Interface & Interactive Design at UCA

If you're a graphic designer, our MA degree in Interface and Interactive Design will give you the opportunity to extend your skills and become an expert in designing for digital platforms - from apps and architecture to VR and military applications.

With more industry sectors employing interactive designers, this course presents an ideal opportunity to expand your skill set and develop a specialism in this extremely sought-after area of graphic design.

Based at UCA Farnham, you’ll learn the fundamental skills you need to forge a career in fields from systems design to branding, and develop market insights and in-depth knowledge of User Experience. Your studies will culminate in a final project that challenges you to design your own product and ‘take it to market’.

Integrated Pre-Masters

We also offer this degree with an Integrated Pre-Masters course for international and UK students. The course prepares you for postgraduate study by improving your academic and creative skills before your degree begins.

 

Course entry options

Select from the following options to find out more about the different study options available for our MA Interface & Interactive Design degree:

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Interface & Interactive Design
MA

A one-year course of advanced study for furthering your research skills and specialising within your discipline.

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
farnham
Start date(s)
September 2025, September 2026
Duration
1 year full-time
Entry requirements

Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in the subject/related discipline
and/or
Relevant work experience

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Interface & Interactive Design
MA with Integrated Pre-Masters

This course includes a year-long preparatory course of study to ready you for your Masters course, developing your specialist knowledge, research skills and confidence in working alone.

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
farnham
Start date(s)
September 2025, September 2026
Duration
2 years full-time
Entry requirements

A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject

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Interface & Interactive Design

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
Start date(s)
Duration
Entry requirements
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Interface & Interactive Design

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
Start date(s)
Duration
Entry requirements
Close

Interface & Interactive Design

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
Start date(s)
Duration
Entry requirements
Close

Interface & Interactive Design

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
Start date(s)
Duration
Entry requirements

Upcoming webinars

We offer a range of webinars throughout the year that Interface & Interactive Design students may be interested in.


22 May 2025

School of Communications Webinar
3 Jul 2025

Admission and CAS Process Webinar
31 Jul 2025

International Pre-departure (Sept.25 Intake) Webinar
21 Aug 2025

International Pre-departure (Sept.25 Intake) Webinar
10 Sep 2025

UCA Live: Enrolment - Everything you need to know

This includes subject talks, masterclasses, application proccess advice and student life guides. Check out our upcoming webinars and book your place today.

Accreditations, partners and industry connections

The World Design Organization (WDO) logo

The World Design Organization (WDO)

The World Design Organization (WDO) is a global network of almost 200 members. It is an international non-governmental organisation that promotes the profession of design and its ability to generate better products, systems, services, and experiences; better business and industry; and ultimately a better environment and society.

Course
specifications

Our Integrated Pre-Master's course will prepare for postgraduate study by improving your academic and creative skills before your degree begins.

You'll build a portfolio of work whilst you explore your subject specialism and benefit from personal development tutoring that will support your academic growth and help refine your specialism. 

If you need to enhance your English language skills you can opt to join a pre-sessional English course to improve your IELTS score as well.

Learn more about the Integrated Pre-Masters course

Launch
Your launch week is the chance get to know your peers and start working collaboratively, through a range of activities, including design sprint exercises, talks, field research trips and a special focus on international student integration.

Studio 1
Your studies begin with an investigation into expanded forms of practice within Interface and Interactive Design. You will experiment with methodologies and processes, challenging established means of communication. By challenging pre-conceptions and approaches to practice, you will expand your understanding and skills to engage with new audiences.

Research & Professional Contexts 1
You’ll learn the principles of research and the methodological approaches and how all practices are informed through distinct stages of research management.

Opportunity
The hackathon week is an opportunity for students to work across year groups to produce and replicate industry practice. This will take the following format:

  • Live brief set by Industry
  • Design teams set up across the course to enrich confidence and integration
  • Opportunity for students from other courses to form part of teams i.e. – photography or film
  • Students have four days to answer brief and present at the end of the week
  • Celebration event

Studio 2
You will critically reflect on the development of your research and investigate multiple areas of study. A series of practice-based projects will enable you to consider and apply a range of methods, approaches and ideas which will inform and assist you in the development of your practice. By the end, you will have developed your project proposal along with your visual strategy for your Major Project.

