Introduction
The master’s programme in Interactive Media Technology equip graduates with practical and theoretical expertise for the design, development and evaluation of interactive products, services and media technology. The programme has a close working relationship with local industry and prepares you for an international career or doctoral studies.
Interactive Media Technology at KTH
The programme Interactive Media Technology consists of 30 credits of compulsory courses, 30 ECTS credits of courses within a chosen specialisation, 30 ECTS credits of elective courses, and a degree project of 30 ECTS credits. Interactive Media Technology offers three technology specialisations, of which the student should specialise in one. The specialisation tracks offered are:
Visual media
Sonic media
physical interaction design
It is also possible to design an individual technology specialisation, in agreement with the programme responsible. On top of that, there is a possibility of further profiling within the programme towards user experience design, media management and sustainable development.
The first semester consists of mandatory courses laying the foundation for courses later in the programme. In the first study period, students take Media Technology and Interaction Design (7.5 ECTS credits) which introduces the theory and practises related to the production of interactive media technology in parallel with a course in Human Perception for Information Technology (7.5 ECTS credits). In the second study period students take Research Methods in Interactive Media Technology (6 ECTS credits) introducing theory and method for knowledge production within the field, in parallel with Multimodal Interaction and Interfaces (7.5 ECTS credits). After the first semester, students choose one of the specialisations that are closely connected to research groups at KTH.
Throughout the whole master's programme, the students take the Programme Integrating Course (2 ECTS credits), which runs in parallel to the other courses. In this course, students plan and discuss their courses, set up and get feedback on their online study portfolios, participate in programme activities, and make connections with industry.
The degree project (30 ECTS credits) ends the programme. It includes participation in advanced research or design projects in an academic or industrial environment, in Sweden or abroad. The project focuses on solving a problem relevant to the subject area through research methodology.
Teaching methods in the individual courses vary but many courses have a strong practical component where students spend time doing project work and other hands-on activities to learn about new technologies and how to shape them. Courses often have strong connections to research conducted within the field both at the department and elsewhere, so that students graduating from the programme are familiar with frontline research. The programme also has strong ties to industry in the form of regular study visits, guest lectures, and projects performed together with industrial partners.
Visual Media
This track provides specialised knowledge of methods, technologies and tools for interactive graphics and visualisation. The track covers a wide range of applicability from game design, over to crowd simulation to interactive infographics.
Sonic Media
This track approaches the whole sound and music communication chain from a multidisciplinary point of view by providing knowledge of the latest research results, methods, technologies and tools. This includes principles of sound in interaction, use of audio feedback in sport, rehabilitation and therapy, sonification, communication of emotions, perception and analysis of body motion.
Physical Interaction Design
This specialization focuses on interaction design in contexts beyond standard mobile and laptop settings, emphasising tangible and embodied aspects of the user experience. You will explore state-of-the-art systems and technology as well as contemporary research in the field. Application areas range from industrial use cases to health and wellbeing, transportation, sports, play and entertainment. Using the human body as our general starting point, you will design and build new forms of interaction that take into account aesthetic, as well as ethic, ergonomic and material aspects of new technical devices.
This is a two-year programme (120 ECTS credits) given in English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of Science. The programme is given mainly at KTH Campus in Stockholm by the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (at KTH).
Topics covered
Finance and control, project management, leadership, operations and supply chain strategy, strategy and industrial marketing, industrial transformation, managing research and innovation, research methods, change project.
Career
After graduation, you can pursue a career as, for example, developer, technical lead, interaction designer, UX specialist, technical director, producer or project manager in the broad IT and media industries. You can also pursue a career in industrial research or continued studies towards a doctoral degree.
Former students have found work at companies such as Spotify, DICE, Skype, Netlight Consulting, Tobii, and Voddler. Among our graduates, we also have several founders of companies within the media and IT sector, including Prezi and SoundCloud, and several successful consultancy firms such as Prototyp and Ocean Observations.
