Design (Graphics)

Program Overview

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Design (Graphics)

MA

Postgraduate degree

Overview

This is a practical postgraduate course in Graphics, grounded in professional development and research. You’ll produce Graphics projects in a collaborative and creative environment, working with and alongside students of Design, Visual Communication, Illustration and Textiles, as well as Photography and other Fine Art specialisms.

What you'll learn

• Working alongside other postgraduate students from Design, Illustration, Visual Communication, Textiles and Fine Art pathways, you’ll develop your own projects while undertaking practice-led research, theory and professional practice modules.
• Specialist tutors and technicians will guide your progress, supporting you to create your own approach and make coherent and visually exciting Graphic Design outcomes.
• You'll use subject-specific studios and workshops and have access to technical equipment, specialist software and computers.
• Our excellent art and design library provides access to printed books, ebooks, magazines and periodicals and a range of other resources through interlibrary loans.
• You will be supported by a dedicated art and design librarian and an enthusiastic team.

Course structure

This Design Master’s runs over one year and is divided into three trimesters.

Trimester one

• From the start of the programme we encourage playfulness and risk-taking.
• You’ll begin by making work that responds to a range of instructions in ways that will help you to interrogate your practical approach, and to learn from lecturers and other students as you progress.
• You'll develop primary and secondary research that will feed directly into your practical work and assessments, and the project that you produce will form the basis of your developing practice.
• We introduce a range of key issues in design and communication practice that allow you to explore how your specialist pathway relates to the wider field and to gain professional, critical and collaborative working skills.

Trimester two

• Maintaining an experimental approach, you'll consolidate what you are learning and begin to narrow your focus within your chosen pathway or subject area.
• Academic staff will help you evaluate your development and refine your approach to support your project outcome.
• You’ll be encouraged to scrutinise the way in which your project functions and engages its audience.
• With help from our excellent subject specialists, technical demonstrators and technicians, you will hone the conceptual, technical aesthetic and contextual components of your project.

Trimester three

• In the final trimester, you will work exclusively on your Masters Project.
• This is a self-directed, double weighted practice module in which you’ll be focusing your attention on your final Degree Show.
• By this stage you will have established a line of enquiry for your practice and will be working to a proposal for the show that you have developed.
• You’ll work in the studio with increasing independence to produce a body of work that demonstrates your advanced knowledge and understanding of your professional practice.
• The final MA Show exhibition will take place at the Locksbrook campus and will be open to the public.

Course modules

• Research Methods
• Theory and Professional Context
• Practice 1 (Design)
• Research Practice
• Theory and Professional Practices
• Practice 2 (Design)
• Master's Project

Assessment

Your progress is evaluated by formative assessment (throughout the duration of the course) and summative assessment (at the end of each trimester), through a mixture of exhibitions, verbal/visual presentations, research folders/blogs and written assignments.

Teaching

You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, workshops, talks, individual and group tutorials, studio critiques and self-directed study.

Facilities and resources

• Our student service point at Locksbrook where you can purchase subsidised art and design materials, hire out equipment for free and collect Library resources
• Access to our well-stocked Library at Newton Park
• Specialist technical workshops across all of art and design
• Access to studio space where you can work on projects and refine your practice

Fees

2025 entry

• UK full time: £9,950
• UK part time: £4,975
• International full time: £18,560

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

Entry requirements

• A good undergraduate degree in a design, visual communication or art specialism, or its equivalent in terms of learning or experience, and a good working knowledge of design, visual communication or art contexts.
• See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) web page to learn more.

How to apply

Ready to apply? Click the "apply now" button in the centre of this page.

Interview and portfolio guidance

Interviews can be conducted onsite or online with a digital portfolio.

When to apply

Many of our postgraduate courses have a limited number of student spaces. To avoid the disappointment of the course being full, we recommend that you apply now.

Late applications (generally those made after 31 July) will only be considered if places remain on the course.

Related courses

• Design
• Design (Textiles)
• Design (Visual Communication)
• Design (Illustration)

Program Outline

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Design (Graphics) MA - Bath Spa University

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Degree Overview:

This is a practical Master's in Graphic Design, grounded in professional development and research. The program encourages independent and collaborative work, with students from various disciplines like visual communication, illustration, photography, and other Design and Fine Art specialisms. Upon successful completion, students will have developed strong portfolios and be ready to enter the industry or pursue further studies.

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Outline:

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Content:

• The program focuses on developing individual projects while undertaking practice-led research, theory, and professional practice modules.
• Students will learn to create their own approach and make their design outcomes more successful.
• The program utilizes subject-specific studios and workshops, providing access to specialist software, computers, and a well-stocked art and design library.

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Structure:

• The Design Master's program runs over one year and is divided into three trimesters.

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Course Schedule:

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Trimester One:

• Encourages playfulness and risk-taking, with students responding to a range of instructions to interrogate their working methods.
• Students begin gathering primary and secondary research for assessments.
• Introduces key issues in design and communication practice, exploring how individual approaches relate to the wider field.
• Develops professional practice skills such as marketing, social media, IT, collaborative working, and exhibition installation.

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Trimester Two:

• Maintains an experimental approach while narrowing the focus.
• Academic staff helps students evaluate their development and refine their work.
• Encourages students to pay greater attention to how their project functions and engages its audience.
• Technical staff supports students in bringing their projects to a level appropriate for assessment submission.

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Trimester Three:

• A self-directed, double practice module leads to the final Degree Show.
• Students establish a line of inquiry, working towards a self-devised proposal that positions their work within their specialist discipline.
• Students work independently in the studio to produce a body of work demonstrating their advanced knowledge and understanding of their professional practice.

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Modules:

• Research Methods
• Theory and Professional Context
• Practice 1 (Design)
• Research Practice
• Theory and Professional Practices
• Practice 2 (Design)
• Master's Project

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Assessment:

• Progress is evaluated through formative assessment (throughout the course) and summative assessment (at the end of each trimester).
• Assessment methods include exhibitions, verbal/visual presentations, research folders/blogs, and written assignments.

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Teaching:

• Teaching methods include lectures, talks, taught sessions, individual and group tutorials, studio critiques, and seminars.
• Visiting lecturers, seminars with external professionals, and internationally renowned designers and artists help students understand their practice within the industry.
• Collaborative learning is encouraged, with students from different disciplines engaging in debates and discussions.
• Technical Demonstrators provide teaching and support across a wide range of subject specialisms.
• Specialist librarians also support student learning.

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Careers:

• Graduates have become graphic designers for design agencies, architectural and engineering practices, the MOD, and other specialist areas.
• Many graduates work on research projects with fine artists or scientists, or become teachers.

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Other:

• The program offers fieldwork opportunities throughout the academic year (when permitted).
• Bath Spa University is one of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, providing all students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite.
• The program is taught at the Locksbrook Campus, a Grade II listed building designed by Nicholas Grimshaw.
• The Locksbrook Campus has received both a RIBA South West Award 2021 and RIBA National Award 2021.