- Level
- Master Degree
- Duration
- 1 year master’s degree
- Field
- Architecture and Design
- Institution
- Public University
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A one year master degree in advanced design practice, covering design research and methodology, studio project development, professional context and critical theory, culminating in a substantial self directed body of work.
Master of Arts in Design has no 2026 intake listed, so October 2027 is the earliest entry. It is studio led and expects applicants to arrive with an existing design portfolio and a clear project direction.
Master of Arts in Design is delivered on the Sunderland campus and awarded by the University of Sunderland, and completing Master of Arts in Design supports an application under the UK Graduate Route, which gives 18 months of post study work permission for applications made from January 2027. The university is a licensed student sponsor with a track record of compliance, so the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies for Master of Arts in Design is issued directly. Master of Arts in Design is a taught programme, and UK rules in force since January 2024 do not allow students on taught programmes to bring a spouse or children as dependants. Apply Study Visa confirms the visa position for Master of Arts in Design in writing before you pay a deposit.
Entry to Master of Arts in Design is a bachelor degree, including a three year Indian bachelor degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 60 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and tuition for Master of Arts in Design is recorded at GBP 16,500 a year with no application fee. The Global Leaders Scholarship cuts Master of Arts in Design tuition by an automatic GBP 4,500 for eligible applicants, shown on the conditional offer letter. The only listed windows are October 2027 and October 2028. Apply Study Visa manages the Master of Arts in Design application, deposit and UK student visa as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: A bachelor degree. The university recognises internationally accredited qualifications and assesses them against UK comparability guidance, so a three year Indian bachelor degree from a recognised university is accepted. Individual courses may set a higher percentage or require a related subject.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or PTE Academic 59 overall with no component below 59. TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test are not accepted.
- Application and deposit: No application fee. A non refundable tuition deposit of GBP 3,500 is required before the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies can be issued.
- Scholarship: An automatic GBP 4,500 Global Leaders Scholarship tuition reduction applies to eligible postgraduate applicants, and is shown on the conditional offer letter.
- Work permit: Master of Arts in Design leads to a University of Sunderland degree at a licensed student sponsor, so it supports a Graduate Route application, granted at 18 months for applications made from January 2027. Dependants cannot accompany students on taught programmes under UK rules in force since January 2024.
- Student visa: Apply Study Visa completes the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies stage and the UK student visa submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree marksheets & final certificate
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
- Updated CV / resume
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Senior Designer: studios and in house teams
- Design Researcher: innovation and strategy units
- Creative Lead: after building agency experience
- Design Educator: further and higher education
- Independent Practitioner: running a design studio
- Doctoral Study: practice based design research
Reality check: a design master is judged on portfolio at entry and at exit, so applicants without a coherent body of existing work should build one before applying rather than expecting the course to supply it.
About University of Sunderland
- Type
- University
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.5
- World rank
- #17803
- Established
- 1901
- Reference No.
- 10007159
