Master of Science

Human Factors

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Specialist knowledge of man and machine

Have you ever been annoyed by a vending machine whose menu navigation was simply not clear? Do you want to use your knowledge of usability and ergonomics to create better products? Then Human Factors is the right course for you!

  • ECTS: 90 ECTS
  • Programme duration: 3 semesters
  • Campus: Tuttlingen
  • Faculty: Faculty II: Engineering & Technology
  • Programme begins: winter semester (October), summer semester (March)
  • Application deadline: 15 July (winter semester), 15 January (summer semester)
  • Entry requirements: relevant bachelor's degree
  • Teaching language: German
  • Accreditation: yes
  • Your basis You've already studied something to do with human-machine interaction, such as engineering psychology, and want to delve deeper into this topic. You value interdisciplinarity.
  • Shape the products Help shape future technology trends. How should displays react to inputs, what sound should be used for what, what is perceived as intuitive? Set the new standards!
  • Small but very cool The Tuttlingen Campus is Furtwangen University's youngest and smallest campus. It is characterised by cutting-edge technology in the laboratories and a team that always has an open ear for problems and concerns.
  • Closer to practice Thanks to our special model at the Tuttlingen Campus - the Public Private Partnership - you are much closer to the real everyday life of the companies and their issues.

Details of the programme

Programme content and structure

Academic focus

In this master's degree programme, we focus on all aspects that lead to human-centered technology and system design and thus to optimal human-machine interaction. This enables you to make well-founded decisions taking into account technical, psychological and ethical principles. Our students deepen their analytical, psychological, design and engineering knowledge. The focus is on ergonomics, usability, engineering psychology and user experience. Over the course of three standard semesters, we impart in-depth knowledge of ergonomic and human-centered product design, qualitative and quantitative empirical research as well as usability and user experience evaluation. During your studies, you'll also take a free human factors specialisation module and a human factors project. Here you can focus on a specific industry or take a holistic approach to a current human factors topic as a group. The master's thesis is completed in the third semester. The master's in Human Factors at the Tuttlingen Campus is awarded the academic degree of Master of Science (MSc).

 

Core topics of the HF master's

  • Usability
  • Human-machine interaction
  • Ergonomics
  • User Experience
  • Engineering Psychology
  • Human-centered Design
  • User Research
  • Human Factors Engineering

Entry requirements

What do you need to bring with you?

To apply for the HF master's, you need a first degree in a technical and/or psychological subject (210 ECTS credits). We expect proof of specialist knowledge in at least three of the following areas. Missing basics can be made up in individual cases.

  • Technology (e.g. mathematics, physics, construction technology, automation technology, production technology, etc.)
  • Psychology (general and biological psychology, psychological methodology and statistics, work and organisational psychology, etc.)
  • Information processing (computer science, programming, etc.)
  • Human factors (engineering psychology, ergonomics, user-centered design, human factors engineering, etc.)

What's covered

Your career prospects

Bright prospects

The master's degree programme in Human Factors prepares you for a career in research and development and for taking on management responsibilities. Our graduates take a holistic view of development processes and place the human factor at the centre of their work. Positioned at the interface, you consider the functionality, ergonomics, safety, usability, sustainability and innovative capacity of products and work systems and incorporate the "user experience" into the design. With your interdisciplinary expertise, you are in high demand across all industries. Human Factors is therefore your master plan for the future!

Possible future career paths

  • Empirical research, user research and user requirements engineering
  • Design and evaluation of user interfaces
  • Human factors and usability engineering in the capital goods sector (e.g. mechanical production systems)
  • User experience (UX) design of interactive products
  • Consulting and services in the field of human-machine interaction
  • A doctorate at one of our partner universities or as a cooperative doctorate at the Faculty II: Engineering & Technologies opens up further prospects for you.

Labs & equipment

Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5010)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5011)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5012)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5013)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5014)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5015)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5016)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5017)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5018)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5019)
Human Factors - Become a human-machine interpreter (I5020)

Faculty II: Engineering & Technology

With us, you’ll immerse yourself in a world where ideas become groundbreaking technologies! As part of our renowned engineering forge, the degree programmes in this field will prepare you for a career in which you’ll not only develop machines and technologies, but also help shape the future of medicine and industry. From mechanical engineering to medical engineering and industrial technologies – with us you’ll learn how engineering knowledge is used in practical, often life-changing, applications.

Internal link opens in the same window:More about the Faculty II

As one of the strongest research universities in the state, HFU is also very active on the Tuttlingen Campus – which is also home to our Innovation and Research Center (IFC). Click here to see Internal link opens in the same window:current research projects at HFU.

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