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Postgraduate

MA Designer Maker

Sculptural furniture by Ning Zhang.
Ning Zhang.,
MA Designer Maker, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
College
Camberwell College of Arts Start date
September 2025 Course length
15 months (full time)

MA Designer Maker at Camberwell College of Arts aims to take the lead in re-asserting the position of craft and making in the contexts of contemporary design discourse, society and humanity.

Course summary

Apply to start in September 2025

This course has places available for UK applicants only. We are no longer accepting applications from international students for 2025/26 entry to this course. International applications for 2026/27 entry will open in autumn 2025.

Applying for more than 1 course

From October 2024, you can only apply for a maximum of 3 postgraduate courses each year at UAL (excluding online or low-residency courses and Graduate Diplomas). Find out more in the Apply Now section.

Course overview

MA Designer Maker engages with current debates around craft and making activities in the creative industries and beyond. The course encourages exploration of materials and materiality. This includes the processes and technologies that support making.

Research will be integrated into your practice. You'll have the opportunity to design and develop innovative techniques, tools or technologies. You'll be supported in addressing ethical issues such as diversity, ecologies and inclusivity. This will help define your position as Designer Maker.

You’ll develop a project from proposal to realisation that is audience ready. discovering new materials and processes as you explore the meaning of ‘making’.

What to expect

  • A diverse cohort: Learn new perspectives from fellow students from distinct cultures and creative backgrounds, including craft, product, furniture design and architecture.
  • Inter-disciplinary learning: Be part of a community of postgraduate design students from different courses who share making spaces with opportunities for activities to learn from one another.
  • Take part in seminars and discussions that cover material culture studies, anthropology, philosophy, sustainability, consumerism, museum studies, and literature.
  • Critical thinking: Engage with contemporary debates in craft, design and material practices.
  • Creative facilities: Access to course specific digital resources as well Camberwell's shared workshops, including printmaking, photography, film, moving image, digital fabrication and related software, plastic, ceramics, wood and metalwork. View the Camberwell facilities.

Industry experience and opportunities

You’ll have the opportunity to access collections, makers’ studios, galleries and museums. These will help advance your critical understanding of designer maker practice. 

You’ll use processes of object-based learning through access to the UAL special collections and archives. These include the Camberwell ILEA and David Usborne Collections. Working with the curators you’ll explore a range of research methods and techniques. You'll explore the history of design and craft to inform future practices.

You'll develop skills and knowledge in communicating your ideas to relevant audiences. You'll have opportunities to disseminate and display your work.

Mode of study

MA Designer Maker is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

Unit 1: Exploring and understanding practice - Contexts, methodologies and making

This unit is an introduction to your course, the College and the University. You'll start your Project Proposal, which will help navigate the research you will do whilst on course.   You'll learn by using thinking through making, critical thinking, reflection on your activities, academic and object-based learning. These will help you understand design processes and the contemporary and historical discourses that underpin your practice. You'll develop your Critical Research Paper to enable an integrated approach to practice and theory.  

You’ll keep a Reflective Journal to explore the nature of your practice and skills and the types of knowledge you have engaged with.  You'll have technical workshops aligned to your practice to further support your development.  

At the end of this unit, you’ll submit a Research Portfolio that includes practical work, experimentations, visual material and contextual research, a Project Proposal, your ongoing Reflective Journal and a text evaluating your development over the unit. You'll give a verbal presentation for your Unit 1 assessment. 

Unit 2: Building practice through process - New practice methodologies

This unit builds on your chosen research theme in your Project Proposal. You'll form and test a methodology through experimentation, field work, workshops and project briefs.  

You’ll define the context of your work. This will include identifying your target audiences and/or industry partners. You'll also align with current debates and discourses. There'll be opportunities to present your work and share research in a supportive environment. 

Whilst you build your research and outcomes, you’ll create a Research Portfolio, develop your Project Proposal, continue your Reflective Journal and complete your Critical Research Paper. You'll deliver these along with an Evaluative Text and verbal presentation for your Unit 2 assessment.

Unit 3: Resolution and realisation - Synthesising making and practice-based research

The final unit of the course will focus on the production of resolved outcomes guided by your research and defined by your Project Proposal. You'll polish your professional skills in managing your own practice and presenting yourself as a Designer Maker. 

You'll submit your Research Portfolio, Project Proposal, Evaluative Text and resolved body of work along with a verbal presentation for final assessment. There'll be opportunities to curate and exhibit your work

Note: 120 Credits must be passed before the final unit is undertaken.

