Communication Design MA
Length:
Full-time 1 year, part-time 2 years
Get to the heart of how design shapes our understanding of issues, our environment and each other on our practice-led MA Communication Design Master’s degree course.
As you grow your expertise in critical aspects of communication design you’ll have the chance to explore areas including graphic design, graphic communication, illustration, information design, interactive communication, multimedia and typography.
Refine your communication design skills
From moving image and sound to questions of brand management and publishing, you’ll stretch your skills and ambition as a postgraduate student. As you develop your own voice and practice through experimentation, you’ll also have the chance to critically examine key design and communication issues such as sustainability, new technology, new audiences and markets, inclusivity and ethics.
Design expertise
Norwich University of the Arts is a centre of design expertise, with students and graduates winning competitions of national and international import, including coveted D&AD Pencils and the RSA Howarth Award. Graduates of our MA Communication Design Master’s degree can be found leading global agencies.
Your own career prospects will be greatly enhanced by having the chance to research, test and communicate your design ideas in professional and ‘real world’ contexts – all under expert tuition and making use of industry standard resources.
MA Showcase
Discover the work of some of our postgraduate students in their MA Showcase at Norwich University of the Arts.
Post Grad Fest 2024
Norwich University of the Arts 2024 Masters graduates presented their end of year show, a 5-day physical exhibition in St Georges Building.
Careers Information
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including
- Graphic/Web Design
- Art Directing
- Brand Strategy/Design
- Desktop Publishing
- Design Consultancy
- Editorial Design
- Marketing
- Packaging Design
- Advertising
- Studio Management
- Teaching/Lecturing
- Research/PhD Study
James Ward
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Entry requirements
Entrants should normally have achieved a BA (Hons) / BSc Degree of 2:1 or above (or its equivalent), in a subject related to your proposed course of study.
Applicants who hold a Degree from another discipline may also be considered for entry, subject to the submission of a satisfactory portfolio of art, design or media-related work in support of their application.
The offer of entry onto a Masters Degree (MA) is based on an expectation that you have the potential to fulfil the aims of the course of study and achieve the standard required to successfully complete the award.
Portfolio guidance
Show us your best stuff. Tell us what you still want to achieve. Your portfolio is your chance to paint a picture of where an MA at Norwich could take you.
You should aim to bring about six pieces of work that demonstrate your learning, progress and creativity. The interview panel will be interested in seeing sketchbooks, notebooks, publications, catalogues, blogs or websites that relate to your practice.
We know that for some people an MA application is a change in direction and some work may only be in a developmental stage. We also know that for those in the final year of undergraduate study completed Major Projects may be unavailable or unfinished, in which case we welcome representative images of work in progress.
You can choose to bring original work with you or show a digital portfolio using your own device and on a USB drive, DVD, social media platform or through website platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Prezi, Behance, Dropbox, personal websites or blogs. If you choose to present your portfolio digitally please notify us in advance of your interview. If you wish to submit a digital portfolio ahead of your interview we can only accept PDF documents or website links by email.
Tips on preparing your portfolio:
- Your portfolio should be presented in a logical and ordered manner
- It’s important to include a range of creative work that demonstrates your compatibility with the MA course you have applied for
- The interview panel will be interested in seeing sketchbooks and notebooks as well as finished work
- Physical examples of practice (printed matter, objects, painting, sculpture etc.) are acceptable at interview, but larger pieces of work should be shown as photographs or digital submission
- Film, video and animation work should be 2-5 minutes long
- Include any links to relevant websites or blogs that contain your work
- Your application includes a 500 word written statement, but you might wish to include other examples of your written work (for example an undergraduate essay or a research report) that relates to your chosen subject
- International applicants interviewing by Skype should submit a digital portfolio (see above) in advance and/or supply URLs to digital portfolios or online blogs that showcase your practice.
2024/25 University fees for new entrants
Norwich University of the Arts will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs
Students from the UK or Ireland and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements. They will usually be eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning that they won’t have to pay Norwich University of the Arts’ tuition fees upfront.
Students who do not meet the necessary residency requirements will usually be charged ‘Overseas’ fees and will not be eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan. Since 2021/22, this includes new entrants from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who do not have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, because the UK has now formally left the EU.
| Fee status | Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Postgraduate degree (full-time) | £9,600 |
| Home | Postgraduate degree (part-time, over 2 years) | £5,950 per year |
| Overseas | Postgraduate degree (full-time) | £18,000 |
Inflation in subsequent years
The rules for inflation on fees in subsequent years depend on the type of fee status and level.
For Home and overseas postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
Financial support for UK students in 2024
Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are usually available to UK and some EU students, as well as non-repayable Norwich University of the Arts bursaries based on family income. Find out more about applying for funding.
Postgraduate Masters Loan
For 2024, UK nationals and EU nationals who have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status may be eligible for a government loan towards course fees or living costs. Both full and part-time Masters degree students can apply for the Masters loan. Find out more about postgraduate masters loans.
Norwich alumni, staff and feeder staff discount
Home Norwich alumni are eligible for a £1,000 discount on Norwich postgraduate degree fees. For the purposes of this discount, alumni are those who have completed a course with us at undergraduate or postgraduate level, but excluding short courses.
All Norwich staff and art teachers at high schools or sixth form colleges are eligible for a £1,000 discount on Norwich postgraduate degree fees. As long as this status applies at the time that they start the course, we will honour the discount for the duration of the course, even if the person subsequently leaves their employment.
International students
We offer a range of scholarships for international students to support your studies with us.
How to apply
Home Students
Applications to our postgraduate courses should be made directly to Norwich University of the Arts using a Postgraduate Application Form.
Postgraduate Application form 2023-24 – Word format
Applications should be returned to admissions@norwichuni.ac.uk
International Students
Postgraduate applicants can only apply directly by completing the below online application form or emailing the downloadable form to ioadmissions@norwichuni.ac.uk
International students requiring a visa should apply as soon as possible in the year they wish to start. Email our International Team for more information.
When should I apply for an MA course?
There is no official deadline for applying for a postgraduate course. We would recommend you apply by 25 August (at the very latest) of the autumn you wish to start. This will allow time for your interview to take place and the necessary paperwork to be processed if you are successful in achieving a place.
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