Research & Professional Contexts 2
This unit is intended to develop industry approaches within the creative industries through collaboration. You will investigate the potential for collaborative practice by identifying and making contact with an external partner, with whom you will agree a project plan and agree outcomes. By working with an external partner, you will have the opportunity to place your work in a wider contemporary context and engage new audiences. 

Major Project
The Major Project is a culmination and celebration of your studies. It is your opportunity to demonstrate your advanced understanding and application of the research techniques, concepts, and skills that you have engaged with over the course of your MA. By applying the learning developed from previous units, you will reflect professional acumen, social awareness and contemporary context, and will deliver a portfolio of work that is industry ready.

 You will be required to direct your practice towards a final resolution that could take the form of an exhibition, publication or event.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Fees & funding

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees

  • 2025/26: £10,500

Tuition fees

Tuition fees

  • 2025/26 (MA): £18,000
  • 2025/26 (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - Sept & Jan): £17,500
  • 2025/26 (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - May): £8,750

Please note: the fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees please see our fees and finance pages. 

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Current UCA students and alumni may be eligible for a tuition fee discount.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of the Course Information Document for more details of the costs you may incur.

Facilities & equipment

There are dedicated graphics studios which offer spaces for group tutorials and personal working. There are campus digital media suites with Macs and PCs with latest programmes for film editing as well as general design work. Open access printmaking studios with screen printing as well as letterpress facilities, 3D printers and book binding facilities. There is also a modern library with a wealth of books, journals, special collections and online resources.

Interior of the Print Workshop

Print Workshop & Letterpress Area

Room: Y01

  • Four screenprinting tables
  • Manual etching press
  • Electric etching press
  • Columbian relief press
  • Albion relief press
  • Three direct litho presses
  • Western 4c letterpress
  • Two intaglio hot plates
  • Glass-topped workstations with inks and relevant equipment (eg rollers and palette knives)
  • Small darkroom with exposure and developing areas
  • Acid room

Room: Y02

  • 100 drawers of lead and wood type
  • Typesetting area
  • Relief/letterpress
  • Photopolymer
  • Plate maker
Interior of the Graphics UX UI studio

Graphics UX/UI Studio

Room: Y24

This room contains:

  • 12 iMacs
  • Full AV
  • Movable 100-inch display screens
Interior of the Digital Print Studio

Digital Print Studio

Room: R51/53

This room contains:

  • R53/51 Duplex Printer
  • Vinyl cutting plotter
  • Epson sure colour P5000
  • Epson sure colour P8000
  • Epson sure colour T5200
  • Epson P 800
  • Epson 3880
  • Canon pro 1000
Interior of the Laser Cutting Studio

Laser Cutting Studio

Room: R07

This room contains:

  • Two universal laser machines (X660)
  • Four ultimaker 2D/3D printers
  • Two Roland MDX 540 mil CNC routers
  • Eligo Mars 2 pro resin printer
  • Lisa X sintering 3-D printer
Student in UCA Farnham library

UCA Farnham

This is our largest library space, which includes:

  • 55 iMac workstations
  • 41 PC workstations
  • 4 study pods with electrical connections and monitor
  • 2 study pods without monitor
  • 5 DSA Loanable laptops (students can borrow from the library only if approved by our Disability staff on DDA grounds, for an agreed period)
  • Large collection of LGBTQ+, Fashion, Feminist, Photography, Mental Health and Illustration Zines
  • Archives
     
Launch the Virtual Tour

Career opportunities

Graduates of this course can expect to further their skills and become experts in designing for digital platforms. Potential careers include:

  • Interaction and product designer
  • User Interface designer
  • Interaction design manager
  • UX/UI designer
  • Interactive designer

You may want to undertake further study or research to specialise even further.

Entry & portfolio requirements

For this course we will need to see your portfolio for review. You can either submit a digital portfolio or request an in-person portfolio review with the course team.

View postgraduate portfolio advice

Select your country to find the equivalent requirements

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