The application process

If you are applying for any of the following courses, you need to submit a portfolio to evidence your practical work in addition to meeting the programme’s entry requirements.

• Applied Storytelling (MA, PGCert)
• Graphic Design and Visualisation (MA)
• Integrated Industrial Design (MSc)
• User Experience Design* (MA/MSc)
• User Experience and Service Design* (MA/ MSc)

For information on creating your portfolio, see the link below.

*These programmes will consider applicants from non-design backgrounds (e.g., psychology) without portfolios, but require a strong personal statement, CV, and Undergraduate transcript. Applicants from design backgrounds must have a portfolio.

Do not need a portfolio

If you are applying for any of the following courses, you do not need to submit a portfolio:

• Ergonomics and Human Factors (MSc, PGDip, PGCert)
• Human Factors and Ergonomics for Patient Safety (PG Cert)

The personal statement is an important part of every postgraduate application. It is your chance to tell us more about yourself. We are looking for people who truly love Art and Design, so show this clearly in your statement. Tell us why you want to study on this programme, and what your goals are for the future. We want to see that you understand what you will study, and that the programme fits your plans well. We also want to see that you understand Art and Design in a wider way. How does your subject connect to the world around us? This is a large field with many directions. Which part interests you the most?
 
Here are some tips and format guidance to help support you write your personal statement.

Your personal statement must:

• Make you look like a candidate we can work with.
• Demonstrate you can express yourself in English.
• Show that you can think for yourself, that you notice and care about the world around you.
• Evidence you have done some research about Loughborough University, the School of Design and Creative Arts and the program you’re applying for.
• Link your inspiration to your hobbies or activities outside your studies.
• Talk about work and internships that you have done.
• Explain why you want to come to Loughborough University.

What we don’t need to read:

• That you have always wanted to be an artist/designer, ever since you were a very small child. This fact is taken as being obvious.
• About creatives who you admire, unless this information is directly relevant to the programme you want to join.

• We want to see your Curriculum Vitae (C.V). Your C.V. is a record of the things you have done, but it also tells us something about how you rate those things.
• Always try to think about the person who will be reading your C.V. and judging you on it.
• Will they think your degree grade is the most important thing (this information is available to us in other forms)? Or will we want to know about the work you have done and the internships that you have completed?
• If you have done real work as a designer - even if it is small scale - it is worth knowing about.
• Hobbies are interesting, but definitely not the most important thing about you. So include it if, after researching the program you are applying to, you can see it is relevant.

Get in touch with our friendly admissions team if you have any questions about submitting an application or replying to an offer.