Data & network

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly
• a graduate training scheme

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• psychology
• human computer interaction (HCI)
• digital marketing
• product design
• graphic design

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Digital User Experience (UX) Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This will take around 4 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Volunteering and work experience

If you're working in an organisation that conducts user research, you could get work experience by volunteering to help in research sessions and user interviews. This would be useful, especially if you do not have a degree.

You can also get involved in the online user experience (UX) community for advice and tips, and to find a mentor to help you.

Direct application

You can apply directly to user research or digital design companies, or go through a specialist agency.

To apply, you'll need experience in:

• user-centred design practices
• running user research sessions in person and online
• different user research methods
• presenting user research findings in different formats

Other routes

You could apply for a place on a user research or marketing company's graduate training scheme if you have a degree, for example in digital marketing or product design.

More information

Career tips

It will be useful if you have experience of working in agile project development.

You can find further information on what a user researcher does at the Government Digital Service.

It will also help if you have a portfolio to show examples of your work to employers.

Further information

You can find out more about working as a user researcher from the User Experience Professionals' Association (UXPA) and techskills.

View all vacancies in this region

With experience you could move into a management role and supervise a team of user researchers. You could also work on larger, more complicated projects as a head of user experience or research.

You could become a business analyst, or product or service designer.