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User Experience Design

Official Dutch name - Communication & Multimedia Design

Twee studenten kijken naar presentatie student

Bachelor, Full-time 3 years

Type and variant

3 years, September

Duration and starting month

The Hague, Main Campus

Location

English

Lesson language

Bachelor, Full-time 3 years

Type and variant

3 years, September

Duration and starting month

The Hague, Main Campus

Location

English

Lesson language

Visit our Open Day

For you?

Interested in the English-language degree programme User Experience Design (UXD), a variant of CMD? It will be great to welcome you as one of our new UXD students in the next academic year. 

The key is to make a well informed study choice. That is why we want to give you a realistic picture of this three-year degree programme. 

Read more 
You always carry your smartphone, equipped with every social media and app imaginable. You exercise with a wireless heart rate monitor. Smart tools, sometimes connected to sensors, are part of your every day life. Apps and wearables are producing an endless stream of big data. But what makes that data valuable? 

When a user experience designer has to answer that question, they always look at the person who will use the new interactive concept. How important is it to the user? What fun will its users have? 

The Hague University of Applied Sciences offers two directions in design programmes. The first one is Interaction Design (Dutch), the second User Experience Design (English). Both directions appeal to the creative power of the students. The interaction designer uses this power for creating smart applications that can be used immediately. The user experience designer invents smart concepts. In both programmes you are  always looking for the best possible quality of interaction between humans and a system. Both directions lead to the same final qualification. 

Admission requirements

Everything about admission
Vorm Required profile
Havo (senior general secondary education) 
  • Does not qualify for admission
VWO (pre-university education) 
  • Culture & Society 
  • Economics & Society 
  • Nature & Health 
  • Nature & Technology 
MBO (senior secondary vocational education and training) 
  • Does not qualify for admission

Most of our bachelor programmes are four-year courses. Not this one. This challenging three-year programme is at a higher level than regular programmes. After three years of study you reach the same goals.  

You have a Dutch diploma 

To start this programme you should have a vwo diploma with an appropriate profile. This profile can be: Cultuur & Maatschappij, Economie & Maatschappij, Natuur & Gezondheid of Natuur & Techniek. 

You have a non-Dutch diploma 

You want to start the UXD-programme, but you don’t have a Dutch diploma. Then you need a secondary school diploma comparable to a Dutch vwo diploma plus a good command of English.

Before we can decide on your eligibility, we’ll need to assess your secondary school certificate.  
To make sure your certificate is evaluated fairly, we work with NUFFIC, an organisation that specialises in the assessment of international education qualifications. 

Language requirements 

If you were not educated in the Netherlands you usually have to submit a language test to be admitted. Depending on the type and country of your diploma you may however qualify for exemption. Please check our entry requirements page for more information. 

 

Don’t meet the entry requirements?

Perhaps your academic background is not quite the right level. Or you need some help improving your English skills. Don’t worry. There might be some alternative options to help you get in, and prepare yourself for a successful start of your studies at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS). 

Admissions Test 21+ 

If you’re 21 years old before 1 September 2022, but don’t have a diploma or a qualification that meets the entry requirements, you can take the 21+ Admissions Test. The 21+ Admissions Test is offered at several dates between January and the start of the academic year, and consists of a digital general capacity test. Please note that you can only participate if you have an EEA-nationality or residence permit for the Netherlands that is valid on the test date. 

English Academic Preparation Programme

Need help with your English? If you haven’t quite reached the right level of English for your chosen Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme, you can enrol for English Academic Preparation Programme. After the successful completion of this programme, you’ll be ready to start your degree at THUAS and you will already have a good taste of studying and living in the Hague. 

The Hague Pathway College 

If you’d like to apply for a 3-year bachelor programme but don’t meet the academic entry requirements, you might be interested in joining The Hague Pathway College. This foundation programme has two intakes, one in September and one in January. It offers you the chance to bring your academic level up to the required level and work on your English at an academic level at the same time.Please check www.thehaguepathway.nl for more information. 

 

Decisions regarding your qualification for admission

There are no exceptions to the official admission requirements. The Enrolment Office is the only party that can make decisions regarding your qualification for admission based on official regulations. You can’t rely on any other sources of information for your qualification for admission. 

