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Design: Active Practice - MA

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Are you passionate about using design to create a more equitable and sustainable world? MA Design: Active Practice offers a unique opportunity to rethink conventional design models through the blending of research and practice....

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Full Time/Part Time

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

Are you passionate about using design to create a more equitable and sustainable world?

MA Design: Active Practice offers a unique opportunity to rethink conventional design models through the blending of research and practice.

This course empowers you to critically engage with the purpose and value of artefacts, systems, and processes, equipping you to address complex social, political, and technological challenges with innovative design solutions. By merging critical inquiry with hands-on studio work, you will develop the skills and confidence to become a leader driving transformative change in the design field.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

With a strong emphasis on social change, the course centres on learning by doing. Active design processes - such as making and dialogue - are crucial for developing competencies in design research, analysis, creative problem-solving, and prototyping. Key themes like Design Cultures, Connections, and Challenges will guide your practice-based learning through individual and collaborative projects, enhancing your teamwork and communication skills via real-world design briefs and live assignments.

Housed in the historic Birmingham School of Art, this program thrives within a vibrant research culture that welcomes practitioners from diverse backgrounds. Our dynamic studio environment fosters individual growth and collaboration, empowering you to build an impressive portfolio and expand your professional network through participation in design festivals and workshops across Europe.

Our alumni have successfully ventured into various careers, including PhD research, teaching, service design, consultancy, and tech start-ups. Many have founded multidisciplinary design collectives and community labs, showcasing the diverse paths available to you.

Join our community of forward-thinking designers and help shape a future where design drives transformative, research-led innovation. You'll graduate equipped with the skills, collaborative mindset, and leadership qualities needed to make a lasting impact in the world of design.

“The tutors were always on hand to help and were of great support. They were the ones who guided me through my work process, gave me confidence and, best of all, helped me gain a place at the Royal College of Art.”

Why Choose Us?

  • Birmingham School of Art is celebrating 130 years of art at Margaret Street – its Grade I-listed building has been the inspiration for countless artists and practitioners of international reputation over the years. There has also been a multi-million-pound investment in facilities for photography, casting, woodwork, metalwork, silk screen, etching, 3D printing, laser cutting, and printed and constructed textiles.
  • You'll instantly become part of the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media’s 6,000-strong student community, and you will be supported by our highly experienced staff, who are all nationally and internationally active artists.
  • You will curate exhibitions, have the opportunity take part in work placements and exchanges, and go on national and international study visits.
  • Each year the onsite project space, the International Project Space (IPS), will be the hub for a series of residencies, exhibitions and events, and we will work with a number of local, national and international partners to deliver a range of projects with our students.

OPEN DAY

Join us for a virtual Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail. Booking isn't open yet for this event, register your interest and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.

Next Event: 5 February 2025

Register your interest

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

Essential Requirements

BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art or Art and Design, or other Arts-based Degree course, related subject. The minimum academic qualification required is a 2:2 award. Those with equivalent prior professional or life experience will also be considered.

Applicants will also need a good portfolio.

IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands or its equivalent.

International Students

Entry requirements here

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2025

Pathway: MA Design: Active Practice (Full Time)

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 1 year
  • £9,190 in 2025/26

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2025

Pathway: MA Design: Active Practice (Part Time)

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £1022 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 80 credits
  • Year 2 - 100 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2025

Pathway: MA Design: Active Practice with Professional Placement

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 2 years
  • £10,110 in 2025/26

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2025

Pathway: MA Design: Active Practice (Full Time - International)

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 1 year
  • TBC

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2025

Pathway: MA Design: Active Practice with Professional Placement (International)

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 2 years
  • TBC

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Free Adobe Creative Cloud licence

Students studying on this course can request a free licence to install the entire suite of applications on up to two personal devices.

Basic materials for testing

We will provide some basic threads/yarns/printing materials for initial testing and experimentation.

DBS check

If you are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this course, the cost for your first DBS check is included in your fees.

Free student copy of Solidworks CAD Package

Students studying on this course will receive a free student copy of Solidworks CAD package.

Specialist equipment

This course requires specialist equipment. You will have access to the print room, library, studios and technical workshops at the School of Art.

