MA Immersive Media

About this course

Design the future of digital experiences - create, innovate, and push boundaries in XR, Interactive Storytelling & Immersive Technology

What will you experience on this MA?

You’ll have access to dedicated immersive media labs and industry-focused creative technology, including:

• Specialist XR Display Technologies – XR = VR, AR, and MR headsets, motion controllers, tablets, 360° cameras
• Fully Equipped Production Facilities across the Screen School & Liverpool School of Art and Design
• Hands-On Training with Industry-Leading Software

Our approach is story-first, software-second, giving you the flexibility to master multiple tools, including:

• Unreal Engine (for immersive worlds & interactive design)
• Blender, Cinema4D, Maya, ZBrush & Gravity Sketch (3D modeling & spatial design)
• Isadora & TouchDesigner (interactive media & live performance tools)
• Adobe Creative Suite (industry-standard content creation tools)

Fully funded place available

Want to explore the future of music and immersive tech – with your UK tuition fees fully covered?

Thanks to LJMU's partnership with MusicFutures, a funded place on the MA is now available for music focused creatives, working at the intersection of music and immersive media. The offer is available to UK nationals only and the fund covers all UK tuition fees.

From interactive installations and gigs utilising virtual reality to digital soundscapes and storytelling with augmented reality, immersive media is transforming the way we experience music.

Examples might include:

• Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality music-related experiences
• Digital performance environments
• Sound design for immersive spaces
• Music-focused gaming or interactive media

MusicFutures is an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded Creative Cluster programme supporting growth and innovation at the intersection of music, creativity, and technology.

Ready to apply? Get in touch to check your eligibility. A panel will review applications, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.

Deadline for applications: 31st July 2025.

More about Liverpool's place in the UK's creative sector

Liverpool has a long history of breakthroughs in games, film, and creative technology. Studying here means being immersed in an ecosystem of innovation, collaboration, and future-thinking.

The City Region is experiencing a transformative surge in its creative industries, making it the ideal place to establish or advance your career in immersive media. Recent significant investments in the city include MusicFutures Creative Cluster, an exciting £6.75 million initiative led by LJMU and the University of Liverpool, which aims to establish the Liverpool City Region as a powerhouse for music research and development.

This five-year program brings together over 20 strategic partners to drive innovation through emerging technologies, immersive content, talent development, and business growth.

The city also welcomes a £60 million Government funding boost to support creative and cultural organisations across the country. This investment aims to transform local venues, create jobs, support businesses, and spread opportunities, with a focus on regions like Liverpool.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

• Immersive Media Lab (30 credits) This module will allow you to explore the creative potential of specialised hardware and software in immersive technology. You will be to apply techniques for the manipulation and distribution of immersive technology content and design. This will help you to understand the creative potential of these technologies in context of a chosen area of practice.
• Research and Proposal (30 credits) This module develops students understanding of practice-based and theoretical research methods in Immersive Media, leading to the development of a conceptual and critical proposal for an Immersive Media project.
• Immersive Media Project (60 credits) This module will enable you to produce an immersive media project based on original in-depth research, for delivery on a platform and context of choice. This will provide you the opportunity to demonstrate, through the completion of an extended project, a range of skills and practices in creative invention and in planning and management. Within the module you will be required to demonstrate technical competencies in all practical aspects of production.
• Transdisciplinary Practice (30 credits) This module is shared by all students studying on taught Art and Design postgraduate programmes. The Transdisciplinary Practice module concerns the development of your individual practice. It sees you consider, adopt and implement a range of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary or transdisciplinary methods, to refine, extend, develop and critically reflect upon your own practice. This enables a deeper relationship to one's own practice by seeing it through the lens of other disciplines, and cultivates more sympathetic understanding of the contingencies of other practices and disciplines through the same process. You will work as individuals or in groups, or establish new relationships and collaborations to produce innovative, visionary and speculative practical outcomes in the context of one or more disciplinary contexts. The module enables you to propose, plan, organise, publish or promote your work and research. Outcomes could include proposals for applied creative projects, documentary of work in progress, exhibition of work(s), public presentations in symposiums, websites or printed publications. Learning is predominantly through lectures, reading groups and seminars. You will be introduced to ongoing inter-multi-transdisciplinary projects in the Institute of Art and Technology (IAT) and in the Liverpool City region through guest speakers who will expose you to new ways of working. Peer review is a crucial part of the practice-based research experience and this is facilitated through student-led and tutor guided studio activities and critical reviews. At this level it is expected that you will show a high degree of motivation and ability to engage in self-directed study, demonstrating a level of scholarship, initiative and problem solving appropriate to Master's degree study.
• Research Inquiry (30 credits) This module is shared by all students studying on taught Art and Design, MA Cities and Immersive Media postgraduate programmes. The Research Inquiry module aims to develop and improve your research and analytical skills. Analysis and problem-solving skills are critical to student employability and subsequent success in most types of careers post MA. Students are immersed in a range of methodological approaches across the arts and social sciences, and will develop an in-depth understanding and knowledge of contemporary approaches to research in their field of study. This will be crucial in laying the foundation for developing their own subsequent projects. A series of lectures and seminars will introduce you to current and emerging practice in relation to a diverse range of historical, theoretical and critical principles. Seminars will require you to share, discuss and evaluate ideas and practice with others. You will read and discuss a range of primary and secondary texts in your chosen field(s) to develop critical thinking together with historical and theoretical knowledge. The module culminates in the successful preparation and delivery of a professional project proposal and accompanying professional presentation.

