The Truth About UX Design Degrees
If you are considering a career in UXUI design you will have done your research and, I’m sure seen how competitive the industry has become over the last few years. One possible option you may considered is completing a degree in UX design or similar field. Using my own personal experience of completing a masters degree in UX, this article with provide you with the benefits and drawbacks related to completing a UX degree.
Not Always Realistic
One of the main disadvantages associated to a degree in UXUI design is that students learn methodologies by the book and not through experiencing real life application. The methodologies taught in universities can sometimes be outdated or more rigid than students will experience once they start at an ever evolving company(Interaction Design Foundation, 2021). Having a solid foundational understanding of theories and methodologies is important, however interviews will look for more than a ‘robot’ who can recite every law in the agile handbook.
What Employers Want
On the other hand, if you were to research any UXUI related job you will find many contain a preference for a formal qualification or degree of some kind. In fact several job description analysis discovered that as many as 59% of job descriptions provide a graduate degree as ‘nice to have’ or ‘mandatory’. The truth of the matter is that a degree is indeed a viable method of entry into the uxui industry. In fact I was able to secure my first full time UXUI role before I had even graduated. And this isn’t uncommon for a UXUI degree student.
The Cost
By far the biggest drawback associated to any degree at any level is the high cost. This can include cost in terms of time, but more importantly financial cost. The overall price will vary depending on your location but no degree is cheap(AJ&Smart, nd). I myself pay a percentage out of my monthly pay check, not only for my undergraduate degree but also for my masters degree. This also includes bonuses! I studied in the United kingdom where my masters degree alone was £7000. I was provided a loan for this, which I will be paying back slowly for many years to come, with interest!
Credibility
Although it comes at a price a degree program at a reputable university comes with a great level of credibility. Unlike many intensive bootcamp courses, you don’t need to be concerned about the reputation and level of credibility your degree will hold in the opinion of your future employers(AJ&Smart, nd). As explained on the Interaction Design Foundation(2021), more often than not employers prefer to hire graduates and in fact use a graduate certification as a way to filter out candidates during the hiring process.
Time to Completion
As mentioned briefly in the above paragraph on cost, another factor to consider when studying for a degree is the length of time to gain the certification(Brave Achievers, 2022). Take a standard undergraduate degree for example, it could take 3 to 4 years to complete. You should consider if you have this time to spare in order to learn. This is however a different story for a masters degree. My masters degree lasted a year on paper, but in reality I had finished and handed in my dissertation paper in under 8 months. This is a faster option if you have the previous qualifications to gain entry to the masters degree.
Knowledge Building
It may take substantial time and effort to complete the degree, however the level of in depth foundational knowledge you will acquire will be invaluable. You will have the chance to study uiux theory, principals and their application in detail. And as AJ&Smart(nd) confirm, this in depth foundational knowledge will be extremely helpful throughout your career as you need to communicate your design decisions to peers and customers.
In summary deciding to undertake a degree or masters degree in UX and or UI is a decision which shouldn’t be taken lightly. It will require hard work, dedication and finances. If you are willing to put in the effort however you will be rewarded with creditable foundational knowledge and a certification which will aid you when finding a UXUI role.You should research not only the universities you are considering but also the courses they provide.
References
AJ&Smart. (nd). UX Bootcamp vs Design Degree: Which One Should You Choose? Available at: https://www.workshopper.com/post/ux-bootcamp-or-design-degree
Brave Achievers. (2022). UX Design Bootcamp vs. Design Degree; which is better? Available at: https://www.braveachievers.com/post/ux-design-bootcamp-vs-design-degree-which-is-better
Interaction Design Foundation.(2021).Do I Need a Degree to Work In User Experience? Available at: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/do-i-need-a-degree-to-work-in-user-experience
Pybus. L.(2021).Becoming a UX researcher out of grad school? Your advantages and disadvantages. Available at: https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/becoming-a-ux-researcher-out-of-grad-school-your-advantages-and-disadvantages-bd5416b4e26d
