Course summary

The MA Applied Storytelling programme is a practical, hands-on course designed for those who want to use storytelling in real-world settings. Whether you’re interested in working in community projects, education, the creative industries, or policy work, this course will equip you with the skills to apply storytelling for social impact, personal growth, and professional development. Alongside practical training, the programme also encourages critical reflection, helping you to understand the cultural, ethical and theoretical dimensions of storytelling practice. This is an innovative Master's degree that builds on our international reputation for research in applied storytelling relating to the areas of health, the environment, education and social justice. The programme offers you the opportunity to develop as storytelling practitioners and work alongside researchers on existing projects in the UK and overseas. MA Applied Storytelling is taught through the Storytelling Academy in the School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough and is suitable for anyone wishing to develop their own storytelling practice. We anticipate that the programme will bring together students with an exciting and diverse range of experiences of areas such as storytelling, theatre, contemporary arts, creative writing, teaching and education, heritage and museum work, journalism, healthcare, NGO and international development work and community programme management, among many others. The programme also benefits from its affiliation to the UNESCO’s first ever Chair in Storytelling Education for Sustainability, which was awarded to Loughborough University in July 2025. You will have the opportunity to join the Chair’s new student network, which supports UNESCO initiatives. PG Certificate and MA: what is the difference? The PG Certificate consists of a selection of modules from the MA programme, making the PG Certificate ideal for students who, for whatever reason, may be unable to commit to full-time postgraduate study, but would value a postgraduate award as part of their continuing professional development, achieved through a part-time route. Students who successfully complete the PG Certificate will be eligible to transfer onto the MA programme, if they so wish, and complete the additional credits to graduate with a master’s qualification.