Loughborough University

What you'll study

The programme covers human-centred design, user research, interaction design, service design methods and the evaluation of digital and physical experiences. Core teaching typically includes modules on qualitative and quantitative research methods, information architecture, prototyping and usability testing, service modelling and journey mapping, and the commercial and organisational context for design decisions.

• User Research & Methods: ethnography, contextual enquiry, interviews, surveys and analytics for understanding users and stakeholders.
• Interaction & Interface Design: principles of interaction, wireframing, visual design foundations and accessibility.
• Service Design: service blueprinting, customer journey mapping, co-design workshops and systems thinking across touchpoints.
• Prototyping & Evaluation: paper, digital and physical prototyping techniques, usability testing, A/B testing and metrics-based evaluation.
• Strategy & Implementation: design-led innovation, business modelling for services, stakeholder engagement and change management.
• Major Project / Dissertation: a substantial individual or team project that applies research and design skills to a real-world brief, often developed with an external partner.

Teaching is usually a mix of workshops, studio practice, seminars and project work. Assessment commonly combines coursework, portfolios, group projects and a final research or design project.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good honours degree (typically a 2:1 or equivalent) in design, interaction design, computer science, psychology, engineering, business or a closely related discipline. Candidates with a lower honours degree plus relevant professional experience may be considered.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of analytical thinking and practical design or research skills; a portfolio of design, research reports or relevant project work is usually required from those with a creative background. Those from non-design backgrounds are expected to show quantitative or research capability.

All applicants whose first language is not English will need to meet the university's English language requirements, with commonly accepted qualifications including recognised tests at the level expected for postgraduate study.

Career prospects

Graduates from this field move into roles such as user experience (UX) designer, UX researcher, service designer, interaction designer, customer experience (CX) analyst, product manager and design consultant. Employers include digital and product design consultancies, major tech companies, financial services, public sector organisations, transport and healthcare providers, and startups.

Typical career pathways involve working on cross-disciplinary teams to shape product strategy, lead user research programmes, design and test service propositions, and embed user-centred practices within organisations. Graduates are also well placed to pursue PhD study or specialist roles in human–computer interaction and design research.

Why study at Loughborough University

Loughborough has a strong reputation for applied, practice-led postgraduate learning and close industry engagement, which benefits students seeking experience with real clients and briefs. The university provides specialist facilities that support user experience and service design work, including usability labs, prototyping and maker spaces, and computing resources.

The programme draws on interdisciplinary expertise across design, computing, psychology and business, offering opportunities for collaborative projects and access to academic staff active in applied research. Careers and enterprise services at Loughborough support internships, employer networking and graduate recruitment, helping students transition into UX and service design roles.