University of the Arts London (UAL), MA, Design Management and Cultures

The MA Design Management and Cultures team recognises that applicants come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds from across the world. The University actively seeking open-minded graduates from diverse academic and industry/professional backgrounds who want to explore design management and cultures at a high level. A key characteristic of the candidates will be the desire to work across disciplinary and professional boundaries to explore the future of design management of rapid change and disruption. 

To be considered for the MA Design Management and Cultures course applicants must have either: 

1. An Honours Degree
2. A professional qualification recognised as equivalent to an Honours degree
3. Relevant professional/work experience

The above should be in a relevant subject discipline or professional field such as: 

• Design
• Business studies
• Management
• Social Sciences
• Humanities
• Physical sciences
• Marketing

Language Requirements (International/EU)

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, the university strongly recommends you to send your English language test score together with your application to prove your level of proficiency. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please clearly indicate this on your application form. When you have received your test score, please send it to the university immediately.

• IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in any one paper, or equivalent.

You can apply online.  Before you start your application, please read the guidance notes for this course detailed in the entry requirements for information of what to include in your application. 

Your application must include the following:

• Your personal statement
• Portfolio of work 
• Major Project Proposal

Student Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria, detailed below:

• BA or equivalent level of skills and knowledge in your discipline through a professional qualification or professional work experience
• A personal statement
• Portfolio of work 
• Major Project proposal 

Personal Statement

Your personal statement (300-500 words) should give us information about yourself and why you want to join the course. What are you doing at the moment educationally, professionally and personally? Why do you want to study MA Design Management and Cultures? Do you have any relevant experience? Why do you think you are a suitable candidate?

Your Portfolio

Your portfolio should demonstrate your practical and conceptual skills, and working processes. It should include a maximum of six projects with supporting material and be clearly annotated and organised. 

The selected work will depend on your field of expertise and can cover examples from your most recent commercial or academic activity supported with documents showing your working processes and research. You can include reports, reviews, essays, creative projects, etc. Also include any other examples that indicate your personal areas of interest in the field of design management and cultures. 

Applicants with a background in design should include:

• Examples of visual work in PDF format
• Cross platform CDS or DVDs of moving image work if appropriate
• Developmental research material
• Samples of written work

Applicants from all other backgrounds should include:

• A detailed professional CV with project descriptions
• Documentation of work where possible including report, presentations or research projects for which you have been responsible

Major Project Proposal (1500 words)

All applicants will be expected to outline their major project ideas in the application.

It is important to recognise that these ideas will inevitably develop and change during your study on the course and only serve to inform your application at this stage. You will have opportunities within the course to revise and submit updated versions of the Major Project Proposal before you complete the major project itself.