Extended Reality (XR) refers to the technology capable of complementing the reality we perceive (what we see, hear, and touch) with virtual elements—or even replacing it entirely with a virtual environment.
Its cross-sectoral nature and disruptive character make it indispensable in well-defined applications such as Industry 5.0 and Web 4.0, as well as in less defined emerging fields like the metaverse.
Offered jointly by the University of Vigo and the University of A Coruña, the Interuniversity Master’s in Extended Reality (masterXR) is a specialized and in-depth academic program focused on XR-related technology.
The program places strong emphasis on the agile production of projects developed in work teams, with the ability to progressively adapt to changes during the product development process.
The masterXR curriculum is structured into three semesters, totaling 90 ECTS credits. Two of these semesters include a specialization pathway that accounts for 25% of the program. The professional development module includes training in project management, entrepreneurship, and innovation, along with mandatory industry internships and a Master’s Thesis aimed at solving a real-world problem—fostering innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Why Study This Degree?
The European Commission’s Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 Initiative confirms the importance of Extended Reality (XR) in Europe’s current and future competitiveness. An annual growth rate of 36% is projected. Low-latency mobile technology (5G, 5.5G, 6G), combined with edge computing techniques, will facilitate the implementation of XR in individual applications that accompany users throughout their daily lives. The terms Industry 5.0 and Web 4.0 are directly associated with immersive technologies powered by XR.
Various reports indicate that 90% of numerous and diverse sectors—including aerospace, agri-food, audiovisual, automotive, social welfare, commerce, construction, education, energy, wood, maritime, healthcare, ICT, logistics, and more—are investing in extended reality and believe that expertise in these applications will be essential in the near future.
Globally, immersive technologies are expected to reach a combined market value of $650 billion by 2028, with an annual growth rate of 38%.
What is masterXR?
- It is a technical, demanding, applied, and multidisciplinary master’s degree.
- Focused on agile project development.
- The end user is a sine qua non condition.
- Teamwork is essential.
- For every need during the master’s program, only one software tool will be used. The tool is a means, not an end.
- On-campus attendance is limited to two afternoons per week — organize your time effectively.
- Be useful to the company that hires you from day one by contributing immediately to ongoing developments.
What masterXR is not:
- It is not a generalist master’s degree.
- You will not create content, 3D models, or textures — that’s the job of specialists. However, you will learn to manage and integrate this content into applications and understand how to interact with the production workflows of the departments responsible for generating it.
Who is this master’s program for?
In general, the ideal candidate holds a degree in a field related to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which is considered a preferred background. Applicants are expected to have skills in programming, algorithm design, and computer architecture.
If admission is requested with a technical degree not considered preferred, the Academic Committee will evaluate the application to determine whether it can proceed to be formally assessed.
Experienced professionals in the sector who wish to shift their career focus toward XR may apply for part-time enrollment, allowing them to combine their professional activity with the master’s studies.
Professional Environment
Today, both in Spain and across Europe, XR is increasingly being integrated across sectors such as Health, Industry, and Tourism, creating new business models based on the convergence between XR and industry at large.
However, 83% of companies in Spain report difficulty finding candidates whose profiles match their needs. To design the academic plan for this master’s program, input was gathered from more than 20 XR-specialized companies across Spain. Their contributions helped refine the curriculum content and confirm that the proposed graduate profiles align closely with industry requirements. The clearly technical — rather than generalist — orientation of the program has been widely praised, as it will equip graduates to actively contribute to product development from day one.
Career and Academic Opportunities
Extended Reality (XR) is a combination of technologies with cross-cutting applications in a wide variety of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, entertainment, education, advertising, tourism, and social welfare. This breadth results in a diverse graduate profile.
Among others, the following professional roles are possible, with applications across all the aforementioned sectors:
- XR Systems Developer: Ability to efficiently and scalably structure programming code and integrate it with available hardware devices.
- Designer of XR Experiences in Manufacturing and Logistics: Ability to advise companies on the implementation of custom XR solutions tailored to their production systems. This facilitates process improvement, cost reduction, and adds value to training and equipment handling experiences.
- Designer of XR Experiences in Healthcare and Wellbeing: Ability to advise companies and organizations on implementing XR solutions for disease treatment, rehabilitation, diagnostics, active wellbeing, prevention, and more.
- Consultant in XR Systems Optimization: Ability to analyze existing systems, identify issues, and solve them to improve performance.
- Project Management and Production: Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams using agile methodologies. The goal is always to develop a Minimum Viable Prototype (MVPr) as a critical step toward achieving a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
- Digital Twin Design and Implementation: Ability to contribute to the creation of virtual environments with physical models that optimize industrial processes through performance monitoring and prototype design. Relevant to Industry 4.0 and 5.0.
- Technology Consultant in Educational, Advertising, or Entertainment Applications: Ability to apply XR technologies to product promotion and sales, industry job simulators, audiovisual content production (films, video games, etc.), education support, and heritage promotion and enjoyment.
- Consultant in Disruptive Technologies: Ability to apply technologies related to the Augmented Connected Workforce to enhance employee capabilities. Web 4.0. A holistic view of the entire process of creating and applying multi-user virtual environments, with user experience and innovation as core values.
- Pathway to a Research Career: The depth of content covered facilitates integration into a research team and the development of a doctoral thesis.
Partner Companies and Institutions
The following companies and entities have expressed interest in collaborating with the program:
Companies based in Galicia:
Navantia, Inditex, Grupo Intaf, CINFO, Norlean, Kendra.
Companies in the rest of Spain:
ARsoft, xperienciavirtual, Virtualware, bexreal, deusens, imascono, mixonreality, broomx, brainstorm, Magic Fennec, innoarea, ludusglobal, oroi, invelon, spikatech, emersive, ibercover, iAR (industrial augmented reality), renacen.
Technology centers and similar institutions:
CITIC, Gradiant, AtlanTTic, CIS Tecnoloxía e Deseño, University Hospital Complex of Ferrol, Center of Excellence for the Naval Sector – Siemens, Automotive Technology Center of Galicia (CTAG), Aimen, Vicomtech.
DESCARGAR FOLLETO DEL MÁSTER
Contact
Antonio Pena Giménez
Master’s Coordinator
teleco.masterxr@uvigo.gal
School of Telecommunication Engineering
Campus Lagoas-Marcosende
36310 – Vigo (Pontevedra)