Study choice activities

Join one of our study choice activities to find out if THUAS is the right fit for you.
groep studenten in atrium

Open Day

Open Day

Is THUAS right for you? A visit to an Open Day is the perfect way to find out.

Groepje studenten zit buiten bij elkaar

Shadow a student

On request

Shadow a student
On request

This is not a custom programme, but a regular school day. Spend the day attending classes together with a student. 

Twee studenten aan tafel

Trial Study Days

2023 - 2024

Trial Study Days
2023 - 2024

Visit us during the Trial Study Days and experience our programmes yourself. Spend the day attending classes together with a student. 

Degree programme content

What will you study each year?

Jumping into design practice

No, we’ll not bury you in books in this first year of User Experience Design. But, yes, you get a lot of introductory courses this year. In a very pleasant way. From day 1 you communicate with companies like Philips, IKEA and Google. You discuss with professionals, fellow students and lecturers how your ground-breaking ideas can change the way people use daily products.  
Doing this you’ll get an understanding of how the user interacts with technology. You begin to fill your toolbox with the basics of communication, prototyping, persuasive experiences, technical designing and programming. You learn how to turn simple ideas into experiences across digital and physical platforms. You’ll programme your digital skills looking at web technologies, mobile platforms (Android and iOS), processing, Arduino and sensor technology. 

View the curriculum here.

Block 1 and 2

Module 1 

  • Fieldtrip to LInz, Ars Electronica and intercultural skills 
  • Introduction to UX Design 
  • Research for design I 
  • Design and Creativity 
  • Skills Lab 

Module 2 

  • Interaction Design I 
  • Research for design II 
  • Psychology of Experience 
  • Project Bespoke Design 

Block 3 and 4

Module 3 

  • Interaction Design II 
  • Programming 
  • Building Engaging Prototypes 
  • Project Design for Emotion 

Module 4 

  • Digital playground 
  • Values in Design 
  • Persuasive Experiences 
  • Project Research and Design 

Digging deeper

After your User Experience Design explorations in year 1, you’ll start digging deeper at the beginning of year 2. You’ll turn serious ideas into viable business plans. You’ll always pay close attention to end users’ technology habits. To make your technological designs a success, you have to understand the social systems at the core of your ideas. You will appreciate that tastes differ. That international tastes differ even more. The international classroom at UXD will show you how different cultures experience technology.  You’ll learn how to cater for the world’s product needs.  
In the first two modules of year 2, you take a minor programme, you go on an exchange or internship. And in the first half of year 3 you make an in-depth exploration of the complexities of UXD. 

Internship 

Your internship will be your first long-term introduction to practice. During your internship you use your knowledge, skills and attitude for example for giants like Capgemini, Intel, Apple or another company. Do an internship at one of the many great design agencies in the Randstad. Or at an IT company, a large insurer or bank. As a junior user experience designer you think about creating new concepts.  
UXD is a global profession. So, why shouldn’t you use your toolbox in another country during your internship? In any case, you will discover which facets of user experience design appeal to you the most in practice. With that experience you can choose your minors or determine your graduation assignment.  

Your graduation 

You have almost finished your study. Just your graduation project. A challenge you take up without the help from your fellow students or lecturers in the second half of year 3. In the first half of this year you already have made an in-depth exploration of the complexities of UXD. This is really ‘all things UXD’! The graduation project gives you the opportunity to show which knowledge and skills you have collected in your toolbox during this three-years programme. After you have presented the results of your graduation project in a good effort you are ready to pack a punch in your new career as a digital pioneer. 
Working methods

Lectures, seminars, study visits, self-study, group activities and project work 

Our state-of-the-art workshops and lecture rooms are fully equipped with all the tools you’ll need for prototyping, research and programming. It’s a digital playground, where you’ll pitch your ideas and attend brainstorms - just like you would if you were to design a product or service for FedEx or Microsoft. UXD strikes an excellent balance between theory, group projects and regular assignments from top industry experts. To give you ‘the ultimate user-design experience’ we plan a field trip to the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz. 

