Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £16,385 for the course
Course summary
- Develop skills, knowledge and capability to pursue opportunities and conduct independent creative research arising from the intersection of design and health.
- Expand your professional aspirations and innovate by synergising your creative practice with critical and conceptual thinking around design and health.
- Develop or expand your professional relationships and networks.
- Receive teaching from world class design for health researchers and practitioners
Placing emphasis on personal research and practice, this course provides a stimulating and supportive environment within which you can develop your interests and ideas at the intersection of design and health. Our academic staff are design specialists, researchers and practitioners with expertise across all facets of design and health who will support and encourage you to expand your creative practice. The course is part of an interdisciplinary Postgraduate design programme which promotes an ethos of social and cultural innovation.
Creative UK membership
We are members of Creative UK, which means our art and design students are also members until they graduate. With 10,000 members in its network, Creative UK represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries, advocating on the issues that matter the most to creative communities.

Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
The initial modules focus on developing your critical understanding of design thinking, theoretical studies, research methods, and making practices. You will also gain knowledge of the diverse range of concepts, approaches, issues and debates related to design for health research and practice and related fields. These modules are taught by staff from the Department of Art & Design and the Lab4Living. Building upon the skills and knowledge gained from the initial modules and supported by key specialist staff, you will embark on an independent practice-based research project in the final module of the programme.
Learning is supported through:
- immersive learning alongside peers in a studio environment
- practice-based research
- project work
- individual and group tutorials
- lectures
- seminars
- constructive critical debates
Visit the department's Instagram to see what innovations and creations our MA Design students have been working on as well as Lab4Living’s diverse range of design for health research. For more content from our MA and MFA Design programmes, please visit our official Instagram.
Course leaders and tutors

Carlos Peralta Mahecha
Senior LecturerStaff profile for Carlos Peralta, Senior Lecturer in Art and Design
Applied learning
Live projects
While there could be opportunities to undertake live, real-world projects embedded into your modules, you're encouraged to seek industrial sponsors or collaborators for individual projects. The long-established link with our Art, Design & Media Research Centre (ADMRC) supports a continuing tradition of graduates from our masters courses working as research assistants and/or continuing their studies to PhD level. As such they’re also able to provide you with expert support throughout your projects.
Field trips
There are often opportunities to go on study trips and visits, with free travel and accommodation for all mandatory field trips in the UK. These could include; workshops, design exhibitions or visits to practitioners’ studios and conferences
Networking opportunities
You will benefit from being part of a vibrant interdisciplinary post-graduate environment which has extensive links to international networks in the broader design for health community. There is an opportunity to learn from and engage with colleagues working across Industry (e.g. Design Futures our award winning in-house design consultancy, from visiting specialists across a range of hospital and community health provision and from end users) and the broader academic art, design and media research community and at SHU.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- design
- design management
- making or manufacturing
- company-employed design
- independent design practice
- postgraduate study at PhD level
- education
- retail/marketing
- design research
- academia
- social enterprise
- health and social care service design
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you’ll have access to specialist resources and facilities – and will be able to independently develop and extend your skills with
- 3D printing equipment for rapid prototyping
- state-of-the-art hardware and software
- laser cutting
- well-equipped workshops for jewellery & metalwork, fashion, ceramics, wood, plastic and other materials
- studio spaces
- photography studios
- a creative media centre
- gallery and exhibition spaces
- an award-winning learning centre featuring a specialist art, design and media library and extensive online resources
Learn more about your department
Art and Design facilities tour - shared workshops
Take a look around the shared workshops in the Department of Art & Design at Sheffield Hallam University.
Entry requirements
All students
A 2:2 degree or equivalent in an appropriate design discipline or significant relevant experience.
Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English, with an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Year 1
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Lab For Living | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Methods For Research And Practice | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Final year
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Ma Project (Design For Health) | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £9,910 for the course. If you study this course over 15 months the fee will be calculated pro-rata each year based on the number of credits studied. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time. Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £10,925 for year 1, and £5,465 for year 2.

Postgraduate student loans
Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Art and design courses (PDF, 279.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.