MA Service Design

Postgraduate courses run a four-term model, from September through to December for 45 weeks in line with Higher Education term dates and incorporate a formal summer break period with no unit delivery. The Masters course structure has a total of 180 credits, which is broken down into credit-rated units.

Autumn, Term One
 

• User-Centred Project (40 credits)
• Ways of Working (20 credits)

Term one will give you a detailed knowledge of core theory and skills in service design, collaboration and team-work, research methods and design innovation. You will be engaged in live projects working in groups and with stakeholders. You will also reflect on your practice and engage with the ethics of your project. You will use the skills and knowledge obtained to articulate design ideas, observations and solutions creatively, as well as demonstrate rigour and critical evaluation in your work. This term has a user focus and projects are based in the present or in the near future.

Spring, Term Two
 

• User-Centred Project (continued)
• Design Futures (20 credits)
• Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

Term two will give you a critical view of the role of the designer in society. In Collaborative Unit you will work on larger system-level projects in multidisciplinary teams, and you will be able to apply your design thinking strategically to add value in new and challenging contexts. In Design Futures you will explore experimental methodologies for addressing futures, using speculative design and research-through-design. This term has a systems focus and projects are situated in the future in terms of outcomes or impact.

Summer, Term Three
 

• Design Futures (continued)
• Proposal Development (20 credits)
• Major Project (60 credits)

Term Three builds on the knowledge and skills you have acquired and you will be encouraged to explore and gain expertise in your own area of interest, and apply this to the creation of an original design research project. You will develop your major project proposal on the basis of extensive research, investigation and a firm methodological approach.

Autumn, Term Four
 

• Major Project (continued)

In Term Four you will continue with the development and production of your Final Major Project, where you will explore the context of the project, engage with stakeholders and run co-design sessions, identify key issues, design innovative services, and test your design outcomes. You will be encouraged to present your project through presentations, exhibitions, and design outputs in a variety of physical and digital media. You will be guided to appropriate research discourses, research methodologies, materials and media through which you can effectively communicate your ideas.

If you are unable to continue or decide to exit the course, there is a possible exit award. A Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded on successful completion of 60 credits, and a Postgraduate Diploma will be awarded on successful completion of the first 120 credits.

MA Service Design welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, from all over the world. Applicants may have an Honours degree in a field relevant to design or may have other, equivalent qualifications.

The course also welcomes students with good degrees from social science, business and other backgrounds, those who have previously worked in the industry, or those with relevant experience in non-traditional backgrounds, as well as those already within employment.

Your educational level may be demonstrated by:
 

• Honours degree (named above);

• Possession of equivalent qualifications;

• Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;

• Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
 

• Related academic or work experience

• The quality of the personal statement

• A strong academic or other professional reference

• OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.
 

• IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four skills.

Home fee
£11,550

International fee
£23,610

There are numerous possibilities open to graduates from this course. You will find your new knowledge and skills useful for careers in industry, local authorities or non-profit organisations. Alternatively, you may decide to pursue an academic career.

MA Service Design alumni work as Service Designers, Design Researchers, Experience Designers, Design Strategists, User Centred Consultants, Participatory Designers, UX Designers, and Academics in private, public and third sectors. Students have also progressed to study at PhD level.