MA Digital Media and Creative Industries
The MA Digital Media and Creative Industries at Loughborough University aims t...
MA User Experience and Service Design
Loughborough
INTAKE: October
Program Overview
Loughborough University, one of the UK's top-ranking institutions, is internationally recognized for its excellence in design, innovation, and technology. The MA User Experience (UX) and Service Design program is crafted for individuals passionate about creating user-centered digital products, systems, and services that offer seamless and meaningful experiences. Situated within Loughborough’s School of Design and Creative Arts, the program blends creative thinking with technical expertise, enabling students to explore the full spectrum of user interaction and service design processes. With an emphasis on real-world problem-solving and future-focused innovation, this program prepares graduates for strategic roles in UX design, service systems, and digital product development.
Curriculum: The curriculum of the MA User Experience and Service Design program is comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented. Students are introduced to key principles of UX design, human-centered design thinking, interaction design, service mapping, digital prototyping, usability testing, and systems thinking. Modules are structured to help students explore the entire design lifecycle—from initial research and ideation to prototyping and evaluation. The program integrates both individual and team-based projects that address complex, real-world challenges, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking. The final component of the course is a self-directed major project or dissertation, where students can explore a design problem of their choice in-depth, showcasing their ability to apply academic and practical knowledge creatively.
Research Focus: Loughborough University is a leader in design research, and the MA UX and Service Design program benefits from the institution’s world-class research culture. Faculty members are active researchers involved in innovative studies across human-computer interaction (HCI), inclusive design, behavioral psychology, smart technologies, and sustainability in design. Students are encouraged to engage in user-centered research that influences real-world outcomes, whether it's through designing inclusive interfaces, exploring digital accessibility, or developing intelligent service ecosystems. The university’s interdisciplinary research environment also allows students to collaborate with experts from computing, psychology, and engineering fields, giving them exposure to the latest developments in UX and service innovation.
Industry Engagement: Industry collaboration is a core strength of the MA User Experience and Service Design program. Loughborough University maintains strong links with leading global companies, design consultancies, and tech start-ups. Students benefit from guest lectures, live briefs, and consultancy-style projects in collaboration with industry partners, allowing them to gain practical experience and build a professional portfolio. The university’s reputation and its emphasis on applied learning make graduates highly employable. Many students have gone on to secure roles in high-profile organizations across sectors such as technology, healthcare, transportation, finance, and retail, where UX and service design play a vital role in product strategy and user engagement.
Global Perspective: The program takes a global approach to design, reflecting the increasingly international nature of user experience and service systems. With a diverse student body and academic staff from various cultural backgrounds, students are exposed to different perspectives and approaches to UX and service design. Loughborough University’s international reputation also opens doors to global career opportunities and research collaborations. Students are encouraged to design with inclusivity and cross-cultural usability in mind, gaining skills that are applicable in global markets. The program's emphasis on ethical, sustainable, and human-centered design aligns with international design standards and prepares graduates to work on worldwide challenges.
Location
Loughborough
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
£ 29750
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants should have successfully completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution with a minimum overall score of 75% or equivalent.
English language proficiency:
- IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.0 or 6.5 with no individual component below 6.0.
- TOEFL: A minimum overall score of 92.
- PTE Academic: A minimum overall score of 67.
- DET Academic: A minimum overall score of 120.
- Some postgraduate programs may have specific subject prerequisites or additional requirements.
Loughborough University offers a range of scholarships for international students to support their education and make studying in the UK more affordable. These scholarships recognize academic excellence, financial need, and the potential for students to contribute to the university community.
International Excellence Awards: These are merit-based scholarships offered to international students applying for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. These awards typically cover part of the tuition fees and are designed to attract outstanding students from around the globe.
Global Scholarships: Loughborough offers various global scholarships based on geographical location, supporting students from specific regions or countries with reduced tuition fees.
Postgraduate Taught Scholarships: These are available for international students applying for postgraduate taught programs at Loughborough University. Scholarships typically range from £2,000 to £4,000, depending on the student’s academic qualifications and the program they are enrolled in.
Loughborough University International Research Scholarships: For international students who wish to pursue a research-based postgraduate program, Loughborough offers research scholarships that cover full tuition fees, along with an annual stipend to assist with living costs.
Loughborough University Elite Sports Scholarships: These are available for students who are competing at an elite level in their sport. The scholarship includes financial support, as well as access to the university's world-class sports facilities, coaching, and training programs.
Country-Specific Scholarships: Loughborough University offers country-specific scholarships for students from particular countries. These scholarships are designed to support students who demonstrate high academic potential and a commitment to contributing to their home country upon graduation.
