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Postgraduate

MA Design for Visual Communication

Close-up of a book, showing a large printer letter 'F'.
Work by Juliet Ramsden, MA Design for Visual Communication, London College of Communication.
College
London College of Communication
Start date
September 2024
Course length
12 months

MA Design for Visual Communication will support you to become an original, inclusive graphic designer. With access to traditional and cutting-edge technologies, you'll learn how to craft compelling visual narratives that consider social, racial and climate responsibilities.

Re-approval

Please note this course is undergoing re-approval. This is the process by which we ensure the course continues to provide a high-quality academic experience. During re-approval there may be some changes to the course content displayed on this page. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course.

Applying for more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3. Find out more in the Apply Now section.

Why choose this course at London College of Communication

  • Responsibility and inclusivity: This course will prepare you to become a considerate and responsible graphic designer ready to engage contemporary and future audiences and customers.
  • Legacy: The course draws on LCC’s reputation and heritage for visual communication, from information design to public communication campaigns.
  • Portfolio: You will create a distinctive portfolio of projects with a focus on inclusive and accessible design principles. This will help you prepare for your future professional career as an in-house designer or empower your journey in setting up your own studio.

Open Evenings

The next Open Evening for this course will be announced soon.

Course overview

This course is ideal for designers who want to build a practice that resonates with contemporary audiences, clients, and collaborators. The complexity of social norms, racial equity and climate justice poses new challenges and great opportunities to create visual communication that connect a wide range of audiences. MA Design for Visual Communication explores these opportunities through graphic design strategies and visual storytelling. The course is grounded in the applied nature of traditional graphic design and fosters a profound understanding of the craft, while creating opportunities to explore emerging visual technologies.

What to expect

  • Master visual communication methods: advance your visual communication through rigorous analysis and explorative practice of design strategies bridging traditional and emerging technologies, methods, and contexts.
  • Visual communication for our diverse world: Our course involves creating visual communication that acknowledges the multifaceted nature of our design responsibilities, encompassing physical, cognitive, multicultural, multilingual, and societal diversities. This course will prepare you to become a considerate and responsible designer through its focus on UAL’s principles of climate, racial and social justice.
  • Specialist knowledge: You will work in disciplines and practices including typography, mixed-reality, projection mapping, visual language and grammar.
  • Research in a practical environment: You will become part of a collaborative learning environment, working co-operatively with peers, academics and professionals. Through curated sessions, personalised tutorials, and interactive group discussions, you will immerse yourself in a rigorous critical discourse.
  • Develop your own practice: The course supports you as an individual in areas such as exhibition design, publication design, branding, and emerging digital and social practices. You will explore an individual path in an area of your specialised interest by conducting research, engaging in experimentation and developing design outcomes.

Industry experience and opportunities

Our course gives you the opportunity to work with industry experts on projects throughout the year. Strong links with the sector enable you to connect with visiting practitioners and international academics. We encourage you to collaborate and work with people, groups, companies, charities, and organisations outside of the college for your projects, so your ideas can be tested in real-life scenarios.

Mode of study

MA Design for Visual Communication is in Full Time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 12 months. You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study.

Course units

We are committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework, and we have worked to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Racial and Social Justice Principles into the curriculum and in everything we do. As part of this initiative, we’ve shaped our courses around social and environmental sustainability principles that ensure learning outcomes reflect the urgent need to equip you with the understanding, skills, and values to foster a more sustainable planet. Our aim is to change the way our students think, and to empower you to work towards a sustainable future.

Unit 1 (60 credits)

This unit introduces you to postgraduate studies along with critical and reflective methodologies, inviting you to experiment with inclusivity and accessibility within the field of visual communication. It builds upon the collaborative nature of the profession and encourages you to examine your responsibility to design for climate, racial and social justice.

Unit 2: Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

This unit is designed to enable you to identify, form and develop collaborative working relationships with a range of potential partners. These could include fellow postgraduate students at LCC or UAL, postgraduate students at other Higher Education Institutions; external parties (e.g. companies, cultural organisations, community- based groups, NGOs, charities etc.)

The nature of the collaboration will involve working on a project whose outcomes are agreed by your tutors and will take the form of group work that can happen within the college or digitally/remotely. The focus of the unit is student-driven collaboration with projects being developed to meet the specific requirements of student groups within and across disciplinary boundaries.

Unit 3 (40 credits)

In this unit your focus lies on practice-based research and experimentation. You will refine your skillset in traditional visual communication methods and expand your knowledge in emerging fields. Positioning your practice and defining your audience in a real-world scenario are core elements of this unit. You may decide to explore practical and social challenges in areas such as: the role of design in civic management, the climate crisis, social change, racial justice, health and social care, accessibility, education, and urban life.

Unit 4 (60 credits)

Supported by a personal tutor who can offer guidance on both the theoretical and technical aspects of your work – alongside additional help from staff and peers across LCC - you’ll develop a self-directed project in an identified and agreed area of specialist practice. As you consolidate your specialism, you will frame your work through an academic and professional lens. Your Master’s Project will culminate in a showcase of your final outcome and a publication presenting the critical analysis of your findings.

