MA Design for Performance Sports

Year of Entry 2024/25
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MA

Design for Performance Sports

Full-time Art and design

Design and develop performance sports equipment and apparel for the sports and leisure market.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £10,310 for the course
    International/EU: £17,205 for the course

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    1 Year

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2024


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Course summary

  • Develop skills and knowledge to become a versatile, industry-focused designer.
  • Gain experience from live projects and links with the sports and outdoor industries.
  • Form ties with design, sport, health, wellbeing, manufacturing and lifestyle sectors.
  • Engage with physiological, psychological and ergonomic factors to propose solutions that deliver performance benefits.

The course is for students who’ve previously studied Fashion Design or Product/Industrial Design at undergraduate level. You’ll learn about the main business, ethical and technical contexts for developing innovative products and services. You’ll also have opportunities to experience real-world projects, gaining the specialist knowledge and skills required to work in this sector.


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.

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View our students' work

View our gallery of student work and learn more about the exciting projects they've been working on this year.

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How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Through a series of creative research and design projects, you’ll develop your individual practice – in a framework of manufacturing, production, cultural, ethical and environmental contexts.

You learn through

  • immersive studio environments
  • practice-based research
  • project work
  • individual and group tutorials
  • lectures
  • seminars
  • constructive critical debates

During the early stages of the course, you’ll cover the key concepts, theories and debates in both contemporary and future sports-industry practice. By utilising the expertise of specialist academic staff and industry specialists, you’ll build your knowledge through a series of lectures, seminars and workshops.

You’ll also have specialist staff support to build on the skills and knowledge you gain from the initial modules. You’ll then apply your learning in an independently-planned research project – positioning your professional, creative practice within the design-for-sports industry. 

 

Course leaders and tutors

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Emma Jenkins
Senior Lecturer

Dr Emma Jenkins, Senior Lecturer at Hallam University

Applied learning

Live projects

Through our extensive connections with the sports and outdoor industries, you’ll be able to undertake real-world projects – building your confidence and enhancing your specialist knowledge and skills.

Field trips

There are opportunities to go on study trips and visits in the UK and abroad. These could include workshops, design exhibitions or visits to practitioners’ studios and industry events. 

Networking opportunities

You’ll benefit from being part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary, postgraduate environment – with extensive links to international networks in the broader design-for-sport community.

There are also opportunities to learn from both colleagues working in the industry, and the broader academic research community at Hallam. Design Futures is our own award-winning, in-house design consultancy – and you can also visit specialists from a range of sports and outdoor sectors.

 


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 and marketing
  • design research
  • academia
  • social enterprise

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 | City Campus tour 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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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.

Equipment and facilities

On this course you work with

  • 3D printing and digital prototyping equipment
  • state-of-the-art hardware and software
  • well-equipped workshops for fashion, digital prototyping, 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
  • extensive online resources

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces.

Entry requirements

All students

Normally you need

• a 2.2 degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject or significant relevant experience

• appropriate study plans, including an indication of possible project topics and clear, appropriate and realistic learning aims

• a high level of creative ability, as evidenced by a portfolio of work

• ability to discuss design issues critically and confidently

For information on applying, the interview process and your portfolio, download our MA Design application support.

Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English. If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English level.

If you do not have such academic qualifications we may consider your application individually, based on your personal, professional and work experience, and other formal qualifications. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more

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

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Design For Sport
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Performance Sports Context
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Sports Industry Project
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £10,310 for the course. 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

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £17,205 for the course. 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.

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Postgraduate student loans

Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.

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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, 290.8KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

You apply for this course via our online application form.

Apply for September 2024

You can also use the application form above to apply for future years of entry.

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

Where next?

Find out more about Sheffield Hallam's postgraduate opportunities and community.

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You can chat to teaching and admissions staff, view our facilities and learn more about your funding options.

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Information for international students

Information for international students including entry requirements by country and funding.

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