Learning Through Comparing the Work of Others

Loughborough UniversityLoughborough, United Kingdom

Course overview

Feedback is considered important for learning across university subjects. However, feedback is often not engaging and is therefore ineffective. Our project enables engaging feedback through having students make pairwise comparisons of the work of other students.

We will use a range of quantitative and qualitative methods to explore how different learning designs maximise the feedback benefits when students make pairwise comparisons. Your main supervisor, Professor Ian Jones, is a world leader in pairwise comparison methods in education and has an attentive and supportive approach to research students. 94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

REF 2021

Key highlights

Research project on engaging feedback through pairwise comparison of student work
Explores how learning designs maximise feedback benefits from pairwise comparisons
Uses a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods
Supervised by a world leader in pairwise comparison methods in education
94% of research impact rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

Entry requirements

Degree: 2:1 — 2:1

Scholarships

Alumni Bursary
10% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 10% of fees
Alumni 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 £12,000
London 10th Anniversary Award
£5,000 off tuition fees.
Up to £5,000
Loughborough 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 fees
Qatari Ghanim Al-Muftah Excellence Scholarship

Careers this course leads to

Education researcher
University lecturer
Postdoctoral research associate
Educational assessment specialist
Learning designer
Academic developer

Cost of study

UK/Home: £5,238 | International: £23,100

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.

Ready to start?

Book a free consultation and we'll map your fastest route to a October 2026 place.

Apply Now