Course summary
Our User Experience and Service Design programme is offered as either an MA or an MSc – you can choose. This advanced degree will develop your knowledge, skills and practice in Experience (UX) Design, Service Design and Interaction Design. Our modules will teach you how to (1) undertake user research, (2) identify opportunities for creating great user experiences and (3) design transformative products/services. You will also work with industry clients and develop material for your portfolio. The MA/MSc User Experience and Service Design equips students to become human-centred designers within the industry and empowers them to design socially and environmentally responsible products and services. The programme's content will enable you to develop your skills and competencies in both the creative and analytical aspects of UX whilst working on a diverse range of projects. This includes the opportunity to design experiences that embed digital in the physical world, take an empathic and systemic worldview, and use the opportunities presented by new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) to design compelling product and service experiences. You will develop key skills in user experience design principles and practice, including design research methods, systems thinking, service design, interactive prototyping, video prototyping, experience prototyping, interaction design, social design, storytelling, teamwork, and project management. You will further develop your UX research and design practice skills within an evidence-based major project. The MA/MSc in User Experience and Service Design is offered alongside a parallel MSc/MA in User Experience Design programme. The User Experience and Service Design program specifically includes Systems Thinking and Service Design, so it has a broad worldview of user experience design. The parallel User Experience Design programme includes Usability and a range of optional specialisms instead of Service Design. Both programmes can be completed as either an MSc or MA at your choice. Doing a programme as an MA means you will be creative and big thinking. If you do this programme as an MSc, you will focus more on empirical investigation and data analysis.
Assessment method
You will be assessed through coursework, including the submission of design projects and reports, group and individual presentations.
Entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent international qualification). We consider students from a range of disciplines relevant to User Experience Design (including Art and Design, Computer Science, Media, Psychology, Business). All students, of any nationality, who are from a design-related background should provide a portfolio showing examples of work relevant to the MA User Experience and Service Design. This should be around 10 pages long and must demonstrate your current understanding of human centred design, including your design process, the project outcome and how you considered the end user experience. Critical reflection on how you could improve your process and project outcomes is encouraged. If your degree/background means you do not have a portfolio, your personal statement must explain your interest in user experience design and why you want to study on the User Experience and Service Design course.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £13250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £13250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £13250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £13250 | Year 1 |
| International | £30950 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
The tuition fees shown are for new students commencing the first year of study in the specified year only. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures. For information on fees for part-time study, please see our website.
Provider information
Loughborough University
Loughborough
LE11 3TU