Applied Imagination Festival: Maria Gardino
MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries graduate Maria Gardino shares her final project which explored the association between architecture and trauma.
MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries
College
CSM
Start date
January 2020
Course length
Full time 1 year (45 weeks), Part time 2 years (90 weeks)
Apply your imagination by framing an original and personal research project and question existing assumptions and boundaries in one or more of the creative disciplines.
Investigate your ideas through a series of real-world interventions and obtain feedback from end-users and key practitioners.
This course is part of the Culture and Enterprise Programme.
Great reasons to apply
- You’ll embark on a learning journey that concludes with a very personal research project that has the potential to change your life
- You’ll develop your teamwork through the interdisciplinary and cultural cross-fertilization that our programme provides, working in groups to respond to projects that are deliberately created to get your adrenalin pumping
- You’ll be challenged by short and demanding projects that deliberately ask questions that defy predictable answers such as, 'Can you design and test a fully operational time machine?’
- If you are already working, you’ll have the option to study the course part time and test your ideas within your own professional practice as well as with other students
- You’ll participate in a Festival of Applied Imagination at the end of your MA journey, presenting your project outcomes to your peers, to professionals, and to the public.
Open days
Email Richard Reynolds to book an appointment (term time only).
Scholarships
Jane Rapley Scholarships
Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships:
Home/EU | International
Postgraduate loans of up to £10,000 are now available for eligible UK and EU students. A full list of eligibility criteria and information on applying can be found on the postgraduate loans webpage.
UAL International Postgraduate £25,000 plus International Student House (ISH) Scholarships
Meet the Course Leader and students
Course catalogues
Culture and Enterprise stories
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Facilities
Digital Media
Find out more about our Digital Media facilities
Library
Find out more about the library facilities
LVMH Lecture Theatre
Find out more about the LVMH Lecture Theatre.
Course overview
MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time multidisciplinary masters course. The course invites its students to apply their creative ideas to the real world. It encourages its students to become problem-finders and change-makers, who are able to function in a wide variety of professional and entrepreneurial situations. The course attracts students from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds.
MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries is a January start/December finish course. This arrangement allows us to fit eleven months of intensive study and research into a twelve-month period. The summer period is used primarily for independent study, although there are tutorial touch points during this time.
MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries students learn to use a full range of research processes. These include primary and secondary research, and also intensive practice in action research and in the related skills of reflection, analysis, and project iteration. Students learn to plan interventions, and to record and reflect on new evidence that they have thereby obtained. At the core of what we expect from our students is a process of engagement and testing with external partners and stakeholders. We are a multi-disciplinary course, so the subject matter of the major project is left to the student – what the course team look for is rigour and commitment in the research process.
Course units
We utilise a three-step strategy to enable you to develop and apply new creative knowledge.
Unit one requires students to challenge their world view and reconsider their values, while simultaneously becoming aware of the potential of external, action-based research to uncover new questions and new levels of insight and understanding.
Students are immersed in a series of short, individual and team-based projects, designed to interrogate contemporary global agendas while using each other as primary sources of knowledge and challenge, as well as developing skills in contacting and learning from external stakeholders. Students are encouraged to give form to their conclusions in provocative and imaginative ways.
Multi- and inter-disciplinary teamwork is encouraged and a system of rotation is used to ensure that students can work with as many of their peers as possible. Projects in Unit One may be internally driven by the course, or may involve external clients and stakeholders.
Unit two requires students to define and redefine their research proposal, establish the networks they will need to use for stakeholder engagement and external verification, and demonstrate that they both understand and are able and ready to use the methodologies of action research - through creative intervention with stakeholders, reflective practice, and iterative project development and management – in order to interrogate their research question and obtain new knowledge.
Unit three requires students to complete the external verification of their research question, and their reflections on and analysis of its outcomes. The Unit comprises the completion, reflection on and ordering of the research outcomes, and the preparation of the presentation of the student’s conclusions for assessment at the conclusion of the Unit – as well as for public presentation at the Festival.
