[teekay]

I wouldn't let the lack of a relevant degree get in my way.

Sure, there are some EU countries where degrees are still being listed as a job requirement. Hell, when I contracted for a company in Munich, every other guy in the hallway had "Dr." in front of his name (and used it proudly in his e-mail signature).

Nevertheless, hiring can get very pragmatic when the company is hungry for engineers and few competent applicants come in.

Not sure exactly what the typical requirements are for a UX position. I'd imagine having a humanities background should be a huge plus, however. After all, this field is about human-vs-computer interaction, is it not?

Could she develop a small portfolio, maybe even using volunteer / non-profit jobs to get started? There's a good chance she could then use it to get in the door for better-paying UX jobs later, degree or no degree.