Design great experiences .

Study, research or collaborate with us .

Want a career in UXD ?

Great plan! User Experience Design (UXD) is about creating products and services that people love. Often you've got to dig deep to understand how to create great experiences. UXD is much more than designing user interfaces. It is about discovering the clever insights about people that let you design products/services that transform their lives. Tech like AI will make UXD even more important, not less important!

Below are the concerns we hear from applicants every year — and the ones our programmes are specifically designed to answer:

We can help you succeed in UX .

Loughborough University is an excellent place to study UX design, with knowledgeable and supportive faculty.

You-Zhen Lin

Director, Waley Design

The School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University can help you develop your career in UX/Service Design. Here's how we rank against other UK and international design schools.

Choose your UX pathway .

We offer 2 programmes: UX & Service Design and UX Design. Both programmes share the same core teaching in UX research, experience design and live industry practice. The difference is the specialism you choose.

Either programme can lead to an MA or an MSc. The qualification depends on the modules you take for your major project: a design-led pathway for the MA, or a more research-led pathway for the MSc.

Student work .

Take a look at examples of student work from previous years. Links will take you to their entry in the Student Showcase which students create each year.

Students like you succeed .

We have students from all over the world. They win awards and get great jobs. We help you enter UX design competitions, and offer career and portfolio support from previous students and industry professionals.

The staff who will guide you .

The staff in Design and Creative Arts are expert and friendly. We will help you succeed when you study with us.

Still unsure ?

Here are some common questions about our programmes. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

• Why should I choose to study at Loughborough University?

  We offer high quality UX Design programmes leading to a respected Masters degree from a top UK university. Our programmes are delivered by UX experts, and are focused on giving you advanced knowledge, skills and experience that will help you get the job you want.

• What are the 2 UX programmes you offer, and how are they different from each other?

  We offer 2 UX programmes. If you do the User Experience and Service Design programme you do a specialism in service design. If you do User Experience Design, then you don't do service design, and instead can choose an alternative specialism.

• How do I choose between these 2 programmes?

  You need to decide if you want to do a service design module or an alternative specialism. If you want to include service design, then choose User Experience and Service Design. If you want to do an alternative specialism, then choose User Experience Design.

• Can I apply to both programmes?

  No, we don't want you to apply to both programmes. We want you to choose the programme that is your preferred option. If you are not sure, then please contact me (details below) and I can help you decide before you apply.

• Can I change my mind, and switch programmes, after I arrive?

  Yes, this is usually OK, but depends on your background, and we will help you choose the one that is best for you.

• If I choose UX Design, when do I choose my specialism?

  You do this after you have started. We run an event a few weeks after you arrive to help you decide.

• Why do you offer an MA and an MSc?

  This gives you greater choice about what qualification you get. The UX programmes at Loughborough are quite unique in offering you the choice of either an MSc or an MA. There are options to do either an MA or MSc for either of the UX programmes.

• How do I choose between an MA or an MSc award?

  Shortly after you arrive, we will explain the differences between an MA award and an MSc award. The key difference is in the type of project you do at the end of your programme. The MA is more big-thinking and generative, whereas the MSc is more analytical and empirical. If you do an MSc, you do a research project, and if you do an MA, you do a design project. Don't worry about this now, as we will help you decide which is better for you when you arrive.

• Do I need a design background to do UX Design?

  No! We will consider applicants with any background. Some of our best students have not done an undergraduate degree in design. All you need is commitment, and a natural curiosity about people and the world, and a desire to design great human-focused products/services.

• What chance will I have to work with real clients?

  You will do a whole design module where you will work as a small team on a real brief set by a client. We also arrange for guest speakers to come in and talk about their work, and there are design jams and competitions that you can enter.

• Are these programmes based at Loughborough in the Midlands, or the Loughborough campus in London?

  These programmes are based at the main Loughborough campus in the Midlands.

Get in touch .

If you have any questions about studying UX at Loughborough, working with us, or want to come and visit the Design School, get in touch. I would love to hear from you.