Applications for 2019/20 entry for this course are now closed. Applications for 2020/21 entry will open in Autumn 2019.
MA User Experience (UX) Design at LCC is a professionally focused, design-led course that will equip you with the specialist skills to conceive, prototype and produce human-centred experiences in an interactive digital context.
You'll learn the advanced studio skills of user experience design, the methods and practices of user research and the critical-theoretical background to the field.
There's an increasingly high demand for designers who are able to combine their creative skills with profound insight into human behaviours and contexts. This course prepares you for the rapidly expanding field of UX – with a wide range of opportunities for advanced practitioners.
Industry Engaged: This MA is highly engaged with UX industry practice and the future of UX as a professional discipline. You’ll benefit from live UX briefs, studio visits and partnership with leading London UX industry professional and studios such as ustwo, Made by Many and AKQA.
Design Led UX: The course puts studio practice at the centre of what students do. Supported by the community of practice at LCC and grounded in a critical awareness of design methods and processes, you can expect to be designing new digital experiences from the start.
Interdisciplinary: In the professional design world, UX designers perform many different tasks and are expected to have skills in research, interaction design, product prototyping, concept development and evaluation. This constellation of skills means the course delivers technical and critical training at an advanced level, in a highly interdisciplinary context.
Skills: Key to building the expertise of a UX designer is a working understanding of industry standard UX prototyping tools, alongside user research methods that inform designs. You will learn practical skills alongside theoretical, within a critical framework, to become a discerning and conscious designer.
The next Open Evening for this course will be announced soon.
MA User Experience Design students have responded to briefs from three of the UK’s leading UX agencies, Applied Works, Venture Three, and Fjord, on how to engage audiences on global and social issues.
Discover our printing techniques, from Lithographic Printing to Print Finishing and Bookbinding.
The Digital Space is an open-plan, creative hub with computers set up with specialist software.
A multi-purpose space that supports students with: Creative Coding, Physical Computing, Projection Mapping, Games, and Virtual Reality.
Discover our printing techniques, from Lithographic Printing to Print Finishing and Bookbinding.
The Digital Space is an open-plan, creative hub with computers set up with specialist software.
A multi-purpose space with specialist hardware, that supports students in creative code and physical computing.
On this industry focused and design-led course, you'll learn how compelling user experiences are designed, tested, and evaluated. The course covers the advanced studio skills of user experience design, including the methods and practices of user research through the critical-theoretical background.
You'll gain knowledge of the relevant tools, materials and practices that make up user experience design in the context of the community of practice represented by London College of Communication.
With a focus on design for complex systems, emerging technologies and integrated experiences, you’ll develop an informed approach which builds on a foundation of graphic, communication and interface design values through open inquiry and creative risk-taking.
The methods and tools of user research are emphasised throughout and you will be challenged to collaborate on live industry briefs covering varied topics such as UX for wearable technologies, smart cities, data visualisation and social transformation.
The course is intended for people who have completed an undergraduate degree in design, social sciences, digital technologies, media and communications, and associated degrees. We also anticipate that applicants will be working designers wishing to deepen their practice and develop new opportunities
MA User Experience Design is delivered across four terms, starting in September and finishing in December the year after. Incorporating a summer break, this is a one-year full-time course (45 taught weeks), delivered over 15 months.
The first term features a series of fast, skills-focused projects where you will be working with your peers to develop your abilities in interface prototyping, interaction design, user research and concept development.
In the second and third terms, you will be working with some of our external partners across a range of themes ranging from social transformation to data visualisation and human-robot relations.
In your final term, you will research and write your masters thesis and develop a final major project. In parallel with this practical design work you will be evolving your critical understanding of the field, and positioning yourself relative to the main ideas and theories of interaction, cognition, and experience.
The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.
Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.
In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.
We will update this webpage from time to time with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact a member of the course team.
Course Leader, MA User Experience Design
Programme Director, Interaction Design and Visual Communication
We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.
The course team welcomes applications from open and inquiring minds of all kinds. Applicants interested in deepening their practice to include user research and in pursuing further study as a way of developing a valuable professional qualification. Students open to learning in a new collaborative and critical way, eager to ground their work in real-world research and be willing to take creative risks and make mistakes along the way.
Applicants will have a portfolio of digital design work that demonstrates awareness of the creative and critical aspects of UX design and may also be returning from adjacent careers in the design industry such as graphic design, information design or interaction design.
The course attracts applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, from all over the world, from an Honours degree course in a subject such as:
The course team also welcomes students with relevant experience or those who may have previously worked in the industry, or non-traditional backgrounds, as well as those already within employment. The course has been designed to accommodate flexibility in educational engagement. Your experience is assessed as a learning process and tutors will evaluate that experience for currency, validity, quality and sufficiency.
The educational level may be demonstrated by:
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.
Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:
Applications for 2019/20 entry for this course are now closed. Applications for 2020/21 entry will open in Autumn 2019.