Professional accreditation

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Assessment

Study hours

Full time students will have a learning commitment of approximately 35 hours a week with two full teaching days based at the Screen School and School of Art and Design's Mount Pleasant campus.

Taught by industry experts

Learn from leading practitioners, researchers, and industry professionals with extensive experience in games, film, TV, performance, interactive design, and creative technology. Our staff actively engage in immersive media research, collaborations, and industry projects, ensuring the course remains at the cutting edge of what’s next.

Full-time and part-time study routes

We understand that creativity doesn’t wait- but neither does your career. That’s why we offer a flexible part-time route for professionals who want to advance their skillset while continuing to work. Whether you’re looking to upskill, change careers, or push your creative practice into new dimensions, this MA fits around your ambitions.

Research & Innovation

Not just practitioners- we’re pioneers. Our academic research explores the role of immersive technologies in multiple sectors, from entertainment and live experiences to healthcare, education, and beyond.

Live, industry-led collaborative projects

You won’t just learn- you’ll build. You’ll collaborate with real industry partners and peers to develop immersive experiences that tackle real-world challenges. This hands-on approach means you graduate with a portfolio of impactful, cutting-edge projects, setting you apart in the job market.

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

Graduates from this program go on to shape the immersive media industry, working as:

• XR experience designers
• Immersive storytellers and creatives
• VR/AR Developers
• Interactive media artists
• Creative technologists

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Fee: £8,965

International

• Fee: £17,750

Entry requirements

Home

• Qualification requirements:
  • Hons degree 2:2 or above (from art, media, animation, digital design, computer science, performing arts, graphic design, games, UX)
  • an academic reference

International

• Qualification requirements:
  • IELTS English language requirement: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)

How to apply

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

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Overview:

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a public university located in Liverpool, England. It is a large and diverse institution with a strong focus on providing high-quality education and research opportunities.

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Services Offered:

LJMU offers a wide range of services to its students, including:

Accommodation:

On-campus and off-campus accommodation options are available for students.

Student Support:

The university provides comprehensive support services, including academic advising, career counseling, financial aid, and mental health resources.

Library:

LJMU has a well-equipped library with extensive resources and study spaces.

Student Futures:

This service helps students with career planning, job searching, and employability skills development.

International Student Support:

Dedicated support is available for international students, including visa guidance and cultural adjustment programs.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

LJMU offers a vibrant and engaging campus experience for its students. Key aspects include:

Sports, Societies, and Lifestyle:

Students can participate in a wide range of sports clubs, societies, and social events.

Campus:

The university has multiple campuses located in Liverpool, providing a diverse and stimulating environment.

Go Abroad:

LJMU offers opportunities for students to study abroad and gain international experience.

Volunteering:

Students can engage in volunteering activities and contribute to the local community.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Strong Academic Reputation:

LJMU is known for its high-quality teaching and research.

Diverse Programs:

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

Location:

Liverpool is a vibrant and culturally rich city, providing students with a stimulating and enjoyable living experience.

Student Support:

LJMU provides comprehensive support services to ensure student success.

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Academic Programs:

LJMU offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate:

Bachelor's degrees in various fields, including business, law, health sciences, engineering, and the arts.

Postgraduate:

Master's degrees, PhD programs, and other postgraduate qualifications.

Degree Apprenticeships:

Programs that combine work experience with academic study.

Continuing Professional Development:

Short courses and programs for professionals seeking to enhance their skills.