Design, MA
Study our exciting new MA Design, where you'll focus on research methods, inclusion and diversity in design. It's taught by a globally renowned team from across the creative industries.
Our MA Design focusses on practices of experimental methods including the participatory, the speculative and the critical, applying them to real-world briefs to assess complex situations and offer viable design outcomes. Using a wide range of materials, tools and techniques, you will explore how diversity and inclusivity in design can empower a critical practice.
You will gain work experience from project-based placements, critical insight from a globally- renowned team of tutors and guest lecturers, and confidence from leading your own design research project, culminating in two public-facing exhibitions.
We are based in a purpose-built creative space in Greenwich, a vibrant area of London that is a magnet for the creative industries. You’ll enjoy access to great facilities and equipment, and work from a building which is home to a dynamic community of creatives from the fields of digital arts, graphic and digital design, media, film, sound, architecture and landscape.
School
Location
Duration
- 1 years full-time
- 2 years part-time
Start month
September
Home/international fees 2024/25
£11,000 /£17,450
What you should know about this course
What you will study
About the course team
You will be taught by an experienced team of lecturers, which includes senior academics, practitioners with industry experience and technical demonstrators. Our research and consultancy work informs academics, and over 90 per cent of our staff hold a teaching qualification.
Come and meet us
We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
An undergraduate (honours) degree at 2:2, or above, in a relevant subject.
For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
Suitable applicants will be required to submit a portfolio and attend an interview.
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use Prior Learning?
Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.
How you will learn
Teaching
As a practice-based Master's degree, most of your time will be spent in the studios or off-site developing your work alongside tutorial supervision. In a typical week, you will have workshops, seminars and critiques to discuss your work with colleagues and tutors.
Visiting artists will be made available each term for specialist lectures, workshops and tutorials. Theory courses will be taught alongside other Master's programmes to encourage subject crossover and multidisciplinary views.
Class sizes
We aim to recruit around 30 students to the MA Design each year. This class size may be split into smaller groups for seminar teaching and/or workshops for particular modules. Students also take part in shared / collaborative modules with students on other programmes, providing a perfect opportunity to develop skills in group and team working.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you are also expected to dedicate time to independent study (around 8-10 hours per module per week).
Every module will involve further reading and research. You will also be expected to spend time preparing for classwork such as presentations and group discussions, and for assessed coursework and examinations.
You can use our Stockwell Street library and online resources is available for academic research and study.
During the week you can also:
- Attend guest lectures from industry experts
- Take part in employability and enterprise workshops
- Join Student Societies.
Overall workload
If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. For part-time students, this will reduce in proportion with the number of courses you are studying. Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15, 30, or 60 credits. These represent around 150, 300 or 600 study hours respectively. If you receive 100 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 200 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.
Assessment
Each course has formal summative assessments which count towards your final grade. Portfolio submission and oral presentations will be used for practice-based courses. Written essays will also form a portion of your degree.
Throughout the year you will receive formative feedback through group critiques and one-to-one tutorials. These will help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to give feedback on assignments within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The academic year runs from September to June.
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
| Full time | Part time | Distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | £11,000 | £1,850 per 30 credits | N/A |
| International | £17,450 | £2,908 per 30 credits | N/A |
Accommodation costs
Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.
Funding your study
There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.
EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.
Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Students need to pay their own travel costs for site visits or field trips.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
The programme will prepare and support the students in finding a placement or a job with a number of planned activities: portfolio preparation sessions, networking events, finding and sharing information about placements that can be done remotely or in physical space, inviting directors, designers, and artists to share their own experience in the creative industry and give tips about starting your career.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
As a Designer, you can establish a working practice of your own specialism and/or develop a career within a wide range of design industries, architectural companies, museums, and cultural organisations.
Those who wish to join companies will find employment in fields which include Design Diversity and Inclusion, Exhibition Design, Inclusive Architectural Design, Design Diplomacy.
Do you provide employability services?
The School of Design has an Employability Officer for postgraduate students to consult about specific opportunities relevant to the course. They work closely with professionals in industry to ensure you are well-prepared for the workplace and have already begun to build your professional network by the time you graduate.
The central Employability and Careers Service also provides support for students preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles, such as CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.
Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
Support from the department
All students on creative courses at the School of Design get FREE access to Adobe Creative Cloud and Lynda.com.
As a Master's student within the School of Design, you will be a member of a larger creative community which includes Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Film, Web Design and Media.
Each year we run a graduate show were our degree students can showcase their best work.
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our postgraduate courses or check our related courses below.....
Design at the University of Greenwich
Develop your creative and professional abilities on one of our design courses. Study in a building purpose-built for our creative courses in the heart of vibrant Greenwich.
Visit our design degrees page.
School of Design: Degree Show 2023
Our School of Design Degree Show is an annual highlight in the university’s calendar and the 2023 edition provided another superb showcase of our students’ exceptional creativity, ingenuity and skill.
Mode of study
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