Smart technology has already become a staple in our everyday lives and with the further development of artificial intelligence and the internet of things, our relationship with technology will only continue to increase. But like any relationship, our relationship with technology requires clear communication – which is where the Human Computer Interaction and Design (HCID) comes in.
By developing intuitive user interfaces and easy-to-use interactive systems, HCID facilitates how we ‘talk’ to our smart devices. With the EIT Digital master’s programme in Human Computer Interaction and Design, you will get the skills and knowledge needed to design the systems that define this interaction.
The study pathway is interdisciplinary with courses on design and evaluation of interactive systems and a strong emphasis on user-centred design techniques. It also embeds a set of courses on Innovation & Entrepreneuship, as part of the I&E Minor in common with all the other EIT Digital Master School study tracks.
This programme is developed and co-funded through the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme Project “ARISE” under Grant Agreement no. 101225600.
First-year program at POLIMI
Located in one of the world’s design capitals, Politecnico di Milano is a vibrant crossroads of cultures where design, architecture, and art meet technical, scientific, and engineering disciplines. The university offers a highly qualified entry-point for the Human-Computer Interaction and Design master’s programme, built on the strong synergy between the School of Design and the School of Industrial and Information Engineering. These institutions have a long-standing tradition of excellence in multidisciplinary education, cutting-edge research, collaboration with industry, and innovation. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025 by Subject, Politecnico di Milano ranks 1st in Italy, 6th worldwide in Design, and 21th worldwide in Engineering and Technology.
Multidisciplinary context
I3Lab is a multidisciplinary research group, led by Franca Garzotto, including students from the Master and Doctoral Schools, Research Assistants, and external consultants, with heterogeneous backgrounds – software engineering, human-computer interaction, psychology, and design. One of the aims is to focus on children with special needs, in order to promote social, emotional and intellectual benefits.
Hint Lab, led by Maristella Matera, focuses on human-centred processes for the design of interactive technologies, empowering users to effectively control and interact with computing systems across different domains, improving the accessibility, inclusivity and transparency of technology. We address HCI methods that pose the final user at the center of the entire development process, by providing design frameworks for interactive systems that exploit Smart Environments, Conversational AI, and IoT.
The HCID major is a study track within the Polimi’s degree programme in Computer Science and Engineering (M.Sc.). Therefore, this entry university is best suited for applicants with a bachelor degree in Computer Engineering (or equivalent programmes). This means a strong base of ICT, computer science, programming and engineering courses in your transcript of records, including physics and math courses at academic level.
The first-year program of HCID at Polimi provides 60 ECTS. It includes a technical common base in Computer Science and Engineering, with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction (36 ECTS); the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Minor (20 ECTS) and a thematic I&E Summer School (4 ECTS).
The following summarises the program for the first year. Please notice that, on the basis of the curriculum of previous studies, the Admission Committee at Politecnico can specify some directions on the individual study plans, regarding the choice of courses to be attended.
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(*) The Summer School takes place between the first and second year, being computed among the 60 ECTS of the first year. It brings students together for two weeks to work in groups on a business modelling and planning project in the context of a societally relevant thematic area. Summer Schools take place at different locations throughout Europe, supporting a multidisciplinary and international dimension, with a clear EIT Digital flavour to education. You can choose the one you like to attend from the catalogue of Summer Schools organised by EIT Digital and published at the beginning of the first semester.
Detailed descriptions for Polimi courses on our Manifesto degli Studi
Second year abroad
During the second year, students have the option to specialise in one of the technical areas that are offered by their respective Exit Universities, providing 30 ECTS of exams + 30 ECTS for the Thesis. Please, refer to their local programs for the second year study plans, you can find them on the EIT Digital Master School webpage for Human-Computer Interaction & Design.
Double Degree
At the end of the programme, a Master degree will be awarded by both universities involved in the mobility pathway (namely, by Polimi and by your exit university). Moreover you will receive an “EIT label” certificate, which attests to the Innovation and Entrepreneurship skills acquired during the programme.
EIT label: a seal of quality for entrepreneurial education
The EIT Label, granted by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), recognises education programmes that develop practical skills in innovation and entrepreneurship, preparing students to address real-world challenges. Courses that bear our EIT Label are all guaranteed to make sure you’re getting hands-on experience across Europe that directly prepares you for your chosen sector and connects you to the like-minded people ready to help get your ideas off the ground.
Contacts
 | Maristella Matera HCID & ARISE Coordinator at Polimi |
 | Franca Garzotto HCID Coordinator at Polimi |
 | Federico Schiepatti EIT Digital Programme Manager at Polimi For info: federico.schiepatti@polimi.it |