 

Learning and teaching methods

  • Practice-based workshops
  • Workshop
  • Seminars
  • Lectures
  • Academic tutorials
  • Personal tutorials
  • Self-directed learning
  • Speakers and visits
  • Assessed assignments

Facilities

  • A close-up of the moveable type available in the Letterpress area.
    Image © Lewis Bush

    Printing and Finishing

    Discover our printing techniques, from Lithographic Printing to Print Finishing and Bookbinding.

  • A tutor in the process of producing a print.
    Image © Lewis Bush

    Printmaking

    This workshop offers a wide-range of expertise in everything from etching to lithography.

  • Library Services at London College of Communication, LCC

    Library Services

    We have a whole range of collections, services and facilities to support your written and practice-based work. Find library locations and opening times across UAL.

  • Student reading a book in between two bookshelves in the Library
    Students in the Digital Space. London College of Communication, UAL. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson

    The Digital Space

    The Digital Space is an open-plan, creative hub with computers set up with specialist software.

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£13,330

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 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

£28,570

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 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 course team welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, from all over the world, who have achieved an Honours degree qualification that evidences their aptitude, skill and engagement in the graphic design/communication or a related design practice. The course team also welcomes students with relevant experience of those who have previously worked in the industry, or non-traditional backgrounds, as well as those already within employment. The course has been designed to accommodate flexibility in educational engagement.

Your experience is assessed as a learning process and tutors will evaluate that experience for currency, validity, quality and sufficiency.

Your educational level may be demonstrated by:

  • Honours degree (named above);
  • Possession of equivalent qualifications;
  • Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;
  • Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning)

If you do not meet these course entry requirements but your application demonstrates additional strengths and alternative relevant experience, you may still be considered. This could include:

  • 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.

Language requirements

  • IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, you will need to show evidence of your English language ability when you enrol. For further guidance, please check our English language requirements.

Selection criteria

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

  • Sufficient prior knowledge and experience of and/or potential in a specialist subject area to be able to successfully complete the programme of study and have an academic or professional background in a relevant subject.
  • A willingness to work as a team player, good language skills in reading, writing and speaking, the ability to work independently and be self-motivated.
  • Critical knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject area and capacity for research-informed practical design, intellectual inquiry, and reflective thought through contextual awareness (professional, cultural, social, historical); evidence of research, analysis, development and evaluation (from previous academic study and employment) and a grounded understanding of diverse practices for accessible and inclusive visual communication.
  • In the project proposal a description of the area of interest, field of study and the particular focus of their intended project. This should include an overview of how you intend to go about producing the project and the methodology.
  • Your portfolio should be conceptual and research-based, you must show your thinking and making process and a curious nature to explore, test and experiment.
  • Whilst candidates are not expected to demonstrate particular software skills their suitability will be evaluated on evidence of a diverse use of medium to communicate with different audiences (portfolio) and evidence of project management demonstrating ability to take responsibility for deliverables (CV).

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

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Find your representative

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, CV and study proposal.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement 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.

Study proposal advice

Please provide a summary of your study proposal (300-500 words).

It should:

  • follow the guidance set out in the study proposal guidance book
  • outline the topic or subject area that you would like to focus on during your studies
  • outline the aims, objectives and methodology of your project
  • describe how your proposal relates to cultural, historical and theoretical frameworks and contexts
  • provide an evaluation of why this subject is important to you and what you hope to gain from your experience studying this MA
  • include any illustrations or images that support your proposal.

Please note, your proposal serves to inform your application and we understand that your ideas will develop and change throughout your studies.

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 digital portfolio and video task.

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. The video must be in English.

What to include in your video task:

  • Choose 1 project from your portfolio and explain how it challenged you and your understanding of design for visual communication.
  • Tell us how this experience inspired you to apply to MA Design for Visual Communication at London College of Communication.

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 20 pages, including your video task
  • feature work across a maximum of 5 projects
  • demonstrate your aptitude, skill and engagement in the field of design for visual communication or a related practice
  • feature examples of development work, sketches, tests and process-led experimentation
  • show your thinking and making process, including any supporting research-based inquiry
  • include supporting captions that explain your motivation, development, realisation and impact. If you include any collaborative projects, please also indicate your role and contribution.

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

Step 3: Interview

Applicants are usually interviewed by the course team before a place can be offered. Interviews will be held online, and details will be sent via the UAL Portal.

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

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3 courses. 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. UAL doesn't accept repeat applications to the same course in the same academic year.

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. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task 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

For postgraduate courses at UAL there are 2 equal consideration deadlines to ensure fairness for all our applicants. If you apply ahead of either of these deadlines, your application will be considered on an equal basis with all other applications in that round. If there are places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

After you apply

What happens after I submit my application?

The course team will review your application and will then invite suitable applicants to be interviewed, before a place can be offered.

Interviews will be held online, and details will be sent to you via the UAL Portal.

Offers of a place on the course will be conditional upon completion of the PG Diploma Design for Visual Communication course, and if relevant, on providing an English language test result which will be within two years validity at the start of the course.

Careers

Students have gone on to find employment within high profile agencies, they have progressed to work as art directors, senior designers, creative directors in areas such as interaction, branding, exhibition, editorial and information design.

Graduates of the course have gone on to work at:

  • Signal Noise
  • Browns
  • SEA Design
  • Interbrand
  • Pentagram