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Postgraduate

MA Interior and Spatial Design

Architectural model by Yifei Ouyang - MA Interior Spatial Design.
Yifei Ouyang
MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
College
Camberwell College of Arts
Start date
September 2023
Course length
15 months (full time)

MA Interior and Spatial Design at Camberwell College of Arts is committed to the critical investigation of space through the theoretical and practical research interests and activities of our students.

Course overview

The MA Interior and Spatial Design course has developed a distinctive identity born from our fluid position as designers in an ‘art school’ environment, coupled with our contemporary view of experimental spatial practice and the blurring of disciplinary boundaries. 

With a bias towards research-led practice, all students on the course are encouraged along a path of personal critical discovery, starting with an initial area of individual research interest. 

We believe that all spatial practice should be considered as a form of performance based on ideas of context, narrative and experience and above all intention. The latter is considered a fundamental aspect of design practice whether using empirical prototypes or developing philosophical positions. 

We have a particular expertise in the experiential and sensorial aspects of what it means to inhabit space and interact with our environment. We consider both physical and virtual space as equally valid forms of experience. We work with existing structures both internally and externally, with film and video, and between digital and analogue. Alongside this we value making, drawing, discourse and text as equivalent and complimentary forms of expression and representation.  

The course encourages and facilitates cross disciplinary activity. We provide opportunities for working on live projects and working on collaborations with practitioners in various fields. 

There is scope within the course structure to negotiate the nature of your practice and what constitutes a suitable portfolio submission at each unit conclusion. In this regard, there is scope for a bias to develop in writing, film making or other form of practice as well as the more usual installation or design proposition.

What to expect 

  • To address issues about what constitutes space and spatial practice and how we inhabit, experience and remember space.
  • To develop sensibilities about observing, reflecting and intervening in existing and speculative situations both interior and exterior.
  • To be asked to position yourself and your practice in a conscious contemporary environment that responds to current aesthetic, political and social situations. We do not expect students to be passive in their actions.
  • To follow an iterative approach to projects in order to encourage understanding and critical reflection.
  • To become autonomous in your decision making and progression towards an individual identity.
  • Access to Camberwell's shared workshops that include printmaking, photography, film, moving image, digital, plastic, ceramics, wood and metalwork. View the Camberwell facilities.

Mode of study 

MA Interior and Spatial Design 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.

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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 research led practice 

This unit is an introduction to your course, the college and the university. 

  • Inductions to learning resources and workshops.
  • To make a presentation of your previous portfolio and share and exchange the ideas and techniques used with your new peers.
  • The Unit 1 brief defines a sequence of short activities and exercises to support the clarification and on-going definition of your own research interests. The direction of your research will emerge from an idea of what aspect of spatial practice you are particularly interested in exploring across the year.
  • We will suggest a route through a part of the city for students to undertake an observational and spatial investigation as a basis for contextualising and testing ideas.
  • We will discuss options and approaches to start and progress a structured method of research. This will allow students to develop a research led proposal supported by theory and practice.
  • To regularly engage in smaller group and year cohort discussions, presentations and tutorials. These will look in depth at how progress is being made and open new avenues of exploration.
  • To develop and produce a portfolio of work and a written submission at the conclusion of the unit. This is a collection of all activities across the unit.
  • We aim to run several live projects with partners and students will be invited to take part as an option. We also have more regular collaborations that students can choose to join. These will vary year to year.
  • Students in Unit 1 will undertake peer to peer activities with the finishing cohort on their Unit 3.

Unit 2 - Contextualising research led practice 

This unit is about situating your work relative to other practitioners and the world we find ourselves in. It asks students to position themselves and their proposals within the broader social and professional context 

  • To refine and focus your research led proposal through tests and experiments. These may be in the field, conceptual, digital or physical as appropriate.
  • To define a clear direction and parameters for your practice and writing. It is important to recognise that the timescales available mean that a suitable depth of work will only arise from a focused area of study within a broad topic.
  • To produce studio practice based developmental work and submit  a portfolio and a second extended written paper covering all work across unit 2 with a summary of unit 1 to allow a full understanding of how the proposals evolved.
  • A collaborative activity with other MA design courses in order to share and discuss techniques and approaches with other design disciplines.
  • Smaller group and year cohort seminars, presentations and tutorials.

Unit 3 - Realisation of research led practice 

This final unit of the course is about taking the final steps toward resolving and presenting your research and proposal developments through your on-going practice.  The aim is to fully communicate the body of work you have undertaken in a manner that is appropriate to the nature of your project. 

  • To demonstrate how you have developed and evolved your practice as a model for exploring and reflecting on contextual and theoretical perspectives.
  • The final 5000 word written submission is timed to allow students to receive feedback on the theoretical positioning and explanation of expected practical outcomes prior to their final production of work and its submission.
  • The conclusion of the unit is a submission of portfolios or books covering the scope of the project across the year. This is undertaken as part of the final presentation of work, whether online or physical, that provides a method to share and disseminate the explorations and findings to a wider audience.
  • The nature of individual projects will have a significant impact on the appropriate final output. Past projects have included online or physical final exhibitions with drawings, models, installations, video work or performance.
  • All submissions need to demonstrate a clear and developed connection between the theoretical position of the written research with the precedents and testing and design outcomes of your practice.

