HCD Global Immersion · Design Innovation Centre, IIT Hyderabad
One certification. Nordic universities. A career in global design.
A hybrid programme for recent graduates in design and engineering — built to prepare you for top global universities focused on sustainability, systems thinking, and human-centred design. Certification from IIT Hyderabad and DIC.
IIT Hyderabad & DIC certified
IIT campus visits + fellowship
₹6 L · annual
2 fellows per cohort
Nordic pathway
Next intake: January 2027 · Applications open · Rolling admissions
Express your interest
We will confirm your application within 48 hours.
2027 intake · Rolling admissions · Apply early
You will receive a pre-immersion briefing pack two weeks before the programme begins.
1
year · hybrid programme
IIT
Hyderabad & DIC certified
3–6
months residential
₹6L
annual · 3 instalments
Nordic
university pathway
2027
next intake
Who this programme is for
Your IIT credential is the gateway.
Most design and engineering graduates from strong Indian institutions are ready for global universities — but lack the academic portfolio and research credentials that admissions committees require. This programme builds both. Through a hybrid structure combining online learning with an optional residential fellowship at IIT Hyderabad's Design Innovation Centre, you develop the thinking, research skills, and academic writing expected of a global design scholar. Through HCD's partnership with Iceland Design and Architecture (Miðstöð Hönnunar og Arkitektúrs), graduates who demonstrate commitment can access structured support for admission to Nordic universities focused on sustainability, systems design, and human-centred practice.
01
Recent graduates ready for something more
Design, engineering, and related graduates who know their Indian degree isn't enough on its own — and who want a structured, credentialled path to global universities without the uncertainty of applying alone.
02
Graduates who learn through making and research
You don't want another passive online programme. You want to publish real research, build a portfolio that holds up internationally, and earn a credential from one of India's most respected institutions.
03
Future students of Nordic and global universities
Through HCD's partnership with Iceland Design and Architecture, high-performing graduates gain structured support to access Nordic universities — institutions at the forefront of sustainability, systems thinking, and human-centred design. This is not a shortcut. It is a pathway for those who do the work.
Programme curriculum
One year. Six pillars.
A hybrid programme — online learning combined with monthly visits to IIT Hyderabad's DIC as needed. All students participate in campus sessions throughout the year. Additionally, two students per cohort are awarded a competitive residential fellowship: 3–6 months on campus with hostel accommodation and stipend.
Module 1
Foundations
Principles of Human-Centred Design
The history, philosophy, and methods of HCD. From user research to systems thinking — the conceptual framework underlying credible design practice globally. Faculty-led live sessions, readings, and a written reflection submitted at module close.
Ongoing
Academic portfolio · first submission
You begin building your academic portfolio from day one. Faculty set the standard against Nordic and international university expectations. First formal review at module close.
Module 2
Research
Design Research Methods
Qualitative and quantitative research for design. Field studies, ethnographic methods, synthesis frameworks, and the writing conventions of international design journals. You conduct at least one primary research study during this module.
Ongoing
Portfolio · research chapter
Your research study is documented and added to your portfolio as a standalone chapter — structured to the conventions of academic presentation.
Module 3
Writing
Academic Writing and Publication
Participants write, refine, and submit original research to selected peer-reviewed journals. Faculty guide each paper through the editorial process. A published or submitted paper significantly strengthens your university application.
Milestone
Paper submission to selected journal
Every participant submits at least one paper. Faculty pre-review ensures the paper meets submission standards. Journal placement depends on the quality of the work — and you are encouraged to aim high.
Module 4
Portfolio
Academic Portfolio Development
A structured process for building an academic portfolio that meets the standards of global university applications. Two faculty review sessions. Portfolio calibrated against the expectations of Nordic and international graduate admissions committees.
Final review
Portfolio · final submission and faculty sign-off
Faculty sign off on your portfolio before it is submitted to any university. The portfolio includes your research chapter, paper, HCD project documentation, and your academic statement.
Module 5 · Optional
Residential
Residential Fellowship at IIT Hyderabad
Two students per cohort are awarded a competitive residential fellowship — 3 to 6 months on campus at IIT Hyderabad's Design Innovation Centre, with hostel accommodation and stipend provided. All other students participate in monthly campus visits throughout the programme year.
