Start date:
September 2026
Application deadline:
Applications closed for 2026/27 entry
College:
Camberwell College of Arts
Fees:
£14,420 (Home)£30,890 (International)Fee details
Course length:
15 months (full time)
MA Graphic Design Communication, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
MA Graphic Design Communication at Camberwell College of Arts helps you shape engaging and imaginative design solutions through material, media, technologies and systems of public engagement.
Course summary
Applications closed 2026/2027
Applications are now closed for 2026/27 entry. Applications for 2027/28 entry will open in autumn 2026.
Course overview
MA Graphic Design Communication is rooted in pluralistic perspectives and global debates. The course builds upon graphic design's rich history of social engagement and activism, recognising the discipline's unique power to shape public discourse and generate change. Within these complex contexts, we encourage discovery and adaptability, addressing the challenges of unsettled, unexpected, and emergent realities.
We believe our goal as designers is to seek better and unimagined relationships between materials, environments, systems, technologies, and languages in thoughtful ways.
We provide a dynamic environment for study, practice and critical exchange. Our curriculum introduces you to the key debates, enquiries and design methodologies central to critical design practices. As you progress through the course, you will refine your ability to synthesise research topics such as cultures, environments and more-than-human ecologies
Your design practice will develop through a process of experimentation and testing as you undertake design challenges and personal research enquiries. This will equip you with the skills to create impactful visual communication that addresses pressing social challenges.
What to expect
A practice-led course: Practical work is underpinned by critical design research and practiced based experimentation in a collaborative studio environment.
Critical design practices: Exploration of new, experimental design theories, and practices responding to shifting contexts, diverse communities and interdisciplinary opportunities.
Professional development: Established and expanded graphic design practices, through design making, writing and presentation, enabling specialist design futures and your position within this.
An ethical focus: The exploration of climate, social and racial justice in relation to your creative practice.
Subject experts: Our tutors, technicians and visiting practitioners are experts in their field. They bring their creative industry and design research experience into their teaching practice.
Industry experience and opportunities
Throughout the course, you’ll continue to develop your professional profile as a designer. You'll have the chance to take part in public events, such as design symposia and community projects. You'll be encouraged to publish, show and disseminate your work through UAL and College events and seek external opportunities. Course alumni have presented at conferences and featured in design publications and competitions.
You’ll also have access to UAL’s dedicated Careers and Employability services. The course encourages and supports international and culturally diverse perspectives within design that reflect students’ backgrounds and the positive inclusive changes in the creative sector.
Mode of study
MA Graphic Design Communication 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.
Unit 1 introduces you to the MA Graphic Design Communication course. It provides a foundation for your postgraduate studies in design. By engaging with diverse graphic and communication design examples you’ll begin to build research skills that connect writing and practice. Through making and documentation of your process you'll expand your knowledge of graphic and communication design and situate your own knowledge and experience within this. During the unit you’ll work both independently and collaboratively.
Unit 2: Emergent design
In this unit you'll explore diverse and emergent methodological approaches within design practice research and be introduced to contemporary Critical Design practices. You’ll test and interrogate a variety of methods some of which you’ll integrate into the development of your own design proposal. Your design proposal will reflect your personal position and values as a designer, while drawing on the expertise of the staff team and visiting practitioners. Your portfolio will expand to include new design contexts, investigative processes, and alignment to interdisciplinary practices and communication strategies.
Unit 3: Situated design
Having developed your personal practice in Unit 2 you’ll now adapt it to a specific context beyond the university. You’ll explore design theories and practices to help integrate your chosen context into your project. Engaging with a range of situated practices and discourses will help your design work become more responsive to a specific community, site or network.
Note: 120 Credits must be passed before the final unit is undertaken
This fee is correct for 2026/27 entry and is subject to change for 2027/28 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.
This fee is correct for 2026/27 entry and is subject to change for 2027/28 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.
You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course. For a list of general digital equipment you may need (and how you can borrow equipment), visit our Study costs page.
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.
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.
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 - you should discuss your professional and academic background and how it relates to your desire to join the course. You should provide a clear explanation of your goals whilst on the course and, how the course is suited to supporting them.
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 your 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
English language requirements
All classes are taught in English. If English is not your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:
IELTS level 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our
You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.
Personal statement advice
This should be about 500 words long and include:
Your reasons for choosing the course, specifically what attracts you to the research themes which the course offers
Your current creative practice and your goals to develop this during the MA and beyond
Any relevant education and experience if formal academic qualifications are not included in this application
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
Describe an example of graphic design communication practice that has emerged in your country that moves away from the limits of traditional commercial practice
Many graduates are employed in interdisciplinary design studios and as senior designers in graphic and communication design companies. Graduates have also founded their own design studios working across digital environments and physical spaces as well as specialist publishing and new forms of graphic content.
Alumni
André Arruda - Partner, Papanapa, São Paulo, Brazil
Ana-Maria Grigoriu - Co-founder LOOT studio, Bucharest, Romania
Mayuko Hari - Art Director, Grey Advertising, New York, United States of America