About the course
- MA Applied Imagination lasts 45 weeks full-time or 90 weeks part time over two years
- MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries is credit rated at 180 credits, and comprises three units. Unit One (60 credits) runs for 15 weeks full time, 30 weeks part time. Unit Two (60 credits) runs 15 weeks full time, 30 weeks part time. Unit Three (60 credits) runs 15 weeks full time, 30 weeks part time
- All three units must be passed in order to achieve the MA, but the classification of the award of MA derives from your mark for unit three only
- The difference between the two modes of study is that full time students are involved in more intensive study and, because they are not engaged in full time employment, test their ideas, research and working methods within the College environment with their peers as well as seeking out external verification and challenge
- Part-time students spend less time in formal peer interaction but are expected to test their ideas within their own professional practice as well as with each other as much as is possible. For part time students, the developmental process is less intense during the first year but timetables are constructed to provide maximum opportunity for reflection and critical engagement.
Industry collaborations
Working with paying clients on live briefs will give you valuable commercial experience which may mean your work being taken forward for production or, if so desired, in the purchase of your intellectual property. All paid projects are conducted within a carefully developed legal framework, which includes student agreements to protect your work and help you realise its commercial value.
Once you’ve graduated, you may be picked as part of a small team to work on a live creative brief, organised by our Business and Innovation department, under the supervision of an experienced tutor. This can be a valuable first step in working professionally in a chosen discipline and has resulted in graduates being hired by clients.
Staff
Richard Reynolds
Course Leader, MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries.
Richie Manu
Tutor, MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries
Lorna Jean Dallas-Conte
Co-Course Leader; Course Tutor, MA Innovation Management
Aisha Richards
Tutor, MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries
Tutor (Full Time Mode): Diana Donaldson
Tutor (Full Time Mode): Cvetana Ivanova
Tutor (Full Time Mode): David Mills
Tutors (Part Time Mode): Paul Colbeck
Tutors (Part Time Mode): Jasminka Letzas
Tutors (Part Time Mode): Elizabeth Wright
Course Librarian: Viv Eades
How to apply
Opportunities for all
We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.
Entry requirements
The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:
* An honours degree OR
* An equivalent EU / international qualification.
APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning
Exceptionally applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered. 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
* OR 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
IELTS level 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our main English Language requirements webpage).
Selection criteria
We select applicants according to potential and current ability in the following areas:
- Self-motivation, ambition and a commitment to the postgraduate programme
- A readiness to engage in collaborative and reflective practice, and in externally-targeted action research
- A readiness to engage with students from a very wide variety of cultural, educational and professional backgrounds.
What we are looking for
MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries is aimed at graduates with a suitable background in any creative discipline. This includes all the established areas of design, but also the fine arts, performance art, curation and art business, journalism, advertising and marketing, management, economics, and potentially also science and technology. We are looking for talented, ambitious and open-minded students who enjoy working with others, but who are also capable of planning and completing a self-directed major project.
Above all, we are looking for creative thinkers who wish to channel their talents in order to achieve their personal goals – and are ready to accept the challenge of a student-centred curriculum in which they are able to define and pursue their own programme of study. Our cohort reflects this recruitment policy, and represents a very broad cultural, educational and professional mix.
Making your application
You should apply by clicking on the link to the direct form below. The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.
Start your application now - Full Time
Start your application now - Part Time
Central Saint Martins does not accept applications for deferred entry. You should therefore apply in the year you wish to study.
Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following information when completing the online application form:
General information
Personal details (including legal full name, date of birth, nationality, addresses)
Current English language level
Current and/or previous education and qualification details
Employment history
Personal Statement
Please give your reasons for applying to your chosen course (provide details of your particular subject interests, relevant experience or abilities, what you wish to achieve on the course, and your career aspirations).
Study Proposal
In 500 words, explain how you think creativity can make the world a better place and how the course will help you achieve this.