After graduation
Developer, technical lead, interaction designer, UX specialist, technical director, PhD student, producer or project manager in the broad IT and media industries.
"The programme contains a broad range of subjects and the course selection can be customised, which allows a stronger focus on our own interests. Students are from very different backgrounds allows fruitful collaborations on projects."
Bastian from Germany
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Media Technology are:
3 Good Health and Well-being
4 Quality Education
12 Responsible Consumption and Production
The programme has a strong sustainability ethos and the faculty is actively engaged in both research and education within the field. All students are recommended to take a basic course on Sustainability and Media Technology (7.5 ECTS credits) and they can deepen their knowledge through Sustainable ICT in Practice (7.5 ECTS credits). Students can also take the course in IT design for disabled people (7.5 ECTS credits). In addition, sustainability is a strong theme in project work in many courses given as part of the programme. For instance, a majority of the projects in the Advanced Project Course in Interactive Media Technology (7.5 ECTS credits) typically relate to one or more of the SDGs, as are degree project topics. Students will learn about responsive design and development of media technologies with an awareness not only of their potential impact on the SDGs, but also of how they can support users in building awareness and triggering behaviour change through, for instance, visualising complex data related to CO2 emissions, energy usage or food waste, and how to design systems adapted to people with physical or cognitive impairments.
Faculty and research
The programme is given by the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). The school conducts research and education within electrical engineering, computer science, and information and communication technology. Faculty involved in the programme mainly belong to the Division of Media Technology and Interaction Design or the Division of Computational Science and Technology and work on a broad range of research topics.
Admission requirements
To be eligible for the programme, you must have been awarded a bachelor's degree, be proficient in English, and meet the programme-specific requirements.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish bachelor's degree, or equivalent academic qualifications from an internationally recognised university, is required. Students who are following longer technical programmes, and have completed courses equivalent to a bachelor's degree, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students in their final year of undergraduate studies may apply and, if qualified, will receive a conditional acceptance. These applicants must include a written statement according to the instructions given by University Admissions. Students in the final year of undergraduate studies at a Swedish university do not have to provide a written statement in order, if qualified, to receive a conditional acceptance. They must, however, have completed 150 ECTS credits in the bachelor’s programme by 1 February.
English proficiency
English language proficiency equivalent to (the Swedish upper secondary school) English course B/6 is required. The requirement can be satisfied through a result equal to, or higher than, those stated in the following internationally recognized English tests:
TOEFL Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test, a total score of 575.
TOEFL ITP is not accepted.
TOEFL iBT internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test, a total score of 90
IELTS Academic/IELTS UKVI: A minimum overall mark of 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5
Cambridge ESOL: Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Certificate in Advanced English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): Minimum score of 90
The University of Michigan, ECPE (Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English)
Pearson PTE Academic: Score of 62 (writing 61)
The language requirement can also be fulfilled through previous university and upper secondary school studies. More information on recognized English tests, previous studies, and required documents is provided by University Admissions.
Specific requirements for the master's programme in Interactive Media Technology
A bachelor's degree, corresponding to 180 ECTS credits, in Computer Science, Information Technology, Media Technology, Human-Computer Interaction or similar programmes, containing basic courses in programming and computer science.
Application documents
Your application is not complete without the required supporting documentation. The following general and programme-specific documents must therefore be included in the application in the specified order:
General documents
Certificates and diplomas from previous university studies
Transcript of completed courses and grades included in your degree
Proof of English proficiency
A copy of your passport including personal data and photograph, or other identification documents
Specific documents for the master's programme in Interactive Media Technology
Letter of motivation
2 letters of recommendation
Summary sheet *
*In order for your application to be considered complete, you need to fill out the online summary sheet. If you do not include a summary sheet, this may negatively affect your evaluation score. Please be sure to fill out all of the required information before you submit the form.
If you have questions regarding the summary sheet please contact the programme directly.
