Join an exciting space for learning, networking and debating graphic design practices. Develop your design thinking and creative processes to an advanced level.
Examine the building blocks of effective and award winning studio work and design culture; from design contexts to new and emerging models and insights that will support your personal development and creative ambition.
Our reputation within graphic design sees our graduates working in some of the world’s leading, and award-winning studios and agencies.
It's these professional organisations and award-winning practitioners who have helped inform the course, alongside many years of experience growing new thinking and teaching in the field.
You will:
This MA is built to help you take your next career leap; developing a practice that is robust, adaptive and forms a new step in your professional journey and life.
Whether you’re looking to refine a point of difference for your work or examine business approaches to inform opportunities for your studio practice, our course will equip you with the industry insights and elevated design thinking needed to reach your professionals aspirations.
"The connection and conversations with industry professionals is something that I believe Falmouth do really well and here online is no exception." – Jamie Baldwin, MA Graphic Design student
Graduates of the MA can then pursue a path in their area of specialism. In addition to finding jobs as a graphic designer, you can also explore other roles that require the skill set you’ve developed. Some examples include working as a creative director, production designer, or game artist.
"A well-design curriculum teaches possibilities as an extension of where one is coming from on a personal level. The briefs are open-ended enough to have worked anywhere you were based in, devised to broaden critical thinking beyond the traditional notions of graphic design." – Winnie Wu, MA Graphic Design graduate
In addition to the guidance offered by our tutors, you can also access our RealWORKS, our careers and employability service throughout your studies, and for up to 5 years following graduation.
Our expert team will help you identify potential opportunities in the UK or internationally, prepare for job interviews, advise you on starting up your own business, and more.
You should have:
We also accept a range of equivalent recognised English language qualifications. Candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply.
For more information regarding equivalent international qualifications and Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) please call us on +44 (0)1223 447713 or view our handy guide:
What you’ll learn
Interrogate what graphic design is and how to define it, explore how design operates on a global scale and use this to put your own work under the microscope.
Course structure
MA
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.
PGDip
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules (120 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. A dissertation (major project) is not required.
Please note the module orders are subject to change.
Contemporary Practice (30 credits)
In this module, you are introduced to the development of graphic design today and the variety of contexts in which it is made and understood.
As with the central ethos of the course, you seek to examine local and global perspectives of the subject and the emergent skills required to address problems and deliver messages for both regional and global audiences.
Fundamentally, it is concerned with design and designing and the academic and research skills to enable effective and fully engaged participation in the course. It seeks to establish the fundamental essence of being a graphic designer today and the ability to use curiosity, risk, play and care in the delivery of a message.
History and Futures (30 credits)
In this module, you’re introduced to how graphic design interprets narrative, to distil, reform or remodel stories for a new purpose.
You will apply a more in-depth critical and contextual understanding to your practice. You will connect theory and practice (praxis), and examine key themes and issues facing the subject and those who collaborate within it today.
This module also begins to question the role that design and the designer have to play in society and the creative community and networks it is part of.
Studio and Entrepreneurship (30 credits)
Having already studied emergent fields of practice within the first module, you now examine some of the building blocks of studio practice from a business perspective.
You learn how to manage the day to day aspects of a studio’s life, but also reflect on innovative ways of working at distance and collaborating with other partners around the world.
You reflect on the subject through specific design studio case studies, structure and strategies for project work and intellectual property guidance required to develop a creative service or product today.
You will develop an actual artefact or entrepreneurial idea that will be personally or culturally inspired, but rooted firmly in a graphic design field.
Application and Interactions (30 credits)
In this module, you apply your own practice and knowledge to specific graphic design projects. The briefs allow a scoping of interests but also to question the role and ethics of working as a designer today; how ideas can be applied and how respective audiences can be understood and reached.
Throughout this module, you will engage with skills development pertinent to your areas of interest.
The module also examines the relationship between personal and highly strategic briefs. This is achieved by examining self-initiated projects, competitions and industry-set briefs; the latter being collated from annual opportunities from design studios or client set opportunities.
These client set briefs (as with the design studio) will be drawn from global organisations that enable you to respond to challenges beyond your normal experience and share learning and differing international perspectives.
Your final MA project is built on learning from previous modules and allows you to position yourself and your work for next steps following graduation.
Project work therefore can develop from a number of perspectives; being research or theory led (for further research study at PhD level) or personally or professionally orientated (for independent or studio practice).
Contemporary Practice (30 credits)
In this module, you are introduced to the development of graphic design today and the variety of contexts in which it is made and understood.
As with the central ethos of the course, you seek to examine local and global perspectives of the subject and the emergent skills required to address problems and deliver messages for both regional and global audiences.
Fundamentally, it is concerned with design and designing and the academic and research skills to enable effective and fully engaged participation in the course. It seeks to establish the fundamental essence of being a graphic designer today and the ability to use curiosity, risk, play and care in the delivery of a message.
History and Futures (30 credits)
In this module, you’re introduced to how graphic design interprets narrative, to distil, reform or remodel stories for a new purpose.