Clothing and safety equipment (mandatory)

This course requires the purchase of clothing and/or safety equipment. You will require steel toe boots at an estimated cost of £20.

Media consumable items (mandatory)

This course requires the use of consumables, such as sketchpads, drawing materials, making tape etc, at an estimated cost of £50+.

Specialist equipment (mandatory)

This course requires you to purchase an external hard drive at a cost of £30+ dependant on size.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Project materials (optional)

This course includes project work that requires you to develop and produce a portfolio. This could be digital, but if you choose to create a physical portfolio, you will be expected to provide the materials; costs will vary depending on the materials selected but we recommend you budget £100.

Personal equipment (optional)

Whilst not essential, it is advised you own a computer or laptop capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Portfolio guidance

If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio.

Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Course in Depth

Modules

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 160 credits):

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

Professional Placement

In order to qualify for the award of MA Design: Active Practice with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module:

Download course specification

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Employability

Enhancing employability skills

You will learn a range of skills which will be key to enhancing your future employability.

Specifically, you will learn to:

  • Develop your own practice and how to analyse this in relation to future employment options.
  • Identify the relationship of theory to practice and how this can be used to develop your own individual identity.
  • Negotiate, plan exhibit and present to a professional standard.
  • Work independently and collaboratively.
  • Be a self-motivated, organised, effective learner.

You will also learn skills in a range of workshop practices in relation to individual development, including photography, casting, woodwork, metalwork, silk screen, etching, 3D printing, laser cutting, and printed and constructed textiles.

Professional practice guidance will teach you a range of skills such as CV writing;  the use of social media and other platforms for self-promotion,  presenting yourself and your work in a professional framework using a range of appropriate communication skills, such as video and various types of presentation software.

Links to Industry

Birmingham School of Art has a wide array of links with partner organisations regionally, nationally and internationally. These partnerships will provide work experience opportunities for you, and contribute to your learning and teaching activities.  Our overseas partnerships often result in opportunities for you to mix with students from different countries and gain different perspectives, as well as opportunities to undertake a period of study overseas.

Regional - Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Ikon Gallery, Eastside Projects, Midlands Art Centre, New Walsall Gallery, The Mead Gallery, VIVID, Capsule, Grand Union, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Hippodrome, the REP, the new Library of Birmingham, Primary and Secondary Schools across the region. 

National - Arts Council England, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool.

International - Established links with other significant institutions both in Europe and the USA, as well as in Canada, Russia and Japan.

Other institutions include:

These include: The Sorbonne, the Metz/Pompidou (France); Studio for Electronic Instrumental Music, The Hague (Netherlands); Ars Electronica (Austria); University of Cologne, Free University of Berlin, Leipzig Academy of Art (Germany); University of Ljubljana (Slovenia); MIT List Visual Arts Center, Massachusetts College of Art, California Institute of the Arts, University of California (USA); Pacific Centre for Technology and Culture (Canada); Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences (Japan); The Laboratorium (Russia).

Placements

You will have the option of an international exchange, and the opportunity to get involved in a range of projects and placements.

Our students have recently been on placements with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, working with and alongside sculptor Rob Olins on a recent production of ‘The BFG’.

Students have also worked with the sound artist, Justin Wiggan, exploring the University archives in relation to the school of Art to create site-specific work.

The Fierce Festival and the Flatpack Festival regularly work with our Fine Art students.

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Our international students

The Art Based Master’s Programme is an international community of aspiring researchers and professionals and the programme attracts candidates from all over the world including: Africa, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the USA.

This diversity provides you with an opportunity to study with people from diverse social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and who bring a wealth of experience to the programme. This gives the ABM programme a dynamic energy that enriches everyone’s educational experience.

Facilities & Staff

Margaret Street exterior

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending over £400 million on new learning facilities.

Birmingham School of Art (an impressive purpose built Grade 1 listed example of Venetian Gothic architecture) was the first major renovation project undertaken by the university (£5.5m refurbishment). The School provides an incredible resource for the production of art and its associated fields of study. The building has a range of facilities available including studios, workshops, specialist art and design library, bookable spaces and lecture/seminar rooms.