At DIC campus
IIT studio, labs, and faculty access
Fellows work alongside IIT faculty and doctoral researchers on live projects. Full access to DIC fabrication labs and design studios. The fellowship is awarded on academic performance — not applied for at enrolment.
Module 6
Pathway
Nordic University Pathway
HCD's partnership with Miðstöð Hönnunar og Arkitektúrs (Iceland Design and Architecture) gives qualifying graduates structured support for admission to Nordic universities. Application guidance, portfolio review, and introductions to admissions teams at institutions focused on sustainability and systems design.
Partnership
Iceland Design and Architecture
Through HCD's formal partnership with Iceland Design and Architecture, graduates who meet the programme's academic standards can access facilitated introductions and admission support at Nordic universities. This is not a guarantee — it is a pathway for those who earn it.
Certification
IIT Hyderabad and DIC Certification
Certification is awarded jointly by IIT Hyderabad and the Design Innovation Centre upon successful completion of all coursework, the academic portfolio, and paper submission. The certification carries the institutional weight of IIT Hyderabad and is recognised by international admissions offices.
Investment
₹6,00,000
Annual programme fee · paid in three equal instalments
Programme tuition, annual
₹6,00,000
Residential fellowship (2 students per cohort)
Competitive · hostel and stipend provided
Meals, on-campus dining
Covered — DIC fellowship
Travel to Hyderabad
At participant cost
All tools and materials
₹0 · provided
For context: Comparable programmes at Aalto, RCA, or KADK cost €15,000–€30,000 annually. This programme provides an IIT Hyderabad and DIC certified credential, original published research, a faculty-reviewed portfolio, and a structured Nordic university pathway — at a fraction of the cost.
What you take away from the programme
01
IIT Hyderabad and DIC Certification — recognised by international admissions offices. Awarded jointly upon completion of all coursework, portfolio, and paper submission.
02
Published research — at least one paper submitted to a selected peer-reviewed journal, documented in your academic portfolio alongside your methodology and findings.
03
Academic portfolio — a structured, faculty-reviewed portfolio built to the standards expected by Nordic and global university admissions committees.
04
IIT campus access — all students visit IIT Hyderabad's DIC monthly throughout the year. Two students per cohort are additionally awarded a competitive residential fellowship with hostel and stipend.
Admissions
We review every application personally. We are looking for graduates with genuine intellectual curiosity, a clear reason to pursue global education, and the commitment to do original research. The statement of purpose is two pages.
Statement of purpose · 2 pages
One additional requirement: tell us why now.
We admit on the basis of purpose, clarity of thinking, and intent. Your statement should make clear why a global education in HCD matters to you at this point in your life — and what you intend to do with it.
I. Your academic and professional background — and the gap in knowledge or opportunity you are looking to address.
II. Why you are drawn to human-centred design, sustainability, or systems thinking — and the global institutions where you want to study.
III. What you intend to do with this certification, the portfolio, and the research you produce.
1
Application form — Name, organisation, current role, and a one-paragraph description of the challenge you are bringing.
2
Statement of purpose · 2 pages — Reviewed by the DIC–HCD admissions panel. The challenge definition is the most important element for the immersion format.
3
30-minute admissions call — A structured conversation to pressure-test your challenge definition and confirm the immersion format is the right fit for your schedule.
4
Confirmation and pre-immersion pack — Admission decision within 48 hours. Pre-immersion briefing pack issued two weeks before arrival, including reading, challenge preparation guide, and campus logistics.
Agust 2026 immersion.
Applications close 1 September 2026 · Confirmation within 48 hours
Next immersion after this: February 2027
Pre-immersion briefing pack sent two weeks before arrival.
2027 cohort · Applications now open
Rolling admissions. Apply early.
A cohort of committed graduates. One year of structured learning. A supported path to global universities. Certification from IIT Hyderabad and DIC.
Questions? Write to admissions@hcd.institute · Response within 24 hours
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7-Day Full Immersion · Design Innovation Centre, IIT Hyderabad
Seven days on campus. One credential. One problem solved.
