The master's programme in Design and Information at THWS focuses on the critical examination of social challenges and problems. Research through design, an interdisciplinary approach and individual projects are what make this master's programme so special.
Published on 13 February 2026
When most people hear the word "design," they think of aesthetic products such as flyers, websites, or the classic work done in a design agency. However, there is much more to the term "design" than that. "Design begins with recognising a problem or a challenge," emphasises Professor Erich Schöls. "We want to enable our students to independently formulate socially relevant questions and develop new, innovative, and creative answers to them." Professor Schöls has been teaching at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) for over 25 years and was instrumental in developing the concept for the master's programme in Design and Information, which launched in 2007 after two years of preparation. At the time, Würzburg was one of the few higher education locations in Germany to offer a consecutive master's degree in design. Consecutive means that the master's degree builds on a previous bachelor's degree, deepens content, and enables specialisation.
The Würzburg master's model
However, the master's programme in Design and Information is not intended to be a mere extension of the bachelor's programme. Rather, the master's programme aims to provide students with in-depth qualifications in creative thinking and working, which are becoming increasingly important in professional life and are reorienting the previous profile of design. Research through or with design is at the top of the agenda in this programme. "The design process begins with the independent identification of a problem," says Professor Schöls.
This led to the approach of students applying for the master's programme with their own topic proposal. The project topic can be freely chosen, but should demonstrate social, economic, or cultural relevance. This can cover everything from global challenges such as climate change to technological or medical issues. In addition to their own project, the high transdisciplinary component is an important part of the programme. Students earn a significant portion of their ECTS credits in subjects outside their own programme – always tailored to their own topic. These so-called IWPFs (interdisciplinary elective modules) enable students to develop in-depth expertise and also take exams in courses outside their own programme.
The structure of the three-semester master's programme
The standard time to degree of the master's programme in Design and Information is three semesters. The cohorts are often very small, with five to 14 students being the norm. The programme is based on two main areas: project theory and project practice. Both areas focus primarily on the students' own projects. "For theoretical and practical support, students choose a supervisor and meet regularly for comprehensive one-on-one discussions," explains Professor Schöls. "These meetings promote in-depth exchange and topic-specific reflection and enable individualised, practical training."
Another integral part of the programme is the so-called design lab. "The design lab is a very practically oriented seminar. There we conduct experiments and projects based on our topic," explains Paul Zweig, a first-semester student. Students also have access to a master's room – a place where many can meet and exchange ideas. In addition to the two main areas of project theory and project practice, accompanying seminars on scientific work, current technologies and much more are offered. "We always use the various courses on offer in connection with our topic," says Lisa Herbig, who is in her second semester. "This allows you to recognise and learn about far-reaching facets of your own project and delve even deeper into the subject matter."
The path to a master's degree in Design and Information
The application process is relatively straightforward: "First, you have to submit an exposé in which you describe your idea or project in more detail," explains Lisa. You are then invited to a digital interview or in person at the THWS. During the interview, you explain in more detail what you want to focus on and the direction your project could take. If all parts of the application are successful, you can start the master's programme at the beginning of the semester. "You start the programme with a very open focus, but the project usually takes shape during the second semester." The formal requirements are 210 ECTS credits and a bachelor's degree with a grade point average of at least 2.0.
Career opportunities after completing a master's degree
In the many years since the beginning of the master's programme, a number of extraordinary projects have been developed. Professor Schöls remembers some of them particularly well: the temporal reorganisation of duty rosters in hospitals, "AidHour", for example, pursued a revolutionary idea that optimises the working conditions of hospital staff without increasing costs. Another pioneering project was "Interactive visualisation for the exploratory analysis of RNA sequencing data", which was developed in collaboration with the Helmholtz Institute for mRNA Research in Würzburg.
In principle, the career path for graduates is very diverse. "In the past, many went to traditional agencies first, but now quite a few master's graduates work in research or research-related fields," explains Professor Schöls.
A master's degree in design with new perspectives
The master's programme in Design and Information is generally aimed at graduates of design-related bachelor's programmes. However, the range of creative bachelor's degrees has expanded somewhat in recent years due to increased supply. In any case, motivation, passion, and the relevance of your own project are decisive factors for your application. The master's programme is not only about design aspects. Instead, challenges are conceptually analysed, evaluated, and then redefined in order to arrive at new aesthetic solutions through "design thinking and doing".
Design has traditionally been classified as a service, but the master's programme in Design and Information is repositioning itself in this regard. The programme imparts a new creative qualification profile. "An important goal is to train students to recognise and evaluate everyday challenges and issues," explains Professor Schöls. "Based on this, they formulate a thematic approach and examine it from a scientific perspective." The students then develop a content-related design concept or one or more prototypical implementations. "This proactive design approach reveals solutions to problems at a very early stage, problems that society has often not yet recognised as such," says Professor Schöls. And this special focus really captures the essence of the master's programme: a modern approach to design doesn't just start with the usual briefing, but much earlier, with recognising and formulating your own task and coming up with new and innovative solutions for it in a creative, interdisciplinary way.
Paul recommends the master's programme to anyone who is interested: "If you want to do academic work and spend a long time exploring a topic of your choice, then definitely go for it!"
Master's programme in Design and Information at THWS
- Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Standard time to degree: 3 semesters (90 ECTS credits)
- Start of studies: summer and winter semester (every semester)
- Place of study: Würzburg, Sanderheinrichsleitenweg campus
- Study fees: none (only semester fees)
- Admission requirements: 210 ECTS, bachelor's degree with a grade of 2.0 or better, aptitude assessment procedure based on project proposal
Also have a look at part 2 of our two-part series about the master's programme in Design and Information and learn more about the StethoSCOPE project.
