Visual Communication

Entry requirements

2:1 or above in a related undergraduate discipline, although we also accept applications based on equivalent professional knowledge and/or industry experience.

If our Postgraduate Centre catches your imagination, you can apply directly throughout the year by accessing an application form through our website. You will be asked to give the usual application details, to provide some digital images of your work, and to submit a short personal statement. This personal statement is a chance to tell us what you want to do on your chosen programme, the themes that you want to investigate and your longer-term professional goals.

Months of entry

October

Course content

Our MA Visual Communication programme encourages the development of an individual and distinctive contemporary graphics practice through considered engagement with current contexts, audiences and outputs, giving you influence in society and helping you shape our way of living and our understanding of the world.

This programme brings together design-led and research-driven approaches to an increasingly important practice and field of study. We take a critically informed and widely experimental approach to the production, form and circulation of ‘message’.

The programme is ideas-driven, and devised to assist you in developing your unique approach within the broad field of contemporary communication-led practices, including graphic design, advertising, packaging design, branding, and more.

You will engage in design thinking and research centred projects, and develop visual literacies through iterative design. Through your work, you will develop a critical framework that will enable you to take on complex ideas and respond to commercial demands.

The programme addresses areas of information design, work motivated by social needs, local, national and global contexts, and commercial propositions. You will develop a critical understanding of your subject by testing and evaluating contemporary and professional approaches.

At your disposal are superbly resourced workshops and studios, allowing you to experiment with a range of techniques and a combination of processes, from letterpress, laser cutting, animation, photography and screen printing, to the latest software suites.

This environment encourages you to explore the ever-changing technological landscape and time-tested processes of print and image generation that are essential to all types of visual communication.

Information for international students

A one year programme for anyone who has already completed their Undergraduate course. Please apply for our range of MA degrees directly to the college, by visiting our postgraduate course pages, selecting the programme you are interested in, and clicking 'Apply now'.

Our International Fees* are very competitive and are less costly than many of our competitors – yet our facilities are world-leading.

Our fees may seem lower than other institutions, but we pride ourselves in being committed to offering students accessible and affordable quality programmes. Please note, fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

*Excluding costs for international students who need a pre-sessional English course and ongoing in-year English language support.

Fees and funding

Students commencing postgraduate study will be able to apply for non-means tested student loans, currently around £10,000, to help cover course fees and living costs. These loans will only be available to students who are resident in England and don’t already have a masters qualification.

A graduate of the college is entitled to a discount of 15% on MA fees if they choose to progress onto postgraduate study, no matter what year they graduated. This discount applies to graduates from our pre-degree programmes, as well as our undergraduate degrees.