Testimonials
Read what current and former students say about their study choice and experiences with the programme.
Nina Kersting, student
"We came up with a completely new product, analysed the target audience, planned the design, built two physical prototypes and evaluated our product at the end."
Are there any misconceptions about this programme, can you name them?
The HCI programme is not just AI, not pure UI/ UX design nor a robotics course. It offers a bit of everything and you always have the opportunity to choose the courses and project topics that best suit your own interests. There are no monotonous, boring lectures here! Instead, the courses are application-oriented and in every course there is teamwork and independent group projects. Active learning-by-doing instead of passive knowledge intake!
If you had to tell something about the programme you know now, but what you didn’t know before you started, what would you tell?
The programme is much more hands-on than I thought. My bachelor's degree was actually just listening to lectures and writing an exam at the end. Here, there is sometimes no final exam at all, but only the independent projects and deliverables during the period of the course count. It really prepares you for your future professional life!
What is your favourite subject of this programme? Could be a course, a project, an assignment, the thing you like most?
In the Interactive Technology Innovation course, we came up with a completely new product, analysed the target audience, planned the design, built two physical prototypes and evaluated our product at the end. I have never learned so much in a single course: ideation techniques, team organisation, customer journey, how to use laser cutters and 3D printers, qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods… and much more!
And on the contrary: what is the biggest challenge of this programme?
There is a lot of group work where you have to plan your own projects independently from start to finish. You need a very good time planning and have to make a lot of effort, but you always get effective support if you ask for it. If you show that you are interested, the teachers support you a 100 percent and do everything they can to help you.
Anything else you would like to share with prospective students?
It’s easy to get passionate about the HCI programme! The mixture of psychology and computer science not only makes the lessons inspiring and diverse, but also brings together people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This can enrich you in team work but also outside the university. I have built up a diverse circle of friends through my HCI studies!
Ruben Baggen, student
"In my opinion Human-Computer Interaction is one of the most important fields. Why? Well you can make a very fast computational programme but if no one understands how to use it, what is the point of it?”
What makes this programme unique in your eyes?
What makes Human-Computer Interaction unique is the focus on the end user of the IT systems. During this programme the system your designs need to have an usable and practical application for all kinds of different users and actors, which is often overlooked in more traditional computer science fields. The emphasis on making IT products accessible for all and not only those that have a deep understanding of computers is very rewarding. To achieve this the programme is very interdisciplinary mostly between computer science and social/cognitive psychology and this programme gives you a lot of freedom to choose which course you follow. Even courses in other fields.
Are there any misconceptions about this programme?
Human-computer interaction does not have to be as technical as it sounds, you can do a lot of courses that go in-depth in cognitive processes and how to translate those in computer processes, if you want. However, you can also choose to focus more on psychology, and research, especially because you work with inter-disciplinary teams in most courses.
If you had to tell something about the programme you know now, but what you didn’t know before you started?
If I were to give advice to new people I would say: try to meet a lot of new people and very a lot in courses also pick some outside the HCI domain to get to know new ideas you can apply in the HCI domain.
What is the future you?
I would describe myself as a creative person that loves to do research. So in a few years I strive to be a User Researcher in a creative company that makes interactive content for people.
Judith Masthoff, Programme Director
"I particularly like that our learning takes place in the context of real-world societal and research challenges"
Why choosing the HCI Master's programme?
Our Master’s programme provides strong research skills and in-depth expertise on all aspects of Human Computer Interaction (HCI). I particularly like that learning takes place in the context of real-world societal and research challenges. This allows our students to directly impact both enterprises and the scientific community.
We do great research here, in a wide range of areas, such as human-robot interaction, collaborative and social computing, emphatic systems design, user-modeling and personalisation, persuasive technology, and virtual reality. Students have the possibility to actively contribute in our research on these areas. In addition, we teach students how HCI is used in enterprises, such that they can become HCI entrepreneurs and consultants. Our elective courses allow students to learn more about related fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Psychology. I see HCI becoming increasingly important for AI; consequently, our HCI programme also contributes to this exciting field.
Sergio Griffin, Market Specialist at Facebook & UU Information Science alumnus
"Companies are looking strongly at people that can bridge the gap between people, companies and IT"
Why choosing the HCI Master's programme?
Human centered computing is starting to take a central role in the world that we live in. As a result, companies are looking strongly at people that can bridge the gap between people, companies and IT, to stay at the forefront of innovation. I’m very happy that I chose my studies in Information Science at Utrecht University to prepare me for this, as it has allowed me to be flexible enough to work in both technical and non-technical settings in a continuously changing environment.
Egon van den Broek, Programma Coordinator
"Our students can rely on a solid scientific base, while solving future challenges"
Why choosing the HCI Master's programme?
Our Master's programme Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is interdisciplinary by nature: it's both core information and computing science, and human-centered at the same time. We answer questions such as: How do we communicate with our computing devices? How will we do this, when they are ambient? How can we control them and make them intelligent, in parallel? We provide students with knowledge from information and computer science as well as psychology, and hand them tools (e.g. prototyping and research methods) to answer these kind of questions. Consequently, students in our programme can rely on a solid scientific base, while solving future challenges. I am excited to be the programme coordinator of this new interdisciplinary Master’s and look forward to train students in this field, preparing them to shape the future.
Martijn Kranen, Lead UX Design at bol.com
"In order to innovate in a meaningfull matter, UX and HCI are indispensable"
Why choosing the HCI Master's programme?
At bol.com, we are continuously looking for ways to make online shopping easier and more enjoyable. We listen carefully to our customers and partners that sell via our platform. We have the ambition to become the best webshop, by understanding what our customers' desires are. As Lead UX design, I put a great effort into this.
In order to innovate in a meaningful manner, it is crucial to understand human cognitive and emotional processes. UX and HCI are indispensable in this area. I believe that the next generation of students enrolling in these fields of expertise, will make the difference in a world of change, because they are more capable than others to build bridges between humans and technology.
Swathi Yerubandi, Customer Experience Researcher at ANWB & UU Information Science alumnus
"IT starts with its users, not with technology"
Why choosing the HCI Master's programme?
As Customer Experience researcher at ANWB the customer always comes first. What do they want, and how do they use our products and services via our website and apps? In order to serve them optimally it is crucial to think and act human-centered. IT starts with its users, not with technology. In this way you create value for your company and customers.
Peter Werkhoven, Corporate Science Director at TNO
"HCI is becoming increasingly more important in many societal domains"
Why choosing the HCI Master's programme?
At TNO, we connect people and knowledge in order to create sustainable innovations which boost both industry's competitive strength and society's well-being. I see this also reflected in the new Master’s Human Computer Interaction (HCI), which educates students to innovate by developing human-centered ICT. HCI is becoming increasingly more important in many societal domains, including defence, safety and security, healthy living, and industry. Consequently (and self-evidently), we would welcome HCI graduates at TNO to work on next-generation ICT and perhaps start as employee.