Minors

Shape your degree 

In year 2 you’ll get the chance to deepen or broaden your knowledge and skills as a UX designer. You can do that on a minor at our own university or even at another university. If you want to deepen your knowledge and skills you apply for the UXD minor at THUAS. Do you prefer to broaden your knowledge and skills? Please take advantage of the various possibilities to do that. For example, maybe you want to use photography in your UXD career. In that case, be invited to apply for the minor Photography in Focus. This minor will give you a brief history of photography combined with practical photography masterclasses. Maybe you want to be challenged to target audiences online. Apply then for the minor Internet Marketing Tools. Are you interested in the match between UXD and gaming, you can apply for the minor Game Development and Simulation. This minor will prep you for a career in developing games with the basics of 3D modelling, simulation and artificial intelligence (AI). 

Testimonials

Get in touch with Matúš

Hey there! I am Matúš Majer from Bratislava, Slovakia. I'm 22 years old and currently in my third year of UX Design. I enjoy coming up with ideas to solve user needs and create something truly outside of the box! After hours, you can find me jamming on the guitar or playing video games. In case you have any questions, you can reach me by email or Instagram.

Ask Ananya any questions you have about the degree programme

Hello, Namaste, I am Ananya Madhur from Mumbai, India, majoring in UX design. My strong sense of empathy and an understanding of design tools drives me as a UX designer. I am 20 years old and in the first year of my study program. You can reach me on Email or Facebook.

Working with real clients

'We’re now working on a project for the canteen at THUAS to design an app that helps customers in making healthier choices. Through the app you get bonus points when you buy healthy food and you can use these points later to buy healthy smoothies. I really like the fact that we can combine research with working with real clients.'

Create something that really helps people

'It’s very interesting seeing what moves people, why they do things. And how you then adapt your design in such a way that your product can be used in a way that is fun and easy for people. Through our research, we can ultimately create something that can really help people.'

Why was it designed that way?

‘I like to concentrate on design and everything related to design: websites, apps and more. We learn techniques and how to do research in the way in which design is used. This is very interesting. You first need to know what you are doing it for, for whom and why. It means that a design does not have to be 'attractive', but that you do need to know why it was designed that way.’

On believing in yourself

This program is a true package deal: I get to design, work with people and make an impact. The first year you learn the basic UxD-skills, which is fun but doesn’t make much sense yet. Then in the second year, when you start to work on real assignments, the pieces of the puzzle come together. Working with clients during the program taught me a very important skill: to stand behind my idea and take pride in my work. Sometimes others need time to understand why your idea is so great.
Matúš Majer
Get in touch with Matúš
Ananya Madhur
Ask Ananya any questions you have about the degree programme
Felix Kaufman
Working with real clients
Grace Wabbijn
Create something that really helps people
Osman Öztürk
Why was it designed that way?
Isabel Fretter
On believing in yourself

Career perspective

What you will become

Dit word je wel

  • UX designer 
  • UX researcher 
  • Interaction Designer 
  • User Experience Designer 
  • Front-end developer   
  • Service Designer 
  • Social Designer 
  • Visual Interface Designer 
  • Information technology manager 
  • Mobile applications developer 

What you won’t become

  • Architect 
  • Graphical Designer 
  • Programmer 

Continue studying 

 If you’re academically inclined, you may want to follow a master’s after graduating from UXD. Because of UXD’s specific programme, there are as yet no master’s at THUAS that appropriately complement the UXD bachelor. However, our neighbours at the Delft University of Technology offer an interesting alternative, Human Technology Interaction. This master is focused on design. You could also apply for the Media Technology Master at Leiden University.  
 
Outside the Netherlands, UXD students can follow a master’s straight after graduation. You should note that some universities in the Netherlands require you to follow a pre-master’s course after graduating from THUAS. 

Testimonials from our alumni

What lies in store after studying User Experience Design? Our former students tell us where they ended up and how they look back on their study years.

On making changes through data

“What appeals to me in the UXD field, is that decisions must be driven by research and facts. There is no room for assumptions and pride. And working as a UX designer you get to work in any field. My love of sports made me apply for an internship and, later on, a job at Tonsser. This platform allows young footballers to build a reputation based on statistics, performance and videos. I’m proud to help change players lives for the better through the use of technology and data.”

