Do not index
Do not index
Is getting a Master’s degree in UX Design Worth It?
It really depends on a few things:
1. The School, program, instructors and networking
The quality of the school and program matters a lot.
Some offer great instructors, hands-on projects, and real-world experience that help you build a solid portfolio.
Also, consider the networking—a strong program can connect you with industry people, which is huge for landing a job later.
2. Your learning style and motivation
How do you learn best?
If you need structure, deadlines, and support, a Master’s might be a good fit. But if you're a self-starter, there are plenty of resources—like online courses, books, and articles—that can teach you UX without a degree.
A lot of people in UX have skipped formal education and taught themselves (like me), and they're doing just fine.
3. Your finances and what you’re willing to sacrifice
Cost is a big factor.
A Master’s can be expensive, so you’ll need to decide if it’s worth the investment. Don’t forget about living expenses or the income you might miss if you study full-time.
That said, if you can afford it and think it’ll pay off in the long run, it could be worth it for your career.
4. How much will it actually boost your earnings?
Ask yourself: How much will this degree really help when it comes to earning more or getting a better job? Check the salary difference between UX designers with a Master’s vs those who’ve done bootcamps or self-taught.
If the salary bump isn’t huge or it won’t make a massive difference in your career, you might find other ways to gain experience are a better option.
Should I join a UX bootcamp to grow my UX career?
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of bootcamp. However, your UX education should be deeply personal.
Whether it’s reading, listening, watching, or doing. Tailor your education to your preferences from the start.
User Experience Design is a vocation not a profession.A vocation is generally a job that requires a particular set of skills acquired through experience or through training but not necessarily dependent on a college degree. Profession refers to the career that one opts for, getting extensive training and acquiring special skills to become eligible for a job in it.
Free UX courses
Free courses are a great way to try (before buying) and validate whether UX design is for you. If you’re a disciplined self-learner, you may never have to pay for a UX education (like me).
If you’re unsure about going all-in, below are my recommended free courses:
Paid UX courses
Paid courses are immersive. Great for someone who’s decided to become a UX designer and needs a more structured learning approach.
Paid UX courses are not cheap and require a lot of commitment.
- Ask yourself how much time can you dedicate each week to learning UX?
- How much flexibility do you need in terms of scheduling?
- What’s your budget realistically?
Bootcamps, paid courses, and certificates are NOT essential.
Courses sometimes offer UX certificates — this is also NOT important and WON’T get you hired. Applying what you learned and showing evidence WILL.
Be careful of job guarantees, it’s most likely wrapped in lengthy terms and conditions.
A good paid UX course offers these 5 things:
- Project-based learning — a course that requires you to get hands-on to master the right practical skills, not just theory.
- A tangible portfolio piece — a course that leads to at least one portfolio project and helps you refine it, ready for the job market.
- Human support — a course that offers at least one industry expert, be it a mentor, a tutor, or (ideal scenario!) both.
- Career support — a course that offers specialist career support, for example, coaching throughout your job search.
- Expert curriculum — a core syllabus written (and continuously updated) by expert curriculum writers, not third-party curated content writers.
Ultimately, if you’re paying for a UX course, you want the full package.
Here are some of my favourites:
I wrote an analysis of 8 paid UX courses below 👇
Design degrees
Design degrees are getting more common, however, it’s NOT necessary to attend university to become a UX designer.
What’s more important is your experience and the work your show on your portfolio. Nevertheless, there are tremendous schools that offer Human Computer Interaction (HCI) degrees.
These are:
For more on design degrees, check out Top UX School for rankings.
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