Introduction to the MA Graphic Design and Visualisation Programme

The MA Graphic Design and Visualisation programme at Loughborough University aims to enable students to develop a specialist area of expertise within graphic design while applying targeted, complex tools and methods to further design practice. This programme seeks to prepare students for advanced professional careers or entrepreneurial aspirations and can become a catalyst for further studies at a doctoral level.

Programme Structure

The programme is taught in a progressive, industry-aligned environment, empowering students to explore advanced graphic design problems by applying user-centric research methods. The programme structure allows students to transition from generalist graphic designers to specialists by encouraging radical enquiries that expand thinking beyond conventional approaches.

Why Choose This Programme

Loughborough University is ranked 3rd in the UK for Art and Design by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, and 4th in the UK for Art and Design by The Complete University Guide 2026. The university is also ranked 39th in the world for Art and Design by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.

Programme Details

• Qualification(s) available: MA
• Fees: Dependent on start date
• Scholarships available: Yes
• Entry requirements: 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in an Art and Design or closely related subject
• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: N/A
• Location: Loughborough
• Start date: October 2025 or October 2026
• Department: Creative Arts

What You'll Study

The programme will enable the development of a specialist area of expertise within graphic design while equipping you with targeted, complex tools and methods to further your practice within relevant working fields.

Semester 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Modelling and Deployment (15 credits)
  • Design Teams (15 credits)
  • Research in a User's World (15 credits)
  • Design Research Methods (15 credits)

Semester 2

• Compulsory module:
  • Design Challenges: Management and Entrepreneurship (15 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • International Design Practices (15 credits)
  • Defining a Specialist Project (15 credits)
  • Specialist Project Materials and Processes (15 credits)

Summer

• Compulsory module (choose one):
  • Final Project: Practical Perspectives (60 credits)
  • Final Project: Theoretical Perspectives (60 credits)

How You'll Be Assessed

Assessment is continuous and based on an appraisal of practice, written material, related research, and professional and entrepreneurial skills in relation to the final project outcome(s).

How You'll Study

The MA Graphic Design and Visualisation programme features a variety of teaching and learning methods, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Field trips
• Independent study
• Group work
• Workshops
• Practical sessions

Where You'll Study

You will have full access to a range of outstanding learning and teaching facilities, including a stop-frame animation area, printing facilities, visualisation lab, continuous lighting studio, photography studios, and study spaces.

Entry Requirements

Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications. To learn the equivalent for your country, please refer to the provided country-specific guidelines.

