Postgraduate Study in Design: MA & PhD

Master of Art (MA) through practice in Design

The Design MA research programme creates a stimulating and challenging environment in which students can develop their analytical, critical and communicative abilities. Postgraduate students are encouraged to develop their professional knowledge of contemporary design practices and debate in conjunction with their own practice in product development, industrial design, visual communication, fashion design, textiles, ceramics, glass, and metals. The Design Faculty staff comprises lecturers who are also designers, artists, craftspeople, critics, historians, studio/ workshop technicians and part time and visiting tutors offering a range of expertise to postgraduate students. The Faculty of Design provides an environment for creative and talented graduates who have a strong personal vision to explore. Postgraduate students are enabled to develop a sense of pride in their creative authority and recognition of their aesthetic and intellectual excellence.

Studio / Research-based study of design

The Design Faculty aims to produce postgraduate students who will be leaders in their field through research, inquiry, experimentation and product development at the highest level. MA studies should be exploratory and ground breaking, addressing both intellectual inquiry and practical realization, and having contemporary relevance. The Faculty welcomes applications from candidates for MA Degrees in Ceramics, Glass and Metals; Fashion Design; Industrial Design; Textile Design; or Visual Communication.. Applicants for both Masters and Doctoral studies are required to submit a research proposal, for more information see the Guidelines for Applicants.

Postgraduate students are expected to be highly motivated and are required to develop an informed, critical and creative approach to practice through a flexible, individually negotiated programme of study and research with the help and guidance of the supervisory team. Postgraduate students receive regular supervision on an individual basis, and progress is monitored through a regular panel review process. Postgraduate researchers also participate in a research methodologies programme and contribute regularly to a research seminar group. You may wish to view the current Postgraduate Student Handbook (PDF 196k) to get a better sense of how the years of study are structured.

The duration of study for a Masters by research is normally two academic years full-time. The Faculty especially welcomes applicants who wish to interact with industry as part of, or throughout their study.

Participation

The Faculty is very committed to creating a community of practitioners who support each other and provide critical feedback. In order to enable this community to evolve the Faculty organises key events during the academic year at which postgraduate students present their work to each other and the wider College community.

Programme Structure

The programme is driven by the students’ research interests and the particular concerns emerging in their own practice. This interdisciplinary research programme consists of regular scheduled individual supervision, a regular research seminar, a series of studio reviews, an introductory course on research methodologies, access to visiting lecturers and international study trips.

Applications and Procedures

Applicants are expected to hold an honours degree (2:2 and above) in a relevant design discipline. Applications from candidates with a diploma and/or sufficient previous sustained professional experience may also be considered under exceptional circumstances. An appropriate qualifying examination may be necessary. Applicants are required to submit a clear research proposal (minimum of 500 words) which indicates their area of specialist investigation and intended outcomes, as well as examples of recent work in slide or portfolio form. Preferably candidates should have experience in their particular research specialization. The feasibility, appropriateness and potential of the intended study are considered at application stage. Based on an evaluation of their applications some applicants will be invited to attend for interview at the College. In those circumstances where an application for study is not successful the College will not enter into further discussion with reference to the unsuccessful application, once notice has been given to the applicant. The award is validated by the National University of Ireland, which appoints External Examiners to monitor the decision of the College examiners.