Master in Media and Human-Centered Computing

What you study

The Master's in Media and Human-Centered Computing at TU Wien is about designing digital technologies with people, not just for them. The programme draws on computer science, media theory, psychology and design. You start with the fundamentals: Artifact-Based Design, Responsible Digital Ethics and User Research Methods. From there you move into design and implementation, and you choose elective modules that build on the basics. The electives listed on the programme page include Assistive Technologies, Computer Vision, Critical Theory and Design, Design Thinking, Gameful Design, Embodied Systems: A Human-Drone Interaction Perspective, Human-Centered AI, Human-Agent Interaction, Virtual, Augmented & Mixed Reality, Visualization and Wellbeing Technologies. Teaching is project-based, with practical workshops and close mentorship. You cover UX design, digital ethics and multimodal interaction, and you look at interaction paradigms from intelligent assistants to assistive and accessible technologies.

How the programme is organised

The degree takes four semesters and 120 ECTS. The first semester is for foundations. The second and third semesters focus on design and implementation, alongside your elective choices. The fourth semester is for developing and writing up your master's thesis. The thesis must be written and submitted in English. Open electives and extension courses let you go beyond the core and explore interdisciplinary areas. The programme is taught entirely in English, so no German is required. The official curriculum document is available in German, with an English version also listed. Courses are listed in TISS. The campus is in central Vienna.

Who it suits

This master's is for you if you want to work on complex design challenges and care about how technology affects people. It suits students who are interested in human-computer interaction, virtual and augmented reality, human-centered AI and inclusive design. You should be comfortable with a mix of theory and hands-on project work. The programme is open to people from different backgrounds who want to design thoughtful, user-focused technologies. It prepares you for a career in academia or the private sector.

Admission, language and next steps

Applications go directly to TU Wien, not through a central portal. The admission process can take two months or longer, so apply in good time. The programme page points you to the Admission to a Master Degree Program page for instructions. You need English at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. German is not required. The admissions office handles formal questions about the application and language requirements. The student council (FS Inf) offers advisory services. Once you are enrolled, the First Steps page has the dates and events for the start of your first semester. Open thesis topics are announced in TISS. TU Wien and TU Wien Informatics offer grants and scholarships, with details on the scholarships page. The programme also has Erasmus and double degree options for exchange.

The master's programme in Media and Human-Centered Computing combines multidisciplinary theories and applications of human-computer interaction by imparting theoretical, methodological, technical and practical knowledge as well as skills for the design, implementation and evaluation of complex interactive systems. All courses of the master’s programme are held in English and the students have to write their master's thesis in English.

Unterrichtssprache ist Englisch

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here TU Wien. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. 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.