Country-Specific Guidelines

• Afghanistan: Masters, 95%
• Albania: Diplomë e Nivelit të Pare, 9.5
• Algeria: Licence, 16
• Argentina: Licenciatura, 8.5
• Armenia: Bakalavri Kochum, 90%
• Australia: Honours degree, First Class, 80%
• Austria: Degree, A (or 1.5)
• Azerbaijan: Bakalavr Diplomu, 4.5
• Bahamas: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bahrain: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Bangladesh: 4 Year Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 1st (70%)
• Barbados: University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Belarus: Specialist Diploma, 9
• Belgium: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Belize: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Benin: Maitrise, 18
• Bermuda: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bolivia: Licenciado, 8.5
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja, 10
• Botswana: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Brazil: Bacharel or Licenciado, 8.5
• Brunei: First
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie, 6
• Burundi: Masters or Diplôme d'Études Approfondies, 18
• Cambodia: Masters, 80%
• Cameroon: Bachelor degree or Diplome d'Etudes Superiures, 1st / 3.6
• Canada: GPA 4.0/Percentage, 3.7/85%
• Chile: Grado de Licenciado, 6
• China: Bachelor degree, 83%
• Colombia: Licenciado, 4.5
• Costa Rica: Licenciado, 9
• Croatia: Baccalaureus, 4.5
• Cuba: Titulo de Licenciado, 5
• Cyprus: Bachelor degree, 8.5
• Czech Republic: Bakalár, 1
• Denmark: Candidatus, 12
• Dominican Republic: Licenciado, 3.8
• Ecuador: Título de Licenciado, 8.5
• Egypt: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• El Salvador: Licenciado, 8.5
• Estonia: Bakalaureusekraad, 5
• Ethiopia: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Finland: Kandidaattii, 3
• France: Licence, 14
• Georgia: 4 year degree, 5
• Germany: German Bachelor, 1.5
• Ghana: Bachelor degree, First
• Greece: Ptychio, 8.5
• Grenada: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Guatemala: Licenciado, 90%
• Guyana: Master's degree, GPA 4
• Honduras: Título de Licenciado, 91
• Hong Kong: Bachelor degree, 1st or 3.5/4
• Hungary: Alapfokozt, 4.5
• Iceland: Baccalaurreatus degree, 8.5
• India: Institutions listed on the National Institutional Ranking Framework, 65%
• Indonesia: Sarjana I, 3.3
• Iran: Bachelor degree, 17
• Iraq: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Ireland: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Israel: Bachelor degree, 90%
• Italy: Diploma di Laurea, 109/110
• Ivory Coast: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 16
• Jamaica: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Japan: Bachelor degree, 85%
• Jordan: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Kazakhstan: Bachelor degree, 4.5
• Kenya: Bachelor degree, First or 70%
• Kosovo: Bachelor degree, 10
• Kuwait: Bachelor degree, 3.6
• Latvia: Bachelor degree, 9
• Lebanon: Bachelor degree, 90%
• Liberia: Master's degree, 4.0 or 90%
• Libya: Bachelor degree, 85%
• Lithuania: Bachelor degree, 9
• Luxembourg: Bachelor degree, 18
• Macau: Bachelor degree, 1st or GPA 3.7
• Macedonia: Magistar, 10
• Malawi: Master's degree, MSc 75%
• Malaysia: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Malta: Bachelor degree, 1st or 80%
• Mauritius: Bachelor degree, 1st or 70%
• Mexico: Licenciado, 8.5
• Moldova: Diploma de Licenţă, 9
• Mongolia: Диплом Специалиста, 90%
• Montenegro: Diploma of Completed Undergraduate Studies, 10
• Morocco: Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État, 16
• Mozambique: Mestrado, 16
• Myanmar (Burma): Master's degree, 5 or 85%
• Namibia: Bachelor Honours, 80%
• Nepal: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Netherlands: Bachelor degree, 8
• New Zealand: Bachelor Honours, First
• Nicaragua: Licenciado, 90%
• Nigeria: Bachelor degree, First
• Norway: Bachelor degree, A or 1.8
• Oman: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Pakistan: Bachelor degree, A- or GPA 3.7
• Palestine: Bachelor degree, 90%
• Panama: Licenciado, 91
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor Honours, 1st
• Paraguay: Título de Licenciado, 4.5
• Peru: Título de Licenciado, 14
• Philippines: Bachelor degree, Summa Cum Laude 4.0
• Poland: Magister, 5
• Portugal: Licenciado, 18
• Qatar: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Romania: Diploma de Licenţă, 9
• Russia: Bakalavr, 4.5
• Rwanda: Bachelor degree, 1st or 16/20
• Saudi Arabia: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Senegal: Maitrise, 16
• Serbia: Diplomirani, 9
• Sierra Leone: Bachelor degree, 1st or 70%
• Singapore: Bachelor degree, First
• Slovakia: Bakalár, 1.5
• Slovenia: Univerzitetni diplom, 9
• South Africa: Bachelor Honours, 1st or 75%
• South Korea: Bachelor degree, 3.8
• Spain: Licenciado, 8.5
• Sri Lanka: Bachelor Special or Honours degree, 90%
• Sudan: Bachelor degree, 1st or 70%
• Sweden: Kandidatexamen, Overall grade of VG
• Switzerland: Bachelor degree, 10
• Syria: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Taiwan: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Tajikistan: Диплом специалиста, 5
• Tanzania: Bachelor degree, 1st
• Thailand: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Trinidad and Tobago: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Tunisia: Licence, 16
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi, 3.5
• Turkmenistan: Bakalavr, 5
• Uganda: Bachelor degree, 1st or 4.4
• Ukraine: Dyplom Magistra, 4.5
• United Arab Emirates: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• United States of America: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Uruguay: Licenciado, 9
• Uzbekistan: Majistr Diplomi, 90%
• Venezuela: Licenciado, 18
• Vietnam: Bachelor degree, 8.0
• Zambia: Master's degree, A or 4.0
• Zimbabwe: Bachelor degree, 1st or 75%

English Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Fees and Funding

• Fees for the 2025 academic year:
  • UK fee: £13,250 Full-time degree per annum
  • International fee: £29,950 Full-time degree per annum
• Fees for the 2026 academic year:
  • UK fee: £13,700 Full-time degree per annum
  • International fee: £30,900 Full-time degree per annum

Scholarships and Bursaries

There are scholarships and bursaries available to help with funding your study.

Loughborough University Alumni Bursary

• 10% off tuition fees

Your Development

The MA Graphic Design and Visualisation programme is centred around the Project Proposal, which you will write. We look for original, thought-provoking, and innovative ideas which can be explored at MA level.

Our Academics

• Dr Tracy Ross: Reader in People-Centred Innovation Design
• Richard Johnson FHEA: University Teacher in Graphic Communication and Illustration & Doctoral Researcher
• Dr Simon T. Downs: Senior Lecturer in Systems of Graphic Communication, Programme Leader for MA Graphic Design and Visualisation
• Dr Alis Diana Iacob: Director of Postgraduate studies (operational)
• Steve Lannin: BA Graphic Design & MA Graphic Design & Visualisation Teaching Fellow
• Dr Stefania Sansoni: Lecturer in Graphic Design & Director of UG Student Experience
• Clare Nicholas MA(RCA), FHEA: University Teacher in Graphic Design

Your Future Career

The universal demand for graphical knowledge and increasing emphasis on visualising complexity across diverse fields provides a vast range of career choices for graduates.

Depending on individual aspirations, students evolve their practical, historical, and theoretical interests for a career in industry or academic research through PhD study. Graduates may also decide to start their own businesses or work freelance across a range of design-related disciplines.

This degree is suitable for those interested in working in graphic design-related fields. Possible graduate careers include:

• Photography
• Art direction
• Graphic design
• Publishing
• Illustration
• Video production
• Television and film
• Artist
• Curator
• Art buyer
• Art editor
• Marketing
• Art director for advertising
• Branding
• Performing arts
• Exhibition and display design
• App designer
• Comic illustrator
• Public relations
• Advertising
• Artists' agents

Related Master's Degrees

• Design Innovation MA, MSc: London
• Entrepreneurial Design Management MSc: London

Contact Information

For further information, please refer to the university's website or contact the admissions team directly.

Loughborough University

---

Overview:

Loughborough University is a public research university located in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It is renowned for its strong academic programs, particularly in sports science, engineering, and business. The university boasts a vibrant campus life and a strong focus on research and innovation.

---

Student Life and Campus Experience:

Loughborough University offers a diverse and engaging campus experience. Students can participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, societies, and volunteering opportunities. The university has a strong sporting heritage and is home to world-class facilities. Students can also enjoy a vibrant social scene with numerous bars, restaurants, and events happening on campus.

---

Key Reasons to Study There:

World-class facilities:

Loughborough University boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a dedicated sports village, a modern library, and cutting-edge research labs.

Strong academic reputation:

The university is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK for its academic excellence.

Vibrant campus life:

Students can enjoy a lively and diverse campus community with numerous opportunities for social interaction and personal development.

Focus on research and innovation:

Loughborough University is a leading research institution, with a strong focus on tackling real-world challenges.

Excellent career prospects:

Graduates from Loughborough University are highly sought after by employers, with strong career prospects in various fields.

---

Academic Programs:

Loughborough University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including:

Engineering:

Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and more.

Business and Economics:

Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and more.

Sport Science:

Exercise Science, Sports Coaching, Sports Management, and more.

Humanities and Social Sciences:

Psychology, Sociology, History, and more.

Science and Technology:

Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and more.

---

Other:

Loughborough University has a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The university is actively working towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions and promoting inclusivity and diversity within its community.