Master's Programme in Innovation and Design

We are convinced that broad competence in innovation and design from a holistic perspective is needed to deal with future challenges. In the international Master's programme in Innovation and Design, you acquire specialist theoretical knowledge and practical skills for interacting in a global market. After your studies, you will be competitive in the labour market and prepared for doctoral studies.

This is an interdisciplinary programme combining subjects such as engineering science, social science and the humanities, but also perspectives taken from the world of art. You acquire knowledge of innovation processes for the development of services and products, considering sustainability and how innovation and design affect users and organisations. The courses within the programme help to develop your ability to work in interdisciplinary projects with both national and international organisations. You can also choose to specialise within your own competence area, such as user experience (UX), design processes, agile methods or simply any kind of creative field of knowledge.

Several of the courses obtain different projects in collaboration with companies. Collaboration also takes place with the public sector at the regional and national levels. Working with current challenges and real-life problems will guarantee that the programme is relevant and that there is a clear link to a career in innovation and design.

In addition, several of the courses have a clear link to the research conducted within Innovation and Product Realisation at the University, and you have an opportunity to take an active part in MDU's prototype workshops, digital cooperation platforms and Living Lab.

The international Master's programme in Innovation and Design has been developed in collaboration with stakeholders outside academia and is aimed at creating a clear link to the labour market. You will acquire both theoretical and practical competencies, and learn about innovation management, design processes and communication in complex organisations. The study programme includes qualitative research methods and skills in how to collaborate with partners outside the University in interdisciplinary projects.

The programme itself is multidisciplinary, combining disciplines such as engineering, the social sciences, and the humanities, as well as perspectives drawn from the arts. The courses help you to develop your capacity for multidisciplinary collaboration, both nationally and internationally. You will also develop your knowledge in an area defined by yourself within the field of innovation and design.

After your degree, you will have a broader understanding of central concepts and theories in innovation and design. You will also acquire the skills needed in innovation processes for service and product development to operate in international projects which span the humanities, the social sciences, engineering, and the health and welfare sector. The wide-ranging programme content will give you a solid advantage in securing an academic research career; it will also prepare you for qualified management work in the private and public sectors.