On international experiences

“All the students in my year were international and it was such an exciting new step for all of us. The nice, small size of The Hague really helped me settle in and prepare for my internships in Barcelona and Paris. Having all these experiences in different countries helped me learn about new cultures, and it was also a self-discovery process. And the process continues, as I’m now going to do a Masters in the city of Amsterdam. I just love being a student!”

On ‘tough’ experiences

“In this programme you really learn to be proactive and that’s exactly what you need in the field of UXD. Sometimes, we were really pushed to be resourceful, for instance when finding an internship. Now I understand this ‘tough’ experience was exactly what I needed to prepare for the real world. During my two internships, I learned how to work with clients and put them at ease. And I also had the opportunity to learn what type of company suits me best. Because of this, I now have a job that I love.”
Paco Puylaert
On making changes through data
Helena Mäeorg
On international experiences
Kiril Karov
On ‘tough’ experiences

Practical information

What else do you need to know?

How to apply

Your enrolment request must be submitted through Studielink. Before you do, please check the official name of the programme below. Would you like to find out more about the application process first? Check our page How to apply The key deadlines are listed here as well. The key deadlines are listed here as well. This degree programme starts in September and there is no intake in February. 

Tuition fee

You will have to pay tuition fees when you enrol on a bachelor's programme. You can pay in one or more instalments. If you pay in more than one instalment a small administration fee is charged. 

More information about tuition fees 

Scholarships 

Find out more about scholarships for international students. Please note that these scholarships are one-off scholarships only, meaning that if you obtain them it is only for your first year of study. 

Student finance 

Dutch students qualify for extra financial support via a loan. Dutch students automatically qualify for this financial assistance and international students may be eligible if they have lived in the Netherlands for at least five years or are employed for at least 56 hours per month. 

Additional Costs 

You must also budget for books, excursions and field trips. You can expect to pay approximately €800 per year to cover these additional costs. During your semester abroad, you will also need to pay for tickets, housing and insurance. 

Visa and residence permit 

More information about the visas and residence permits. 

Help in choosing your study

We would like to help you make the right decision 

It takes a bit of thought and research to find the right programme. The Hague University of Applied Sciences organizes various activities throughout the year to give you the best possible idea of the various studies offered. You also learn what it’s like to study at THUAS. This way, you can click on the registration button without a doubt in mind. Or you’ll know for certain it’s not right for you.   

Walk in at our Study & Career Centre for…  

Assistance during your studies

Study coaching and advice 
We consider you as a designer from day 1. As a young professional. So we give you a lot of space to research and design independently. But even professionals who operate independently also need sometimes a nudge in the right direction. If you are unable to find a solution, please ask a lecturer or your classmates. Together we learn more. 

During this programme you will receive a study career counsellor. He or she is your coach and sparring partner in determining your study route and in choosing the teaching methods. In the first year you talk to your study career counsellor at least 3 times about you, your studies and the study progress. 

Official details of the programme

This degree programme is registered by the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes (CROHO) as follows: 

Official Dutch name: Communication & Multimedia Design
Official international name: Communication & Multimedia Design
Programme code (Isat): 34464  
Institution code (Brin): 27UM 

Both the official Dutch and international names of the degree programme (at the time of your graduation) will be printed on your certificate. 

More information on IPM programme accreditation by Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO)   

Downloads
Bindend studieadvies (BSA)

To continue your degree programme after the first year, you need to earn 50 of the 60 credits (EC or Credits). In some cases, the degree programme may also require that you pass a specific subject as pEuropean art of the credit requirements. We call this a qualitative requirement. If you meet the credit requirements as well as the qualitative requirement where applicable, you will receive a positive binding study advice (BSA) from the Examination Board at the end of your first year and you will be able to continue your degree programme. 

If you earn less than 50 credits or don’t meet the qualitative requirements where applicable, you will receive a negative binding study advice and will have to leave the degree programme. This is why this advice is called a Negative Binding Study Advice (NBSA).  

Your academic progress may be affected by personal circumstances such as illness or the professional practice of a sport. It is important that you inform the Examination Board immediately of any personal circumstances that might apply to you. The Board can take these into account when issuing its study advice. 

Read all the rules for the binding study advice in Chapter 7 of the Programme and Examination Regulations (PER) for your degree programme.