Master in Interaction Design SUPSI FAQ
Admission requirements
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What background do I need to participate in the program?
The program is multidisciplinary. The class is usually composed of designers from all disciplines, architects, engineers and individuals interested in interaction design. We look for talented people open to working in a team, with a positive attitude towards learning and facing new challenges.
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Which are the admission requirements?
The requirements for acceptance are:
A bachelor's degree in Design (graphic design, industrial design, interior design, media design, web design, etc) or an equivalent diploma.
Students with a bachelor's degree in fields such as architecture, engineering, humanities, fine arts, and business management are entitled to apply. Their applications are subjected to the approval of the Board of the Master and they might require some extra ECTS credits, which can be obtained before or during the program.
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Which documents are required to apply?
- Passport photograph
- Diplomas
- Transcript of Records
- Portfolio
- Letter of Motivation
- Curriculum Vitae
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Which online courses do you suggest to obtain the required extra ECTS credits?
There are some schools which offer online courses that you could easily attend in order to learns some basic skills about the interaction design, thus acquiring some extra ECTS credits:
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Do I need to submit an English Language Certificate?
No, we do not require any language certificate. Your level must be good enough to interact with the teachers and to present your projects.
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I do not have a degree, but I have professional experience in fields related to design, technology, communication and innovation. Can I apply?
No. The requirement for the acceptance to the Master of Arts in Interaction Design is a bachelor degree in Design (graphic design, industrial design, interior design, media design, web design, etc.). Students with a bachelor degree in fields such as architecture, engineering, humanities, fine arts, business management or with a degree in other fields are entitled to apply. If accepted, they might obtain extra ECTS credits by attending online courses or courses offered by SUPSI before or during the program.
Tuition
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How much are the Master's fees?
A CHF 100 fee must be paid when the application is made. This fee is not reimbursable, and cannot be deducted from the semester fee.
The semester fee amounts to CHF 1,600. This sum is reduced to CHF 800 for students who benefit from the application of the ASUP Intercantonal Agreement for Vocational Universities (Swiss nationality or civil and fiscal domicile in Switzerland or in Liechtenstein). Specific agreements apply for students residing in Campione d’Italia.
For international students, the total cost of the master's is CHF 4'800. For students who benefit from the application of the ASUP, the total cost of the master's is CHF 2'400.
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When do I have to pay the tuition fee?
The tuition fee is divided in three installments, which correspond to the fee for each of the three semesters of the full master. The invoice for the autumn semester is issued in August and has to be paid by the end of September. The invoice for the spring semester is issued in December and has to be paid by the end of January.
Content
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Do I need prior knowledge of specific software and hardware?
Some people are already experts in software, others have no programming experience at all. Workshops of the first module allow students to acquire or increase their knowledge in programming, electronics, digital fabrication to make prototypes work. We ensure enough faculty support and the class composition facilitates peer learning.
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What is the daily schedule like?
The schedule is usually everyday from 9:30 until 18:00. Students develop their project with the support of the teachers. Some days are dedicated to the personal work. The presence is mandatory only when the teachers are in class.
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What tools, software, and materials do I need to participate in the program?
You have to bring your own laptop. Most of the software we teach is open-source or free such as Processing, Arduino, HTML, javascript, D3js, and Fusion 360. Physical and electronic prototyping materials such as wood, metal, fabric, paper, electronic components, etc. are included in the tuition fee. Some courses have an assigned budget and the students are asked to stay within that.
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Do you arrange and offer an internship during and after the program?
No, we do not arrange and offer any internship. However, during the program, students get in touch with professionals and companies that are interested in acquiring interns. We facilitate the creation of network, but the final agreement depends on the right match between students and professionals.
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Where do students work after graduating?
Our graduates find work all over the world at the main design agencies, hi-tech companies, start-ups and organizations such as Frog Design, Fjord, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Philips, Trivago, etc. Some of them have started their own business and successful start-ups. The employment rate for our graduates is almost 100%. Some of them start working as soon as they complete their studies while others find a qualified job within 6 months.
Practicalities
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What documents are required for registration?
For the application procedure, the scans (PDF) of the following files are required:
- Passport photograph
- Diplomas
- Transcript of Records
- Portfolio (max. 12 Mb)
- Letter of Motivation
- Curriculum Vitae
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Do I need a visa to participate in the program?
Extra-EU citizens require a visa to reside in Switzerland for the duration of the program. EU citizens participating in the program need to apply for the residence permit upon their arrival in Switzerland to study, no visa is therefore required. You can find detailed information about permit and visa here.
Even if we do support students, a visa is not guaranteed as this is a separate administration process over which SUPSI has no control. We suggest starting the visa process as soon as you are enrolled because it requires from 1 to 4 months to get approved and issued. -
Does the university provide the accommodation?
No, students have to find accommodation by themselves. However, SUPSI helps by providing information about housing solutions. On this page the school regularly publishes some ads about shared flats or small studio apartment for rent in the area around Mendrisio. More details with the the list of platforms for the apartment search are also available here.
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What is the average monthly budget for living in Switzerland?
Most participants manage comfortably on a monthly budget of around 1500 CHF (approx. 1350 Euro). This includes food/rent in shared accommodation. This amount varies and is related to personal choices.
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Can I work while studying at the program?
To complete and get the certification, you must attend at least 75% of each course schedule. This condition reduces the possibility to work regularly. During the first and second semesters, from September to June, all courses are organized as intensive workshops whose schedule requires full-time attendance from morning to late afternoon. While working during evening hours can be possible, we strongly discourage students to do so. During the third semester, the thesis module, attendance is not mandatory therefore it is possible for students to combine the thesis project development with an internship at design agencies, industries, and hi-tech companies.
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Where is the SUPSI campus?
The Master of Arts in Interaction Design is at SUPSI campus in Mendrisio, Ticino, Switzerland. Main distances are: 15km from Lugano, 10km from Chiasso (Italian border), 50km from Milan, 250km from Zurich (main entry port).