
Transdisciplinary and Systems Thinking in Design and Creative Arts
Loughborough UniversityLoughborough, United Kingdom
Course overview
Transdisciplinarity and systems thinking embrace complexity, seeking holistic approaches to interconnected societal challenges. This area fosters collaboration across disciplines, for example, public health, business, education, engineering, and governance—to address issues such as health equity, urban resilience, and social innovation. Challenges include developing the theoretical underpinnings for integrating diverse knowledge systems, navigating disciplinary boundaries, and designing and creating for emergent outcomes.
Research questions include: Projects may involve strategic design, futures thinking, ergonomics and human factors, storytelling, design for policy, and collaborative innovation, with a focus on building bridges between disciplines to tackle real-world problems. 94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021
Key highlights
- Research collaborating across public health, business, education, engineering and governance
- Tackles issues such as health equity, urban resilience and social innovation
- Projects may involve strategic design, futures thinking and design for policy
- Scope for ergonomics, human factors, storytelling and collaborative innovation
- 94% of research impact rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:1 — or above
Scholarships
Alumni Bursary
10% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 10% of feesAlumni Discount
UK students: £1,500 tuition fee discount for one academic year. International students: £3,000 tuition fee discount for one academic year.
Care Leaver's Scholarship
Excellence Scholarships
UK students: £3,000 off tuition fees; International students: £6,000 off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary
Our International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary offers a £12,000 tuition fee discount (set against the tuition fees of your chosen postgraduate taught programme ONLY).
Up to £12,000London 10th Anniversary Award
£5,000 off tuition fees.
Up to £5,000Loughborough Business School Scholarship
£1,500 (UK students) and £3,000 (international students) off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
MBA Progress with Purpose Scholarship
50% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 50% of feesQatari Ghanim Al-Muftah Excellence Scholarship
Careers this course leads to
- Academic researcher
- University lecturer
- Design strategist
- Policy design consultant
- Systems design consultant
- Innovation consultant
Cost of study
UK/Home: £5,238 | International: £29,500
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Loughborough University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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