Communication Design MA

at Northumbria University

Communications Design at Northumbria employs a studio-based learning by doing approach, drawing on your existing design skills. It champions an interdisciplinary approach drawing on expertise, methods and experience of staff from a range of areas such as co-design, user experience, brand innovation, data-driven visualisations, service design, AI, information design and visual storytelling.

 

Reflecting the integrated nature of communications design as a discipline, the course consists of three broad modules which offer a flexible and transformative learning experience:

 

• Stage 1 ‘Situate’ During this exploratory phase you will work on set briefs to explore various themes and practices. The emphasis is on experimentation within a context of narrative, identity, promotion experience and service.
• Stage 2 ‘Challenge’ The visionary phase will expose you to inspirational pioneers of change. Through live collaborative projects and the development of your self-directed brief, you will seek to challenge the status quo and set a new direction for your practice. 
• Stage 3 ‘Change’ Working with increasing independence, you will realise your final self-directed project and demonstrate how you have achieved your intended impact. Your final project should be engaged with the real world and have a collaborative element, and can be international in scope.

In Stages 2 and 3, you can choose the briefs and themes that inspire you, giving you a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on a social, environmental or economic area you’re truly passionate about. These could be as diverse as sustainability, new technology, ageing, social inequality or access to education.

 

This coming year we will continue to offer our new students a range of projects that will challenge your creativity and encourage your growth in expertise as a designer. We will expect you to undertake about eight projects in your year with us, which will form your Masters level design portfolio. These will expand your horizons, shape you as a designer and build your confidence as a valuable creative professional.  

 

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

 

Year one

 

 

• CD7001 -Situating Practice (Core,60 Credits)
• CD7002 -Challenging Boundaries (Core,60 Credits)
• CD7003 -Changing Direction (Core,60 Credits)
• EF0126 -Academic Language Skills in FADSS Level 7 (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Entry Requirements 2022/23

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

 

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant design discipline such as graphic design, interaction design, illustration, photography, film, fashion communication, advertising, animation or similar studio-based disciplines. Applicants with appropriate work experience and/or a relevant professional qualification will be considered.

 

Applicants are required to submit an online portfolio with their application.

 

International qualifications:

 

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages.

 

English language requirements:

 

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

Fees and Funding 2022/23 Entry

Full UK Fee: £7,950

 

Full EU Fee: £16,500

 

Full International Fee: £16,500

You will graduate from this course with independence of thought, maturity of thought articulation and an aptitude for collaboration – traits highly valued by every employer in the creative marketplace.

Northumbria is based in the heart of Newcastle – a thriving creative capital, with a vibrant and growing digital industries sector. It is an ideal city in which to study and launch your creative career, with a much cheaper cost of living than London.

 

The course has been developed in consultation with industry,and you will engage with practitioners throughout your studies, through live briefs, guest masterclasses and networking opportunities. As such it provides you with the experience, portfolio and contacts which form an ideal basis for advanced professional employment.

 

We have in the past run collaborative briefs with creative agencies such as Wieden and Kennedy, R/GA and Us Two, multinationals such as Virgin Money, Sage and Microsoft and voluntary sector organisations such as The Cyrenians, Newcastle Vision Support and Fulfilling Lives.

 

Upon graduation you’ll be ready for employment,entrepreneurship or doctoral research within areas as diverse as graphic design, interaction design, UX design, service design, product innovation, art direction, branding, publishing and information design.