Loughborough University, located in the United Kingdom, is globally renowned for its high academic standards, innovative research, and commitment to practical, real-world learning. The MA User Experience (UX) and Service Design program is part of the university’s prestigious School of Design and Creative Arts. This program focuses on preparing students to address the dynamic challenges of the digital world, combining design thinking with user-centered approaches to create innovative products and services. Loughborough’s strong industry ties, exceptional research capabilities, and world-class facilities make it an ideal institution for students pursuing a career in the rapidly growing UX and service design fields.
User Experience (UX) Designer: One of the most popular career paths for graduates of the MA User Experience and Service Design program is becoming a UX Designer. These professionals focus on optimizing the overall user experience of digital products such as websites, apps, and software by enhancing usability, accessibility, and satisfaction. UX designers collaborate closely with developers, researchers, and product managers to ensure that design solutions are intuitive and meet user needs. Graduates can work for tech companies, digital agencies, or as freelancers, with opportunities spanning industries such as e-commerce, healthcare, finance, and more.
Service Designer: Service designers focus on improving and innovating services by taking a holistic approach to user needs, organizational goals, and the technological landscape. Graduates can pursue roles as service designers in a variety of sectors, including retail, banking, telecommunications, healthcare, and public services. They design services that are efficient, user-friendly, and provide a seamless experience across multiple touchpoints. Service designers also work to streamline business processes and create systems that enhance the service delivery experience.
Interaction Designer: Interaction designers specialize in the way users interact with products, focusing on the design of interfaces, animations, and the overall interaction flow. Graduates can pursue careers as interaction designers, working on everything from mobile apps to complex software systems. They are responsible for creating interactive prototypes and ensuring that the interface is intuitive, engaging, and effective in facilitating user tasks. Interaction designers work in various sectors, including technology, entertainment, and consumer goods.
User Researcher: With their strong grounding in human-centered design and research methodologies, graduates can work as user researchers, conducting studies to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points. User researchers gather insights through techniques such as surveys, interviews, usability testing, and ethnographic studies. These insights help to inform design decisions and ensure that products and services are tailored to real-world user requirements. Many UX teams in global companies rely heavily on user researchers to validate design choices and make data-driven decisions.
UX/UI Consultant: As specialists in user experience and design, graduates can work as UX/UI consultants for companies seeking expert advice on improving their digital products or services. UX/UI consultants analyze existing products, conduct usability assessments, and provide recommendations on how to improve design, functionality, and user engagement. This role requires strong problem-solving abilities and in-depth knowledge of UX principles, along with the ability to communicate design ideas clearly to clients. Graduates often work with startups, large corporations, or as independent consultants.
Digital Product Designer: A career as a digital product designer involves working on the entire lifecycle of a product’s design, from initial concept to launch. These designers combine elements of UX design, user research, and visual design to create digital experiences that are both functional and visually appealing. They collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that the final product meets user needs while being commercially viable. Digital product designers work in industries such as tech, e-commerce, and consumer electronics.
Design Strategist: A design strategist focuses on aligning design projects with broader business goals, ensuring that design decisions contribute to an organization’s long-term objectives. Graduates can pursue roles as design strategists, where they work closely with executive teams to develop user-centric strategies for products, services, and brands. These professionals use design thinking methodologies to integrate user feedback, market trends, and business goals into the development process. This role is essential in guiding companies to create user experiences that drive business success and customer loyalty.
Customer Experience (CX) Designer: Graduates of the MA User Experience and Service Design program are well-positioned to pursue careers as customer experience designers. These professionals focus on the overall journey a customer has with a brand, whether digital or physical. They work to ensure a consistent and seamless experience across all touchpoints, including websites, mobile apps, call centers, and in-store interactions. The role of a CX designer is becoming increasingly important in sectors like retail, hospitality, and telecommunications, where customer satisfaction is a key differentiator.
Design Educator or Trainer: For those with a passion for teaching, another option is to pursue a career as a design educator or trainer. Graduates with a strong background in UX and service design can teach in academic institutions or corporate training programs, sharing their knowledge of design principles, tools, and methodologies with the next generation of designers. Design educators are needed in universities, design schools, and online learning platforms, where they can help students develop their skills in UX design and service innovation.
Entrepreneurship in Design: Loughborough’s emphasis on practical learning, combined with the global reputation of its design programs, often inspires graduates to start their own design businesses. These entrepreneurs can launch UX and service design consultancies, create design-focused products, or provide design services for a variety of industries. The skills learned during the program, such as strategic thinking, project management, and creative problem-solving, are valuable assets for anyone looking to build a successful business in the design space.
