What You'll Learn in the Master’s Programme 'Information Systems and Human-Computer Interaction'

This year, HSE University - Saint Petersburg invites students to apply to our new Master’s Programme 'Information Systems and Human-Computer Interaction'. What does the programme have in store for new students seeking to start a career in this field?

Who does the programme train?

Technology is constantly changing: every day we use services and applications on a range of devices. And competition between services is only getting tougher. If an app does not meet a user's needs, that user can immediately try something different by a competitor.

UX experts (or User eXperience specialists) ensure that users’ interaction with applications and services is easy and enjoyable. Nowadays, the role of UX experts in development teams is becoming more and more important.

Teams need UX experts at every stage of development. UX experts:

• identify unresolved issues of potential users
• make sure that developers prioritize the real needs of their product’s users
• test design and functionality improvements before they are implemented (thus saving their team a significant amount of money)
• find reasons why users have unpleasant experience and fixes these problems

The demand for UX experts is growing. Now, in order to develop a successful product, it is necessary to understand not only the basic principles of systems design and the user experience, but also to master the methods of Data Science, understand the structure and economics of modern information systems, and have a firm grasp of what motivates users in their decision-making. The expert in turn must be able to translate this knowledge into ML-models, design decisions, prototypes, and code.

UX expert’s skills

• UX service development decision-making.
• Collecting and analyzing data and user feedback.
• Evaluating UX and fixing usability issues.
• Applying different methods of user research.
• Making prototypes and design sketches.
• Organizing the UX process.

What kind of curriculum does the programme offer?

The programme includes courses (such as Information Systems Architecture, Human Oriented Design and Prototyping) that give students the necessary skills in system design and help boost their portfolios with real project experience. Data/CS module includes not only general Data Science training, but also practice with user behaviour models specific to UX analytics.

In the UX module, students gain insight into how cognitive characteristics and social human interactions help in creating effective data systems and how to apply this knowledge in real practice.

After two years of hard work, students not only have fundamental knowledge and valuable practical skills, but are also equipped to pave their unique way to success.

Who can apply?

We welcome both students with backgrounds in tech as well as those who majored in psychology, social sciences, or management. Applicants should be eager to immerse themselves in the intricate world of building modern products and services. All students are required to have completed at least one course in data analysis. Skills in Python, R or any other programming language (or the ability to learn these quickly) will be an advantage, although the key factor is motivation and a willingness to work hard.