Master of Science in Human-Technology Interaction, Computing Sciences and Electrical Engineering

Study contents

Technology plays an increasing role in our daily lives, and it is important to have professionals who have a deep understanding of how to develop efficient and enjoyable ways to interact with a wide variety of technological devices.

You can deepen your knowledge in course units that cover a wide range of topics from user experience, emotions, and sociality to innovative use of touch, speech, gaze, and human physiology in user interfaces. Through work in various course projects, the program provides you with competencies in scientific thinking and writing, as well as in hands-on design.

HTI master’s studies have a direct link to HTI research carried out at Tampere University. Research groups related to HTI at Tampere University explore and develop more intuitive user interfaces for the future. The aim is to match the design of new technologies with human abilities and needs - targeting the best possible user experience with technology.

Structure of studies

Master’s degree comprises 120 ECTS credits. Each ECTS credit is about 27 hours of student work. Courses are worth 90 ECTS, and the remaining 30 ECTS are awarded for successfully completing a master’s thesis. The duration of the program is two years. Students usually spend three semesters completing courses and one semester preparing for the master’s thesis. The studies start in late August, and the academic year ends in late May.

The HTI specializations are part of the Master’s Programme in Computing Sciences, which consists of altogether seven specializations, leading either to a Master of Science degree or a Master of Science in Technology degree:

• Data Science (MSc)
• Human-Technology Interaction (MSc)
• Human-Technology Interaction (MSc Tech)
• Signal Processing and Machine Learning (MSc Tech)
• Software, Web & Cloud (MSc)
• Software, Web & Cloud (MSc Tech)
• Statistical Data Analytics (MSc)

There are many job opportunities to choose from after graduation. The career prospects are excellent, and human-technology interaction specialists are highly appreciated by the industry.

Some of the possible future careers include, for example:

• A designer who envisions, shapes, and creates sustainable design solutions for user interfaces and information systems in general – typical job titles include service designer, UX designer, interaction designer, and UI designer
• User researcher who studies people and their use of technology in various environments and contexts of use, informing the design and development of new technological solutions as well as academic research in the field of human-computer interaction
• User interface developer who has the skills to implement advanced front-end software solutions
• Usability and user experience specialist who makes sure that the designs are easy to use and fit human purposes and requirements
• Product manager with emphasis on user needs and user experience.

Following the successful completion of the program, HTI graduates are also eligible to apply for entrance to doctoral programs in Finland and abroad.

Co-operation with other parties

In addition to studies in your own Master's Programme, you may take advantage of the teaching offered by the Tampere higher education community in various fields. Tampere is a vibrant industrial hub for various types of companies with needs for HTI experts, including service design, software development, game companies, and the intelligent machinery industry. Tampere University research teams collaborate with a broad range of these companies.

Further study opportunities

The master's degree provides the required background to pursue doctoral studies in Interactive Technology or Computer Sciences, for example in the Doctoral Programme of Humans and Technologies, available at Tampere University.