Capital College of the Arts, Management and Technology, in collaboration with the UK’s University of Sunderland, offers a dynamic Master of Arts in Design program. This program is tailored to nurture your personal design interests and aspirations, allowing you to explore the realms of creativity within a structured academic and research framework.
The MA Design program is distinctive in its flexibility, offering a range of specializations including Advertising, Animation, Calligraphy and Lettering, Creative Computational Design, Design Thinking, Innovation and Ideation, Fashion and Promotion, Graphic Communication, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interactive Media, Motion Graphics, and Typographic Design. It also accommodates other specialized design disciplines.
This program is career-oriented, focusing on developing skills aligned with your future professional goals. It includes career guidance, opportunities for starting your own business or freelance practice, and access to the Enterprise Place for entrepreneurial projects. The university maintains strong industry connections, providing opportunities for live projects, competition briefs, work placements, and internships.
Key features include:
- ‘Creative Lives’ talks by external designers and faculty staff.
- ‘Employability Day’ for advice and portfolio reviews from successful alumni and industry designers.
- Membership in the Association of Illustrators (AoI) and Design and Art Direction (D&AD).
- Access to Sunderland Culture, offering unique opportunities to engage with cultural leaders and professionals.
- Participation in notable projects and exhibitions, such as the ‘Leonardo Objects’ joint exhibition.
The program is designed to cater to a diverse student body with an adaptive and flexible teaching approach. Regular feedback sessions and close mentorship from MA tutors and a Programme Leader ensure personalized guidance throughout your study.
Depending on your chosen area of design, you can graduate with a specialized pathway such as MA Design: Animation, Fashion, Games Art, Graphics, or Illustration. Alternatively, you can graduate with a general MA Design degree.
Assessment
Your work will be assessed through various methods, including critical essays, evaluation reports, research journals, and practical work. The program consists of three core 60-credit modules reflecting different stages of the design process:
- MDES101: Design Ideation
- MDES102: Design Development and Prototypes
- MDES103: Design Realisation and Production
Program Structure
The MA Design program is a practice-led, project-based program allowing you to develop your own study program across three stages. Each stage integrates design theory and practice, encouraging the application of design theory into practice for creative and original design ideas and outcomes. The program structure includes:
- Creative studio practice relevant to your chosen pathway.
- Theoretical elements contextualizing your discipline within the broader design field.
- Research journals documenting your progress.
- Final portfolio showcasing your creative work.
Facilities
You will be based in the School of Design within the Faculty of Contemporary Art and Design located in CCAMT’s 9 Ah Hood Road #04-01. Facilities include a dedicated MA Design Studio, printmaking studio, photography studio, workshops, high-end computer suites, and various digital printers.
Level award
Master of Arts
Conferring Institution
University of Sunderland (UK)
Career Pathways
Graduates of the MA Design program are well-equipped for various roles in the design industry, including specialized areas aligned with their chosen pathway. The program’s comprehensive approach and industry connections prepare students for successful careers in their respective fields.
Minimum Entry Requirements
- Minimum age: 21 years old
- Bachelor Degree with 60%, or equivalent; AND
- The student will need to submit a statement of purpose, creative portfolio as well as pass an aptitude test and an interview.
- Other qualifications which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
View Full Academic Entry Requirements
Minimum Language proficiency requirements
Language Proficiency Requirements
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (500–800 WORDS)
The student will need to describe their interest, involvement and experience in design and/or the visual arts. Design experience can include work done with arts organizations, galleries or events such as film, performance, festivals, exhibitions. These can also be events you attended or projects that you worked on.
CREATIVE PORTFOLIO
The student will need to submit a portfolio – a collection of work that showcases their skills, personality and creative potential. This should include what they have learnt and created so far to what they plan to do next. The portfolio should demonstrate: – familiarity with designing for two or more digital platforms or genres such as website, mobile application, other devices and interactive displays, online exhibition, online marketplace, etc. – ability to map out information design and user journey – basic skills in layout design and typography These can be submitted in the form of sketches, drawings, photographs, moodboards and collages.
APTITUDE TEST
The student will need to complete and pass a short skill test consisting of a creative task and multiple-choice questions.
INTERVIEW
The student will need to participate in a dialogue in relation to the submitted statement of purpose and creative portfolio – What are your motivations for choosing this program? Share your interest, influence and aspiration. What do you hope to achieve in this programme? You should also share how this programme might prepare you for your future career path. If the student is unable to attend the interview on campus, an online interview will be arranged.
Program Structure
- MDES101 MA Design Stage 1 – Design Ideation,
- MDES102 MA Design Stage 2 – Design Development and Prototypes and
- MDES103 MA Design Stage 3 – Design Realisation and production.
- Industry and Career
Teacher – student Ratio
Tutorial 1:25
Lecture 1:80
Graduation Requirements:
- Attendance requirement
- Module Grade: minimum 50% for each module.
Duration
1 Year – 2 semesters (full-time)
2 Year – Part-time
Academic Calendar
Fees
Total Tuition Fees: SGD$19,800 (subjected to 9% GST)
University Fees: SGD$6,000
excluding non-tuition fees and miscellaneous fees
View Course Fees Breakdown
View our fees and charges page for full details