You will apply a more in-depth critical and contextual understanding to your practice. You will connect theory and practice (praxis), and examine key themes and issues facing the subject and those who collaborate within it today.
This module also begins to question the role that design and the designer have to play in society and the creative community and networks it is part of.
Studio and Entrepreneurship (30 credits)
Having already studied emergent fields of practice within the first module, you now examine some of the building blocks of studio practice from a business perspective.
You learn how to manage the day to day aspects of a studio’s life, but also reflect on innovative ways of working at distance and collaborating with other partners around the world.
You reflect on the subject through specific design studio case studies, structure and strategies for project work and intellectual property guidance required to develop a creative service or product today.
You will develop an actual artefact or entrepreneurial idea that will be personally or culturally inspired, but rooted firmly in a graphic design field.
Application and Interactions (30 credits)
In this module, you apply your own practice and knowledge to specific graphic design projects. The briefs allow a scoping of interests but also to question the role and ethics of working as a designer today; how ideas can be applied and how respective audiences can be understood and reached.
Throughout this module, you will engage with skills development pertinent to your areas of interest.
The module also examines the relationship between personal and highly strategic briefs. This is achieved by examining self-initiated projects, competitions and industry-set briefs; the latter being collated from annual opportunities from design studios or client set opportunities.
These client set briefs (as with the design studio) will be drawn from global organisations that enable you to respond to challenges beyond your normal experience and share learning and differing international perspectives.
Your final MA project is built on learning from previous modules and allows you to position yourself and your work for next steps following graduation.
Project work therefore can develop from a number of perspectives; being research or theory led (for further research study at PhD level) or personally or professionally orientated (for independent or studio practice).
With Falmouth Flexible, you access your course content, interactions with other students and tutors, and learning resources, through Canvas, an easy-to-use online platform.
You can access the course wherever you are in the world, and you can stop, pause and rewind lectures whenever you want.
Learning approaches
Each module will utilise a variety of learning approaches, for example:
Assessments
All assessments are taken and submitted online.
Assessment methods for the masters degree in Graphic Design can typically include:
Student support
Throughout your studies, you’ll be supported by a student advisor. Their job is to answer any non-academic queries you may have, and they can be contacted via email, phone, text or WhatsApp.
They can show you around the online learning platform, guide you through enrolment, and give advice on managing your work/life balance.
As a Falmouth student, you enjoy an equal status to students studying on campus:
Teaching team
Designed with employer-focused learning at the core, the MA Graphic Design team work with global organisations, staff and alumni to provide you with the breadth of experience and networks needed to accelerate your career.
The course also includes a wide range of contributors, interviewees, and guest lecturers, such as:
“I’ve been fascinated with the breadth and depth of the content that has been provided. The books, webinars, and ideas have sparked interest in areas that I would not traditionally see in this field.”
“With every module you get a new tutor, and every single one has brought something completely new. Just gaining that perspective is really, really helpful for your next stages.”
Before you submit your application, please contact one of our course advisors so they can guide you through the process and ensure you submit the best application possible for entry into the course.
Call us on +44 (0)1223 447713.
Late applications may be considered if places are available.
For free advice, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable course advisors on +44 (0)1223 447713.
Up to twice a year, you’ll have the optional opportunity to meet your classmates and tutors in person. Dates and location of the events will vary. Events usually incorporate a weekend to accommodate busy schedules.
Previous Graphic Design face-to-face events have included a visit to the Global Design Forum, London Design Festival’s curated thought leadership programme, celebrating design and the minds shaping its future.
As part of the event, students took part in a workshop where they shared ideas for different models, approaches and operational scales of graphic design practice.
Find out more about face-to-face events on our student support page.
Total course fee
£10,900 (including £250 acceptance fee)
Payment options
Payment methods
Payments can be made online or by phone, using a credit or debit card, or by bank transfer.
Please visit our fees and funding page for more information or call us on +44 (0)1223 447713 to speak to a course advisor.
Application offers
We offer a range of bursaries, early application offers, and alumni discounts.
Loans
You may be eligible for funding from the UK Government.
Please visit our fees and funding page for more information or call us on +44 (0)1223 447713 to speak to a course advisor.
Total course fee
£10,900 (including £250 acceptance fee)
Payment options
Payment methods
Payments can be made online or by phone, using a credit or debit card, or by bank transfer.
Please visit our fees and funding page for more information or call us on +44 (0)1223 447713 to speak to a course advisor.
Application offers
We offer a range of bursaries, early application offers, and alumni discounts.
Loans
You may be eligible for funding from the UK Government.
Please visit our fees and funding page for more information or call us on +44 (0)1223 447713 to speak to a course advisor.
See some of the work created by students in module two, History and Futures, in the online publication on the right.
For more, go to falmouth-design.online to view an archive of projects, research, inspiration and resources generated by students, staff and industry professionals.
If you have any questions about the programme, our experienced course advisors are here to help.
You can call our friendly and knowledgeable team on +44 (0)1223 447713.
Whether you’re taking your first steps as a graphic designer, or looking for a new direction ...