Programme summary for MA Graphic Design

About the programme

Aimed at Graphic Designers, this programme enables you to develop your creativity and intellectual understanding through a high level of debate, subject-specific discourse and practical application. This programme will use your practice to engage you in innovative problem solving, critical debate, cultural and contextual environments, new approaches to communication design and graphic solutions and contemporary dialogues in interdisciplinary Graphic Design practice.

The programme has been designed to interconnect with MA Fashion, MA Print Design, MA Photography and MA Design Studies, as suite of MA programmes that utilize shared modules and interdisciplinary learning structures and experiences. The aim of this strategy is to provide a flexible postgraduate learning environment appropriate and relevant to the students own professional context, future aims and ambition.

Programme structure

The programme can be followed over twelve months full time or twenty four months part time.

The programme consists of 2 x 30 credit (single) modules and 2 x 60 credit (double) modules

Creative Practice (Graphic Design)
The main aims of this module are to develop advanced independent, original work and research within the subject area, and to facilitate students to critically reflect on their own work within a wider context of professional process and progress.

Options
The programme has a 30 credit ‘option’ module that enables the student to diversify their studies through Graphic Design Discourses, Photography Discourses, Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries, Textiles Exploration and Practice or Fashion Exploration and Practice.

Professional Engagement
The programme has a 30 credit ‘Professional Engagement’ module that facilities opportunity for outward facing professional activities that could take the form of publications, exhibitions, collaborative projects, internships, or the design and organisation of workshop activities. Students are encouraged to collaborate and build on their strengths when designing their proposals for the module.

Negotiated Practice
The main aim of this module is for students to develop a coherent and sophisticated body of work for exhibition or presentation, as appropriate to their subject. The module culminates in a final showing of work, which will demonstrate a sustained and advanced level of practice necessary to achieve a Masters qualification.

Career opportunities

This programme will equip the graduates with a set of transferable skills suitable for work in the creative industries.

Job titles might be:

Graphic Designer
Graphic Design Researcher
Exhibitions Designer
Graphic Artist
Design Director
Projects Manager
Art Director
Advertiser
Illustrator
Magazine Editor
Graphic Design Academic

Support

The university provides a comprehensive range of support services for students which include: residential/student finance advice/careers advice/study skills development/IT/learning resources. The programme provides strong personal tutor guidance and professional advice related to the practice. Visiting artists, designers and other professional practitioners regularly visit the programme and study trips to working environments are an important component.

Admission

The programme is suitable for:

Applicants with an honours degree in Graphic Design
Applicants with an honours degree in an Art, Design or Media subject, with a particular interest, experience and ability for developing creative and innovative approaches to Graphic Design
Graphic design professionals who wish to readdress their professional practice through creativity and innovation.
Lecturers from Further or Higher Education Institutions wishing to gain a higher qualification.

Applications are welcomed from the EU and overseas.
Students whose first language is not English will have achieved a score of 6.0 in IELTS or equivalent. Eligibility for students without degree equivalent qualifications will be assessed on the basis of a personal statement and a portfolio. Places will be offered after a successful interview (in person or online) with a member of the programme team.

Accredited Learning
Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.