Programme specification

Download course specification (PDF File 411.4 KB)

Learning and teaching methods

  • Context seminars
  • Group and one-to-one tutorials
  • Lecture series
  • Practitioner lectures and workshops
  • Professional development 
  • Self-led making guided by course briefs
  • Student-led crits
  • Technical skills workshops

Assessment methods

  • Contextual and critical mapping
  • Critically engaged writing 
  • Curated display
  • Evaluative writing
  • Presentation and discussion
  • Project development
  • Reflective thinking
  • Research portfolio

MA Designer Maker - Course introduction

Student work

  • Camberwell-MA-Designer-Maker-Chieh-Ting-Huang-1000.jpg
    Chieh Ting Huang - MA Designer Maker
  • Camberwell-MA-Designer-Maker-Meghan-Hutchins-1860.jpg
    Meghan Hutchins - MA Designer Maker
  • Camberwell-MA-Designer-Maker-Emily-Rohrer-MA-Designer-Maker-1860.jpg
    Emily Rohrer - MA Designer Maker
  • Camberwell-MA-Designer-Maker-Ruining-Han-1000.jpg
    Ruining Han - MA Designer Maker

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£14,000

This fee is correct for 2025/26 entry and is subject to change for 2026/27 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£29,990

This fee is correct for 2025/26 entry and is subject to change for 2026/27 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Additional costs

You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course. Typical approximate costs for this course include:

  • Stationery: £5-£30 per year
  • Model making tools and materials: £10-£40 per year
  • Personal hand tools (optional): £10-£200
  • Project materials: £50-£400 per year
  • Laptop recommended

For a list of general digital equipment you may need (and how you can borrow equipment), visit our Study costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about accommodation options and how much they will cost, and other living expenses you’ll need to consider.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

If you’ve completed a qualifying course at UAL, you may be eligible for a tuition fee discount on this course. Find out more about our Progression discount.

You can also find out more about the Postgraduate Masters Loan (Home students only) and scholarships, including £7,000 scholarships for Home and International students. Discover more about student funding.

If you’re based in the UK and plan to visit UAL for an Open Event, check if you’re eligible for our UAL Travel Bursary. This covers the costs of mainland train or airline travel to visit UAL.

How to pay

Find out how you can pay your tuition fees.

Scholarship search

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Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
  • Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio of work

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work and personal statement.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit, but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • The ability to creatively formulate and develop design concepts and to clearly organise and present your ideas
  • Demonstrable understanding of making, materials and processes
  • Demonstrable interest and involvement in material-based practice with a consideration of associated historical, social and cultural contexts
  • Evidence of proactive engagement with the critical debate around designer maker practice
  • Demonstrable ability and capacity for self-reflection
  • Ambition and aspiration for higher level of practice and research

Information for disabled applicants

UAL is committed to achieving inclusion and equality for disabled students. This includes students who have:

     
  • Dyslexia or another Specific Learning Difference
  • A sensory impairment
  • A physical impairment
  • A long-term health or mental health condition
  • Autism
  • Another long-term condition which has an impact on your day-to-day life

Our Disability Service arranges adjustments and support for disabled applicants and students.

Read our Disability and dyslexia: applying for a course and joining UAL information.

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio and video task deadline

Round 1:

8 January 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)

Round 2:

9 April 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

21 March 2025

Round 2:

20 June 2025

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio and video task deadline
8 January 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)
9 April 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
21 March 2025
20 June 2025

This course is still open to applications from UK students and will remain open until all places are filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply to UAL

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio and video task deadline

Round 1:

8 January 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)

Round 2:

9 April 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

21 March 2025

Round 2:

20 June 2025

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio and video task deadline
8 January 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)
9 April 2025 at 11.59pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
21 March 2025
20 June 2025

We are no longer accepting applications to this course for 2025/26 entry from international applicants. Applications for 2026/27 entry will open in autumn 2025.

Read more about deadlines

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.

Personal statement advice

This should be maximum 500 words and include:

  • your reasons for choosing the course
  • your current creative practice and how this course will help you achieve your future plans
  • any relevant education and experience, especially if you do not have any formal academic qualifications.

Visit our personal statement page for more advice.

CV advice

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If you have any web projects or other media that you would like to share, please include links in your CV. If English is not your first language, please also include your most recent English language test score.

Step 2: Video task and digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a video task and digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit these via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool. Please submit your video task on the first page followed by your portfolio.

Video task advice

We’d like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you. When recording your task, please face the camera and speak in English.

What to include in your video task
  • Select 2 things in your possession, 1 made by you and 1 that was not made by you.
  • Spend 2 minutes showing and talking about the 2 objects, comparing their similarities and differences, their interesting qualities and why you chose them.

Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages, including your video task
  • show work that provides good overview of your creative practice.
  • demonstrate your technical skills and documentation of material experimentations and model making, including design development process
  • include captions or short explanations that give context for your work, communicates ideas and reasoning in the development of your work
  • feature work that demonstrates a close understanding of material qualities and processes which may form the basis of your research.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

From October 2024, you can only apply for a maximum of 3 postgraduate courses each year at UAL. This excludes online or low-residency courses and Graduate Diplomas, which you can apply to in addition to 3 other postgraduate courses.

If you apply for more than 3 postgraduate courses between October 2024 and August 2025, we won’t accept the 4th application. It’s not possible to withdraw an application to replace it with another.

You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. If your course requires a portfolio and/or video task, we may request these before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

Most of our postgraduate courses have 2 rounds of deadlines: one in December and one in March.

As long as you apply ahead of each deadline we will consider your application alongside all the other applications in that round. We always make sure to hold enough places back for round 2 to make sure we can consider your application fairly, no matter which round you apply in.

If there are still places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

Careers

Camberwell College of Arts

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 6302

Address

Camberwell College of Arts
45 - 65 Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UF