For pace-oriented leaders who want the same IIT Hyderabad credential — in one focused residential week, without the 12-week part-time commitment.
IIT Hyderabad certified
Residential · on IIT campus
₹1.5 L · same credential
7 days · 6 nights
10 participants
Next immersion: October 2026 · 6 places remaining · Applications close 1 September
Reserve your place
This cohort is capped at 10. We will confirm your application within 48 hours.
6 of 10 places remaining · Applications close 1 September
You will receive a pre-immersion briefing pack two weeks before the programme begins.
7
days · residential
IIT
Hyderabad certified
10
participants · curated
₹1.5L
same as 12-week
Jury
IIT faculty evaluation
Oct
2026 · next intake
Who this format is for
Same rigour. Different pace.
This programme sits within the executive education landscape alongside short-term offerings from ISB, IIM Ahmedabad, and XLRI — but with one distinction: you leave with an IIT Hyderabad credential you had to earn in front of a jury, not one awarded for attendance. For senior managers and business leaders exploring design-led management development, this is the only 7-day format on an IIT campus.
01
Executives who cannot do 12 weeks
CXOs, MDs, and senior directors who travel frequently or lead large teams. Seven planned days away from the office is manageable in a way that 12 weeks of evening commitment is not.
02
Founders with a live challenge
Entrepreneurs with a specific, urgent problem — a product launch, a service redesign, a market pivot. The immersion format allows you to work on it intensively, with IIT faculty and peers in the room.
03
Leaders who learn by doing, not watching
Professionals who find online learning passive and want the energy of a residential studio — the same culture that characterises programmes at ISB, IIM, and the world’s leading executive education campuses.
Programme schedule
Seven days. The full arc.
Participants arrive with a defined challenge. The week moves from discovery to definition to design to presentation — with IIT faculty in the room throughout. The final jury takes place on Day 7.
Day 1 · Mon
Morning · 9 am – 1 pm
Orientation and challenge framing
Programme induction. Each participant presents their challenge. Faculty-led session on design as a management discipline and the week’s methodology arc.
Afternoon · 2 pm – 6 pm
Stakeholder mapping and context analysis
Structured group work. Each participant maps the actors, pressures, and constraints around their challenge. First peer review session.
Day 2 · Tue
Morning · 9 am – 1 pm
Research and insight generation
Field inquiry methods. Structured interviews with stakeholders — real conversations arranged in advance or conducted on campus with invited guests. Synthesis in the afternoon.
Afternoon · 2 pm – 6 pm
Insight to opportunity
Translating research findings into design opportunities. Opportunity framing, brief writing, and faculty critique. First individual mentor session, 45 minutes.
Day 3 · Wed
Morning · 9 am – 1 pm
Concept generation and selection
Facilitated ideation with DIC faculty. Multiple concepts generated, stress-tested against the brief, and narrowed to one direction. Business model implications examined.
Afternoon · 2 pm – 6 pm
Value proposition and viability
Structured session on value proposition design. Participants articulate the commercial and organisational case for their chosen direction. Mid-week peer critique.
Day 4 · Thu
Morning · 9 am – 1 pm
Prototype and test
DIC fabrication labs and prototyping studios open. Participants build a working representation of their solution — physical, digital, or service. First round of structured user testing.
Afternoon · 2 pm – 6 pm
Iteration and refinement
Incorporating test findings. Second mentor session. Participants revise their prototype and begin structuring the final presentation narrative.
Day 5 · Fri
Morning · 9 am – 1 pm
AI and systems analysis
Session on AI as a strategic design tool — applied to each participant’s project. Second-order effects analysis: mapping systemic consequences of the proposed solution.
Afternoon · 2 pm – 6 pm
Guest session and open studio
Lecture by an IIT researcher or senior industry practitioner. Open studio time for project work and pre-jury rehearsal. Third and final mentor session.
Day 6 · Sat
Morning · 9 am – 1 pm
Documentation and process book
Completing the formal documentation of the design process — research, synthesis, ideation, prototype, iteration. This is the primary credential artefact submitted to the jury.
