Entry requirements

We invite candidates from around the world who have a passion for design as a transformational tool and wish to take that to a Masters level. Our selection process looks for a desire to take on challenging issues, to be curious in uncovering reality and bring creativity to finding and delivering new solutions. The Service Design MA programme takes students with and without a design background who show the right qualities and the intellectual ability and desire for creative innovation as demonstrated through your portfolio. You should have a BA, BSc or similar or minimum of five years professional experience.

Students may come from product, communication, digital and user experience design who wish to expand to their capabilities, be recent high performing graduates from other design disciplines as well as from computing and other technical disciplines, be budding entrepreneurs interested in launching new service-led business ventures and mid and senior professionals from industry and the public sector, with evidence of their creative talents as demonstrated by leadership of innovative projects.

Visit the RCA website for application dates, details and full entry requirements.

Our Graduate Diploma Art & Design (pre-master's conversion) course can provide a means to progress to this programme on completion.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Transform customer and citizen experiences. Study at the World's number one ranked art and design university for eight consecutive years (2015-2022) in the QS World University Subject Rankings.

Service Design is the application of human centred design methods to complex systems in order to create pragmatic and visionary services that improve and transform human experiences and outcomes. The aim of the Service Design programme is to inspire and equip students from a broad range of design and innovation backgrounds to apply design thinking methodologies in order to answer the challenges of technological, social and environmental futures in commercial, social and public contexts. Using a human centric approach to systems, technology and societal trends, the programme delivers the practical tools, the intellectual frameworks and the professional practice required to deliver transformational change.

Challenge Labs
You will work on a range of live projects from industry that align to different Challenge Labs:
  • Sustainable Experience, from global fashion to EV charging and Energy
  • Social Impact, from Governnent ministries to NGS's and
  • Life Services from healthcare to financial services.
The curriculum works across the RCA and our partner establishments, blending design expertise across all departments with technology and business management from London business schools and the Department of Computing at Imperial College London.
Graduate Outcomes
Graduates work in a range of industries around the world. Many start their own businesses and consultants whilst others have been appiointed to roles at provate and public sector organisations such as:
• EY Seren
• Department for Education and Department for International Trade (UK)
• The Strategic Design Co.
• McKinsey & Company
• Government Digital Service (UK)
• Tata Consultancy Services
• London and UK councils
• Peloton Interactive
• Lloyds Banking Group
• Huawei
• Google Health
Open Days
Join an RCA online or on-campus open day to find out more about this programme - RCA Open Days.

Fees and funding

Visit the RCA website to find out more about scholarships and funding opportunities.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • MA
    full time
    12 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name
Student Recruitment
Email
recruitment@rca.ac.uk