All applications will be considered by the course team who will consider key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:
There is no requirement for an academic or professional reference.
You will need to enter the following information in the online application:
Before submitting your application, you will need to agree to the terms and conditions for how we process your data – these are explained in the application form. Once you have submitted the online application, we will send you a confirmation email.
Please note, if you’re an international applicant we will ask you for copies of certain documents (for example, English language qualification/certificate and copies of any previous UK study visas).
If you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current postgraduate course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at London College of Communication, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible. Find out about our UAL External Student Transfer Policy which includes what you need to include in your application.
Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If English is not your first language it is important that you also include in your CV details of your most recent English language test score.
Please say why you are applying for this course, outlining relevant prior experience and knowledge of the subject. Ensure that your personal statement is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes.
It is your chance to impress the course team by showing a strong interest in the subject, demonstrating what you feel you would bring to the course, your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future. This can be demonstrated through work experience, previous studies and your personal experience.
If you are offered a place for 2020/21 but wish to defer to 2021/22, information on how to do this and who to contact can be found in your offer letter. Additionally, International applicants should pay the pre-payment in order to defer. In all cases, deferred places will be held for one year.
Home/EU applicants are permitted to make a deferred application. International applicants are not permitted to make a deferred application.
Please note: This course has places available for Home/EU applicants only. Applications for 2019/20 entry are now closed for international students.
This section includes all the information you need on how to apply and how your application is considered, and what happens next.
There are two ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course at LCC:
For further advice on how to apply please visit the UAL International Application page.
All applications will be considered by the course team who will consider key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:
There is no requirement for an academic or professional reference.
You will need to enter the following information in the online application:
Please note: we will ask you for copies of certain documents (for example, English language qualification/certificate and copies of any previous UK study visas).
If you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current postgraduate course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at London College of Communication, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible. Find out about our UAL External Student Transfer Policy which includes what you need to include in your application.
Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If English is not your first language it is important that you also include in your CV details of your most recent English language test score.
Please say why you are applying for this course, outlining relevant prior experience and knowledge of the subject. Ensure that your personal statement is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes.
It is your chance to impress the course team by showing a strong interest in the subject, demonstrating what you feel you would bring to the course, your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future. This can be demonstrated through work experience, previous studies and your personal experience.
If you are offered a place for 2020/21 but wish to defer to 2021/22, information on how to do this and who to contact can be found in your offer letter. Additionally, International applicants should pay the pre-payment in order to defer. In all cases, deferred places will be held for one year.
Home/EU applicants are permitted to make a deferred application. International applicants are not permitted to make a deferred application.
After you have successfully submitted your application online, you will receive an email confirming your application and providing your login details for the UAL Applicant Portal. Please log into the portal, as this is where we will send you important updates and requests, and you can contact us with any questions you may have about your application.
All applicants will be expected to submit an electronic portfolio of work as part of their application, evidencing their aptitude, skill and engagement in the field of user experience design or an adjacent practice.
Please submit an edited selection of work (10-20 images, 4-5 projects maximum) accompanied by a short caption for each project acknowledging the motivation, development, realisation and impact (one-two sentences maximum).
Indicate your role and contribution to any collaborative projects included. We welcome developmental work, sketches, tests, process-led experimentation in the portfolio.
For those applying from non-design backgrounds, research-based around a relevant topic should be demonstrated. Please provide as much context as possible to explain your research, articulate the outcomes and impact.
The portfolio should demonstrate intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness and a strong commitment to the subject as well as to sustained study at postgraduate level. In all instances, enthusiasm for the course is paramount.
Applicants are usually interviewed by the course team before a place can be offered. Interviews will take place at LCC, or via Skype/telephone.
Applicants must submit a study proposal for the Major Project outlining the intentions of their MA research (300-500 words).
Please include a description of the area of interest, field of study and the particular focus of the intended project, and an overview of how you intend to go about producing the project and the methodology.
It is important to recognise that these ideas will inevitably develop and change during your study on the course and only serve to inform your application at this stage.
If you have links to web projects or other media, please note these in your CV.
You will receive the outcome of your application through the UAL Applicant Portal.
£10,890 (2019/20)
UAL alumni receive a £1,000 discount
Course fees may be paid in instalments
£19,930 (2019/20)
UAL alumni receive a £1,000 discount
Course fees may be paid in instalments
In addition to tuition fees, you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. We strongly suggest you read the information on our Additional Costs page.
Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.
A range of scholarships, bursaries and awards are available to postgraduate students at UAL.
Postgraduate loans of up to £10,000 are now available for eligible UK and EU students. A full list of eligibility criteria and information on applying can be found on the postgraduate loans webpage.
Funding opportunities available for this course:
Graduates of the course could go on to work in commercial agencies such as RG/A and start-ups such as Kano or Onfido. They will also be in demand in public organisations such as GDS, and the non-profit sector such as the Museum of London or Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
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