Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £10,940 for the course
International/EU: £18,600 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2026
Course summary
- Be part of an interdisciplinary design programme which promotes social and cultural innovation.
- Develop your specialist skills and knowledge in a collaborative studio environment.
- Innovate with materials, technology and conceptual thinking.
- Extend existing material practices in response to the needs of our rapidly changing world.
Placing emphasis on personal research, this course gives you the chance to develop your own interests and ideas in a challenging and supportive environment. Academic staff are design specialists, researchers and practitioners who will support you to expand your practice and develop an independent, autonomous approach.
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.
Student satisfaction
This course scored 100% for overall student satisfaction in the Postgraduate Taught Student Satisfaction Survey 2025.
Top 10 in the UK
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
The initial modules are taught to all students in our Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (including fashion, graphics, illustration, interior, jewellery and metalwork, interaction, packaging and product) and you focus on gaining a critical understanding of design thinking, theoretical studies, research methods and making practices. In subsequent modules, you will follow your own personal practice, supported by key specialist staff.
You learn through
- immersive learning alongside peers in a studio environment
- practice-based research
- project work
- individual and group tutorials
- lectures
- seminars
- constructive critical debates
Applied learning
Live projects
We embed an understanding of, and dialogue with, the creative industries and the world of professional practice beyond the postgraduate studio. Live projects are embedded into specific modules, and you're encouraged to seek industrial sponsors or collaborators for individual projects. The long-established link with our Art and Design Research Centre (ADRC) supports a continuing tradition of graduates from the Masters courses working as research assistants and/or continuing their studies to PhD.
Field trips
There are opportunities to participate in study trips and visits to design conferences and debates.
Networking opportunities
You benefit from studying within a cross-disciplinary, vibrant, international, collaborative and supportive postgraduate environment. You can work alongside our Design Futures consultancy, and with researchers from the ADRC. We also have contacts with leading design agencies and organisations, museums and practitioners, and encourage you to work collaboratively with them.
Your interaction tutors also have connections and experience in diverse areas such as user-experience design, advertising, structural graphics, typography, branding and marketing.
Course leaders and tutors
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
In this module, you will strategically plan and manage skills specific to your individual design practice. Emphasising creative iteration, you will use evidence and reasoning to underpin your design decisions. You will engage in live projects with stakeholders from diverse academic disciplines and professions. You will critically reflect on the creative contribution you bring to your design speciality within a collaborative/interdisciplinary environment.
You will study topics such as:
- Professional positionality
- Disciplinary-specific contemporary themes and practice
- Concept generation techniques
- Project communication for diverse audiences
- Project planning and management
- Professional design brief interpretation
- Stakeholder identification and engagement
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
In this module you will address complex design problems and issues within wider economic, social, environmental, and cultural contexts. You will be challenged to engage with rigorous and systematic design concept testing and advanced investigation. You will adopt design approaches to deliver innovative and professional design proposals. You will further develop your communication skills to convey complex concepts to project stakeholders and wider audiences.
You will study topics such as:
- Inter-related contexts for design.
- High-level professional project communication.
- Discipline-specific design testing
- Advanced design development.
- Advance design research techniques.
- Project and research ethics.
This module further develops your ability to undertake high-level research and practice methods. You will adopt an ethical user and planet-centred approach to formulate outward-facing research questions, underpinning advanced design projects. Working individually and in teams, you will develop skills for effective collaboration, applying critical thinking and reflection. You will identify creative opportunities within a wider design process.
You will study topics such as:
- Design thinking and design process.
- Research methods for design.
- Critical thinking and reflection.
- User and planet-centric approaches.
- Ethical issues related to design.
- Design research question development.
- Introduction to project and research communication.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career as a
- independent design practitioner
- designer
- design manager
- maker or manufacturer
- company-employed designer
- postgraduate student at PhD level
The aim of this course is for you to achieve your personal employment ambitions — whether as a design professional in the creative industries, or in related areas such as research, retail, marketing, and education.
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for international design companies and consultancies as well as gaining PhD scholarships.
Equipment and facilities
On this course, you will have access to specialist resources and facilities including
- 3D printing for rapid prototyping
- state-of-the-art hardware and software
- laser cutting
- well-equipped workshops for jewellery and 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
360 tour - City Campus
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
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry 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 see Portfolio guidance: 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 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'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2026/27 is £10,940 for the course.
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 2026/27 is £18,600 for the course.
Scholarships and financial support
Find information on scholarships, bursaries and postgraduate student loans.
International scholarships up to £3000 ›
Alumni scholarships up to £2000 ›
Postgraduate loans for UK students ›
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (PDF, 745.6KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
