MA Design (Packaging)

Year of Entry 2025/26
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MA

Design (Packaging)

Full-time Art and design

Think differently about design and creatively push boundaries, whilst developing the skills needed to become an imaginative and versatile packaging designer.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £10,620 for the course
    International/EU: £17,725 for the course

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    1 Year

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025


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. Our 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.

Top 10 in the UK

We're top 10 in the UK for research impact in art and design (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
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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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Graduate View
 Azucena Gomez, MFA Design (Packaging), 2018 graduate

'The course helped me to broaden my thinking in regards to packaging. It taught me to consider the positive impact that packaging design can have on society. I found the course really refreshing after working for several years in industry.'

Azucena Gomez, MFA Design (Packaging), 2018 graduate

Postgraduate open day

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Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.

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How you learn

Watch tutors and students talk about what it's like to study as part of an interdisciplinary postgraduate design programme at Sheffield Hallam University.

At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.

The initial modules are taught to all postgraduate design students. You'll 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 are encouraged to consider social and cultural contexts when positioning your creative output. The aim is to develop accessible and marketable products, services, interventions and other forms or propositions.

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

Course leaders and tutors

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Carlos Peralta Mahecha
Senior Lecturer

Staff profile for Carlos Peralta, Senior Lecturer in Art and Design

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 Packaging Design tutors have connections, knowledge and experience within the broad area of structural packaging, product design and visual communication.


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 and have gained PhD scholarships.

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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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

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

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

Module
Credits
Assessment
Creative Design And Positionality
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Design Lab: Synthesis And Manifesto (Packaging)
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Methods For Research And Practice
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 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 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.

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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

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, 219.2KB)

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 2025

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 (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

Where next?

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

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Come to an open day

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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