Goal

The programme can be completed as a full-time (1,5 years) or part-time student (2 years).

Study Objectives

The Master’s Degree Programme in Service Design answers the constantly growing competence requirements and needs in service design, businesses and working life. The profile of the programme is on the combination of design thinking, business and society and the focus is on the area of service design. To learn to design, develop and implement the tasks by sharing information and communication in collaboration with the customers and stakeholders belong to the main objectives of this programme. The different professional and cultural backgrounds of the students will enable a dynamic and interactive learning environment. It gives the students a great chance to create new networks with other experts beyond fields, both in Finland and globally.

The degree programme in Service Design delivers generic competences and programme specific competences. The competence includes knowledge, skills and attitudes. With the programme specific competences, the student will be able to:

• Implement Design Thinking principles
• Create ideas and solutions with the help of Service Design approach
• Analyse and develop services through critical thinking
• Develop teamwork skills and manage different projects in national and international context
• Understand the aspects of cultural, social, economic and sustainable activities in Service Design
• Implement ethical and working community competences

General eligibility for Master’s degree programmes at universities of applied sciences according to the recommendation for admission criteria. Eligibility for a UAS Master’s degree programme is conferred by an appropriate UAS Bachelor’s degree or another appropriate higher education degree and at least two years of subsequent work experience in a relevant field.

Thesis

The Master's thesis is a working life-based development project and an important part of the Master’s degree. The Master’s thesis is a demanding development project or research work combining theory, praxis and creation of new knowledge. Students are given the freedom of choice to concentrate on those topics, which are of special interest to them as well as to their present and future career plans.

Usually, the thesis subjects and aims are based on requirements and needs of working life. The thesis is an applied study research, and it emphasizes development of the work, the organisation or the working community. Conducting the Master’s thesis project requires independent and demanding expertise. The student gives proof of mastering the methods of retrieving information, research and development as well as the skills of adapting research information in an analytical and critical manner.

In the Master’s thesis the student is able to:

• combine theoretical framework and pragmatic work with the contextual needs in a development or research project
• network and communicate professionally with relevant organisations and communities
• evaluate critically sources and methods, select the suitable ones and use them systematically and ethically
• document, report and give a presentation of the project or research status and the final results

Some recently published Master’s theses (click on the name of the theses to read it)

• Raitanen, Noora. 2020.
  Service Designing Co-working Possibilities. Internal Communication in Virtual Expert Teams.
• Salmivalli, Riina. 2020.
  Aiming for Behaviorally Aware Digital Design : Creating a Training Concept in Digital Nudging
• Hafeez, Kirsi & Menard, Päivi. 2019.
  Co-developing the Immigrant Integration Services of the Järvenpää’s Immigration Office Verso
• Pietinen, Kalle. 2019.
  Project Management Office: The process of creating a PMO concept
• Totaj, Armela. 2018.
  Designing a New Service Concept for Reducing Culture Shock : Case expatriates in Albania

Career Opportunities

The programme in Service Design leads to a higher professional qualification, and it is strongly oriented towards working life. After graduation the students will be prepared to work with leadership and service design tasks within different organisations which want to develop their services.

The programme also gives students an insight in starting or developing their own business. The studies give students an advanced knowledge base for leadership tasks of multi professionals and tools for the future leadership challenges in the business.

Internationalisation

An international learning environment will be realized by students and teachers having an international background and experience.

Language of Instruction

The programme is offered in English.

Cooperation With Other Actors

The studies are planned and organized in a multi professional way in collaboration with Turku UAS and Novia UAS.

The focus, study contents and ways of implementation of the programme are planned together with the working life interest groups. Close contacts and co-operation with the working life also continue in programme implementation and continuous development.

Continuing Education Opportunities

With a Master´s degree, students are able to continue to university post-graduate (licentiate/doctoral) studies, however universities may at their own discretion have specific admission requirements for post-graduate studies that must be met in addition to a completed Master’s degree.

Research Focus

Studies are characterised by a research and development approach. The students are welcome to join potential research and development projects running at the university of applied sciences.

Qualification

The Master’s Degree Programme in Service Design is a university of applied sciences post-graduate degree.

Under the Finnish legislation, a person who has taken the Master’s degree is qualified for posts or positions for which the qualification requirement is a second-cycle higher education degree. In some cases, the qualification requirement also includes the completion of studies in certain specified fields of study. The degree falls under the Article 11 of the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications, level e.