We cannot consider your application if you do not provide all of the information above.
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by the end of October to avoid disappointment. We reserve the right to close applications earlier than the deadline above subject to spaces available.
There are two ways international students can apply:
- One of our official representatives in your country
- A direct application.
If you are applying directly you click on the link to the direct form below. The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.
Start your application now - Full Time
Start your application now - Part Time
Central Saint Martins does not accept applications for deferred entry. You should therefore apply in the year you wish to study.
Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following information when completing the online application form:
General information
Personal details (including legal full name, date of birth, nationality, addresses)
Current English language level
Current and/or previous education and qualification details
Employment history
Personal Statement
Please give your reasons for applying to your chosen course (provide details of your particular subject interests, relevant experience or abilities, what you wish to achieve on the course, and your career aspirations).
Study Proposal
In 500 words, explain how you think creativity can make the world a better place and how the course will help you achieve this.
Immigration history check
Whether you are applying online or through a UAL representative you will need to complete an immigration history check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. If you do not complete the check we will not be able to proceed with your application.
We cannot consider your application if you do not provide all of the information above.
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by the end of October to avoid disappointment. We reserve the right to close applications earlier than the deadline above subject to spaces available.
After you apply
Communicating with you
After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming we have successfully received your application and providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We will request any additional information from you, including inviting you to upload documents or book an audition, through the portal. You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.
What happens next
Initial application check
We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. Following a review of the application documents, successful applicants will be invited to an interview, either in person or by skype.
Interview
We normally interview in person or by skype and the interview may last up to 40 minutes. The interview focuses on your background and interests. You don't have to bring examples of your work unless you feel they will help you demonstrate your interests.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive the outcome of your application through the UAL Portal.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU fee
Full time tuition fees: £10,890 (2019/20). £1,000 discount for all students who have completed a PG Dip/Cert or an undergraduate course including Grad Dip/Cert, at UAL.
Part time tuition fees: £5,445 per year (2019/20). £500 per annum discount for students who have completed a PG Dip/Cert or an undergraduate course including Grad Dip/Cert, at UAL.
You can pay course tuition fees in instalments for this course.
International fee
Full time tuition fees: £19,930 (2019/20). £1,000 discount for all students who have completed a PG Dip/Cert or an undergraduate course including Grad Dip/Cert, at UAL.
Part time tuition fees: £9,965 per year (2019/20). £500 per annum discount for students who have completed a PG Dip/Cert or an undergraduate course including Grad Dip/Cert, at UAL.
You can pay course tuition fees in instalments for this course.
Additional costs
In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.
Accommodation
Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.
Scholarships and awards
There are a number of scholarships and awards available to students on this course. Use our search tool to find out more information.
Careers and alumni
Students graduating from MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries have taken up employment in almost every part of the creative sector in the world economy. Our alumni have diversified to become actors, architects, broadcasters, creative managers, entrepreneurs, film-makers, inventors, journalists, musicians, social innovators, web designers – and academics. Many have also moved on to PhD programmes. Others have returned to – or entered for the first time – fields such as advertising, curation, exhibition and museum design, film and television, fashion design and retailing, graphic design, marketing, product design, public relations, publishing (both print and digital), and web design.
The course has links with outstanding practitioners across the spectrum of the creative sector. These include: architecture and interior design; advertising and branding; design against crime; film; fashion design; furniture and textile design; graphic and communication design; the music business; photography; product design; museums and galleries; television.
Numerous leading international companies and institutions have been collaborators with, or sponsors of, MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries. These include: AiG; The Big Issue; Calvin Klein; Camberwell College of Arts and Design; Cosmopolitan; Camden Council; Cranfield University; The Design Museum; Dolce & Gabbana; Gloss Interior Design; Ideo; Jam Design; Kingston University; Nokia; Pentagram; PKF International; RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects); St Lukes; Swatch; Tangerine Design – and many others.
