Design Informatics MSc
Awards: MSc
Study modes: Full-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Design Informatics
Design informatics combines data science with design thinking in a context of critical enquiry and speculation.
The central premise of design informatics is that data is a medium for design: by shaping data, we shape the world around us. Data science provides the groundwork for this, with design thinking underpinning reflective research through design.
We build a value-aware, reflective practice at the interface between data and society by combining theory and research with an open-ended process of making and hacking.
What will I learn?
You will use the above concepts in working with:
- the internet of things and physical computing
- basics of data science
- usable privacy and security
- data ethics
- blockchain technologies
You will connect technology with:
- society
- health
- architecture
- fashion
- bio-design
- craft
- finance
- tourism
You will also look at a host of other real-world contexts, through case studies, individual, and collaborative projects.
You will understand user experience in the wider socio-cultural context, through an agile programme of hacking, making and materialising new products and services.
Throughout the programme, you will be working both individually and in teams of designers and computer scientists. Everyone will have to write code during the course, and everyone will have to make physical objects.
Several courses, including the dissertation, will involve presenting the artefact, product, service, or interactive experience that you have created to the general public in a show.
Compulsory courses
- Design Informatics: Histories and Futures
- Data Science for Design
- Case Studies in Design Informatics 1
- Design with Data
- Design Informatics Project
- Masters Dissertation
In Design with Data, you are likely to work with an external partner, such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh City Council, or the National Museum of Scotland.
Candidates with a background in digital design, industrial design, art, architecture, and related subjects are expected to apply to the MA in Design Informatics, which is the partner programme administered by Edinburgh College of Art.
Option courses
In addition to the compulsory courses, you can choose 1-2 elective courses from the Masters programmes in the:
- School of Informatics
- Edinburgh College of Art
- Edinburgh Futures Institute
- other schools in the College of Science and Engineering
- other in schools in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
This degree will put you at the cutting edge of the intersection between data science, design, and information technology.
This will open a host of opportunities in working with companies, charities, and the public sector. We encourage entrepreneurship.
For those who wish to deepen their research practice, the course provides a solid foundation for a PhD in related areas.
These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in computer science, informatics, artificial intelligence, physics, engineering, psychology, philosophy, linguistics, or neuroscience.
Your application should show evidence of solid computer programming skills in a programming language; HTML and web design do not count, but relevant mathematical and statistical scripting languages such as R and Matlab do. This evidence can be either a certificate in a relevant MOOC, or a course in programming that you have successfully passed. If your degree involves a final project, your mark in that project should be a B or higher.
Your personal statement should discuss why you are interested in the programme, as outlined above and on the Centre for Design Informatics web site, your background or interest in design, art, and information visualisation, and your relevant programming skills.
Students from China
This degree is Band C.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Read our general information on tuition fees and studying costs:
School of Informatics scholarships
See potential funding for Informatics students
Scholarships and student funding
You can find funding opportunities, tuition fees and costs of living for prospective UK and international postgraduate students on the University website.
You are also encouraged to undertake your own research into the range of potential scholarships and other funding outside the University for which you may be eligible.
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- School of Informatics Teaching Organisation
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5194
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- School of Informatics Teaching Organisation
- 6th Floor, Appleton Tower
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LE
- Programme: Design Informatics
- School: Informatics
- College: Science & Engineering
Applying
This programme is not currently accepting applications. Applications for the next intake usually open in October.
Start date: September 2022, September
Awards: MSc (12 mth FT)
Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.
We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.
We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline.
We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.
If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:
- your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you know, or
- your application is still being considered, will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline and we will be in touch once a decision is made
Selection Deadlines
Round | Application Deadline | Decisions made or applications rolled to next deadline |
---|---|---|
1 | 31 January | 31 March |
2 | 31 March | 31 May |
3 | 31 May | 31 July |
*(Revised 10 November 2022 to clarify when decisions on applications will be made.) *(Revised 11 November to update application and selection deadline dates.)
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- School of Informatics Teaching Organisation
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5194
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- School of Informatics Teaching Organisation
- 6th Floor, Appleton Tower
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LE
- Programme: Design Informatics
- School: Informatics
- College: Science & Engineering