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

Learning and teaching methods

  • Independent research
  • Individual and group tutorials
  • Lectures
  • Online posting of work for staff and peer review
  • Presentations, peer review and feedback
  • Research methodology workshops
  • Technical support

Student work

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Graduate Showcase

  • Moon II
    Moon II, Xuxiang Zhang, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Form Follows Olfaction
    Form Follows Olfaction, Terry Kuo, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Ruins N' Roses
    Ruins N' Roses, Haya Abahussain, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • When Crossing Red Lines
    When Crossing Red Lines, Mille Marie Udnæs Franck, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Un|homely dining table
    Un|homely dining table, Manasnan Sunpawatr, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL

Film

Graduate Showcase

Tokyo 1964: Design Tomorrow exhibition

Staff

  • Amritt Flora - Course Leader
  • Anna Baranowska - Associate Lecturer
  • Simon Kinneir - Associate Lecturer
  • Pete Maloney - Senior Lecturer
  • Maria McLintock - Associate Lecturer
  • Aaron McPeake - Associate Lecturer
  • Colin Priest - Senior Lecturer
  • Matthew Rosier - Associate Lecturer
  • Maria Venegas Raba - Associate Lecturer
  • Jack Wates - Associate Lecturer
  • Rain Wu - Associate Lecturer
  • Sophie Yetton - Senior Lecturer

Fees and funding

Home fee

£13,910

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 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.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£29,330

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 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.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

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 necessary subject specific skills, including architectural drawing, model making and computer aided design (CAD). Some exception may be made with regards to applicants with an alternative background who can demonstrate an equivalent exploration of spatial ideas
  • A developed spatial awareness and an ability to creatively organise space and represent spatial ideas
  • Evidence of an engagement with the critical debates surrounding contemporary interior and spatial design practice within current contexts 

Apply now

Apply

Home students apply by direct application.

Apply

Personal statement

This should be about 500 words long 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.

Portfolio advice

  • A maximum of 30 images showing subject specific skills including architectural drawing, model making, computer aided design (CAD) or equivalent.
  • A developed spatial awareness and an ability to creatively organise space and represent spatial ideas.
  • An engagement with the critical debate surrounding contemporary interior and spatial design practice through writing or other creative practice.
  • Evidence of approaches to research, design thinking and experimentation.

For more support, please visit our Portfolio advice page and PebblePad advice page.

Video task

  • We'd like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you
  • Please speak clearly in English and face the camera
  • Your video task is submitted along with your portfolio. Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept

As part of your video task please respond to the following direction:

Please describe the view from a window where you live. This is about observation and description and should also explore changes over time.

What happens next

Communicating with you

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Initial application check and selection

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you will be invited to submit a digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system. These will be reviewed by the academic team.

Following the review of the digital portfolio, a small number of applicants will progress to the interview stage. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes. For support with your interview, visit our Interview tips page.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.

Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

Feedback requests:

If you would like to request feedback please contact us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

Deferring your place

Read our Admissions Policy for details, and request your deferral by contacting us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

Transfers

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current postgraduate course and wish to continue your studies at Camberwell College of Arts, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible. Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and transcripts.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English if necessary) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

If this course requires a digital portfolio as part of the application process, we will contact you to invite you to submit this through UAL’s online submission tool, PebblePad. For Round 1 applications, you will need to submit your portfolio by 9 January 2023 at the latest and by 20 April 2023 for Round 2.

This course receives a high volume of applications. We need to make sure that we give all applications equal consideration, so the course team will review them in 2 rounds, after each application deadline date. This means you won’t hear from us about the outcome of your application until after the relevant application deadline date. Outcomes for Round 1 will be released by (at the latest) end of March and outcomes for Round 2 will be released by end of June 2023.

Remember to check the outcome of your application in the UAL Portal. If you apply in Round 1 and don’t hear back from us, we will consider your application within Round 2.

Find out more about what happens after you apply.

Apply

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course:

Apply

Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

You can only apply to the same course once per year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.

Personal statement

This should be about 500 words long 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.

Portfolio advice

  • A maximum of 30 images showing subject specific skills including architectural drawing, model making, computer aided design (CAD) or equivalent.
  • A developed spatial awareness and an ability to creatively organise space and represent spatial ideas.
  • An engagement with the critical debate surrounding contemporary interior and spatial design practice through writing or other creative practice.
  • Evidence of approaches to research, design thinking and experimentation.

For more support, please visit our Portfolio advice page and PebblePad advice page.

Video task

  • We'd like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you
  • Please speak clearly in English and face the camera
  • Your video task is submitted along with your portfolio. Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept

As part of your video task please respond to the following direction:

Please describe the view from a window where you live. This is about observation and description and should also explore changes over time.

What happens next

Communicating with you

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Initial application check and selection

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you will be invited to submit a digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system. These will be reviewed by the academic team.

Following the review of the digital portfolio, a small number of applicants will progress to the interview stage. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes. For support with your interview, visit our Interview tips page.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.

Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

Feedback requests:

If you would like to request feedback please contact us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

Deferring your place

This course does not allow offer holders to defer. If you want to start later, please re-apply when applications open for that academic year.

Transfers

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current postgraduate course and wish to continue your studies at Camberwell College of Arts, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible. Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and transcripts.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English if necessary) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

This course receives a high volume of applications. We need to make sure that we give all applications equal consideration, so the course team will review them in two rounds. This means that offers won’t be sent to successful applicants until after the relevant application deadline date. Outcomes for Round 1 will be released by 31 March 2022 and outcomes for Round 2 will be released by 30 June 2022.

Remember to check the outcome of your application in the UAL Portal. If you apply in Round 1 and don’t hear back from us, we will consider your application within Round 2.

Find out more about what happens after you apply.

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