Afternoon · 2 pm – 6 pm
Concept Mela (peer showcase). —peer critique
Open sharing session in the IIT studio tradition. Each participant presents informally; the cohort responds with written critique. Final jury preparation with faculty coaching.
Day 7 · Sun
Final jury and DIC Micro-Diploma ceremony
15-minute formal presentation per participant before a panel of IIT Hyderabad faculty, an HCD Institute mentor, and an invited industry practitioner. 10-minute Q&A. Individual written feedback. The DIC Micro-Diploma is awarded on the same day to candidates who meet all evaluation criteria.
How the two formats compare
Criteria
12-Week Online + Campus
7-Day Full Immersion
Credential awarded
DIC Micro-Diploma, IIT Hyderabad
DIC Micro-Diploma, IIT Hyderabad
Fee
₹1,50,000
₹1,50,000
Duration
12 weeks · online-first
7 days · fully residential
Weekly commitment
8–10 hours per week, evenings and weekends
Full days · 9 am to 6 pm · residential
Project depth
Extended research and iteration across 4 weeks
Compressed — best for well-defined challenges
Best suited to
Professionals who can sustain structured part-time engagement
Senior executives who prefer intensity over duration
Investment
₹1,50,000
Programme tuition · same as the 12-week format · full residential experience
Tuition, 7-day immersion
₹1,50,000
Accommodation on IIT campus, 6 nights
₹6,000 – ₹14,000
Meals, on-campus dining
Included in accommodation
Travel to Hyderabad
At participant cost
All tools and materials
₹0 · provided on campus
For context: A comparable 5-day residential programme at ISB Hyderabad costs ₹2.5–4L with no project output, no jury, and no IIT credential. This is the same campus city, the same institutional weight — with a credential you have to earn.
What you take away from 7 days
01
DIC Micro-Diploma — the same IIT Hyderabad credential as the 12-week programme. Jury-evaluated, not attendance-based.
02
A solved problem — a research-backed, prototype-tested design solution to a challenge you arrived with. Documented in a formal process book.
03
IIT campus access — DIC fabrication labs, design studios, and the intellectual environment of one of India’s premier technology institutions.
04
Three individual faculty sessions — structured 45-minute mentor meetings on Days 2, 4, and 5 with an IIT or HCD practitioner assigned to your domain.
05
HCD Institute’s academic council includes Nobel Laureates and senior faculty from leading global institutions. The DIC–HCD partnership brings this network into the IIT Hyderabad studio.
Admissions
The immersion format has one additional requirement: you must arrive with a defined challenge. Participants who have not identified a problem to work on in advance cannot get full value from seven days. If you are unsure, our admissions team will help you frame one before you apply.
The statement of purpose · 2 pages
Same as the 12-week format.
The admissions criteria are identical — we admit on the basis of purpose, clarity of thinking, and intent. The statement of purpose for the immersion has one additional prompt: describe the challenge you intend to bring.
I. Your professional context and the gap you are looking to address.
II. The specific challenge you will work on during the immersion — and why it matters now.
III. What you intend to do with this credential and the work produced during the week.
1
Application form — Name, organisation, current role, and a one-paragraph description of the challenge you are bringing.
2
Statement of purpose · 2 pages — Reviewed by the DIC–HCD admissions panel. The challenge definition is the most important element for the immersion format.
3
30-minute admissions call — A structured conversation to pressure-test your challenge definition and confirm the immersion format is the right fit for your schedule.
4
Confirmation and pre-immersion pack — Admission decision within 48 hours. Pre-immersion briefing pack issued two weeks before arrival, including reading, challenge preparation guide, and campus logistics.
October 2026 immersion. 6 places remaining.
Applications close 1 September 2026 · Confirmation within 48 hours
Next immersion after this: February 2027
Pre-immersion briefing pack sent two weeks before arrival.
October 2026 · 6 places remaining
Applications close 1 September.
10 participants. Seven days. The next immersion after this is February 2027. If the challenge is live — now is the right time.
Questions? Write to admissions@hcd.institute · Response within 24 hours
Shaping human-centered businesses for the next 25 years.
Where design, technology, and behavior come together to build what’s next.