer interaction, design, media or communication studies. It suits people who want to become competent designers and design-minded engineers, comfortable with both the theory of HCI and the practical side of prototyping and usability work.

Admission, language and next steps

Teaching is in English. There is no central application portal: you apply online directly to the institution, and its own page gives the application period and the dates and deadlines. With only 30 places a year, the programme is selective, so check the admission requirements on the programme page before you apply.

As a public institution, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences charges a tuition fee per semester, and students from non-EU countries may pay up to double. There is also a student union fee each semester. Preparation courses organised by the University of Salzburg carry their own fee per course. The programme page and the FAQ set out the details.

Whether it’s smart homes, industry 4.0 or autonomous vehicles, many of today’s most cutting-edge developments are based on interactions between humans and computers. In the international joint master programme “Human-Computer Interaction”, students learn how to shape the way people interact with digital applications, products and services. Understand the relationship between people and interactive systems and become an expert in one of today’s most dynamic and significant fields of innovation.

Gemeinsames Studium der Salzburg University of Applied Sciences (Campus Urstein) und Paris Lodron University Salzburg (Center for HCI, Campus Science City Itzling). Unterrichtssprache ist Englisch.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. Universities of applied sciences set their own application periods and admission procedures, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Admission procedure. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.