Art & Design Master's Qualifying Programme

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This programme is designed to suit the needs of international students who wish to prepare for study at Master’s level in the UK.

Master's programmes are short, intense learning experiences which demand a high level of independence and a specific set of learning skills. The course is tailored to suit your artistic discipline e.g. fashion, photography, graphic design or fine art.

It is designed to bridge the gap between ability / experience and an aspiration to study at postgraduate level. Emphasis is placed on encouraging students to become independent learners, confident within English-speaking educational culture. 

Find out more about:

• Who the is course for
• Course overview
• Sample weekly timetable
• Detailed course breakdown
• Learning outcomes

Who is the course for?

The programme is ideal for international students who wish to:

• prepare for postgraduate study in the UK
• initiate a change of artistic discipline after BA and before MA e.g. changing from Fine Art to Communication Design or Product Design to Interior Design
• develop and refresh research and study skills, technical and ICT skills
• sharpen an awareness of current thinking / professional practice
• develop skills for independent learning and critical self-evaluation
• refine thinking - recognise potential lines of research
• gain experience and an understanding of UK learning and teaching styles
• improve English language ability.

Course overview

The academic programme is divided between two semesters taught over three terms. The programme is divided into three distinct stages - click on the links to find out more about each stage:

• Diagnostic: explore and evaluate your exisiting knowledge base
• Reflective: reflect upon previous learning experiences and recognise new lines of research
• Active: work through a personal Development Plan promoting individual practise and research

There are also three key learning outcomes: knowledge and understanding, cognitive and practical skills and transferable skills.

Tuition is offered through a range of workshops and subject rotations, seminars and peer presentations, individual tutorials and studio practice for specialist areas. 

You will be trained in research and study skills, developing new working practices and critical examination of contemporary practice. 

Working closely with specialist teaching and Higher Education staff, you will be fully supported in applications for Master's programmes.

Read detailed breakdown of course content

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Example weekly schedule

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Detailed breakdown of course

Stage 1: Diagnostic

This stage enables students to:

• explore and evaluate their existing knowledge base
• evaluate the technical, conceptual and contextual frameworks of their previous research and practice
• debate generic and specific material
• develop a questioning approach to research and learning through learning activities.

Indicative content
Brief one: Presentation: Who am I?
Brief two: Where have I been? Where am I going?

Introduction to reflective practice
Introduction to research and study skills
Introduction to the critical context of contemporary practice
Individual tutorials/ workshop inductions/ seminars/ peer presentations

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Stage 2: Reflective stage

This stage encourages students to:

• reflect upon previous learning experiences
• recognise potential lines of future research
• refine their thinking process in the development of scholarly activity
• focus on reflection and development through learning activities.

Peer learning is encouraged to support the making of a Personal Development Plan. 

Indicative content
Brief three: presentation: What do I know?
Brief four: presentation: What do I need to know?
Brief five: personal statement (manifestos)

Research and practice (refine thinking – recognise potential lines of research)
The critical context of contemporary practice
Targeting Masters programmes
Individual tutorials/ specialist area studio practice/ seminars/ peer presentations

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Stage 3: Active

This stage asks students to

• carry out the Development Plan created in Stage 2
• justify approaches and methodology in relation to negotiated learning objectives
• produce evidence of scholarly activity and research
• develop individual practice and research through learning activities.

It is anticipated that work undertaken during this period will form the platform for research / study on a Masters Programme.

Indicative content
Brief six: Action Plan: How do I move forward?
Brief seven: Action Plan: How do I achieve my goals?
Brief eight: Final major project with critical appraisal

Independent learning and advanced scholarly activity
Employing Personal Development Plans
Establishing new working practices
Individual tutorials/ specialist area studio practice/ seminars/ peer presentations

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Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

• how research and enquiry are used to inform creative practice
• knowledge and understanding of the practice of independent study
• knowledge and understanding of issues and contexts which frame contemporary  practice
• knowledge and understanding of academic protocols

Cognitive and Practical Skills

• reflect critically on creative practice
• frame and define concepts which inform contemporary professional practice
• articulate thinking through the development of practical work

Transferable Skills

• engage constructively in dialogue and debate with peers
• communicate effectively in written and orally forms to a variety of audiences
• demonstrate independent learning and self management skills
• search, retrieve and make judgements about information in relation to agreed outcomes

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