Program Overview

MDes by Research Program

The IDC School of Design offers an MDes by Research degree programme. The programme aims to develop thought leaders and knowledge contributors in design. IDC seeks talented young designers with relevant expertise in a specific area of design research. This programme is suitable for individuals who have a BDes / MDes / MArch / MFA degree, an intellectual bent of mind, and a desire to advance their career by contributing knowledge through design research.

Course Structure

The MDes by Research programme is designed to give students a significant amount of time for research. Unlike other MDes programmes, the MDes by Research programme requires students to spend only about 25% of their time on coursework. These courses are either related to research methods or to the chosen research area of the student. Students may choose appropriate courses under the guidance of their supervisor. The remaining time is spent working on a series of research projects in their chosen area, under the guidance of an experienced supervisor and a research progress committee (RPC). Through these projects, an MDes by Research student is expected to contribute to knowledge through research publications. The duration of the MDes by Research programme is flexible, ranging from 1.5 to 3 years, based on the progress of the research.

Admission Process

The areas of research in IDC evolve continuously in response to new challenges emerging in the world of design. Candidates should choose one of the available research topics and read the suggested material. A 500-word research proposal for the chosen topic must be submitted along with the application. The proposal should clearly identify the research question and describe a research method to answer it. Candidates are shortlisted based on their CEED scores. Shortlisted candidates will be called to appear for a written test and an interview in IDC School of Design.

Research Topics

The programme offers various research topics, which are announced for each intake. Candidates are encouraged to read the material suggested for their chosen topic before writing their research proposal.

Programme Details

• The programme is designed for talented young designers with relevant expertise in a specific area of design research.
• It aims to develop thought leaders and knowledge contributors in design.
• The programme is suitable for individuals with a BDes / MDes / MArch / MFA degree.
• The course structure allows students to spend a significant amount of time on research.
• The duration of the programme is flexible, ranging from 1.5 to 3 years.
• Admission is based on CEED scores, a written test, and an interview.
• Candidates must submit a 500-word research proposal for their chosen topic.