MA Designer/Maker*
* subject to final UWE Bristol approval
This course is open for applications
Introduction
UWE Bristols MA Designer/Maker course has a wide appeal to experienced or aspiring practitioners from across creative disciplines. Our interdisciplinary outlook supports you, as the next generation of makers, to pioneer innovative material-led approaches in design practice.
Why study this course?
The MA Designer/Maker at UWE Bristol re-asserts the role of craft and making in design, industry, and artistic contexts. The course supports the next generation of makers as they pioneer innovative material-led approaches in design practice. You will be encouraged to develop pivotal alternatives to urgent issues in design, in response to contemporary narratives and global discourse.
The course has a wide appeal to experienced or aspiring practitioners from across creative disciplines, offering time, resources and access to a creative community to support personal development. Youll hone project management skills and work at an autonomous, professional level. Through hands-on engagement with matter, thinking through making and artefact creation, you will develop as a responsible, open-minded practitioner capable of responding with creative agility and resilience.
Why UWE Bristol?
As a Designer/Maker, you will benefit from the School of Arts outstanding interdisciplinary expertise and technical resources. Our City Campus workshops and facilities provide access to a breadth of physical fabrication and advanced digital technologies. You can also take advantage of the specialist research expertise available at our Centres for Print Research and Digital Cultures Research.
As a creative student, youll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol, a socially and politically progressive city, widely recognised as one of the most creatively influential settings in the UK. Our strong partnerships with local organisations mean youll benefit from their input along with many valuable networking opportunities in this thriving creative context.
Where can it take me?
You will graduate with a globally recognised qualification and have a broad range of options available to you regionally, as well as nationally and internationally. Our MA Designer/Maker graduates leave with the skills and knowledge for careers as practitioners, creative industry professionals, freelance designers, and educators, as well as the potential to progress to PhD study. Following the MA Designer/Maker course, you may be inspired to launch your own products or develop a business enterprise.
Watch: Welcome to the School of Arts at UWE Bristol
Structure
Content
Youll study a course carefully sequenced to deliver a dynamic student journey over three intensive terms.
In the first term, youll focus on thinking through making. Youll develop your understanding of design's societal and ecological impact, and your approach to creative problem-solving and practice-based experimental research.
At the end of the first term, you'll explore and connect arts research and discourse across a community of postgraduate peers. This will result in the presentation of bold, change-making creative proposals.
In the second term, youll have the opportunity to ask critical questions of different actors and stakeholders in the design process. Youll create artefacts in response to and in pursuit of improving a context of your choice. This leads into the third term, where you'll have the opportunity to realise your ideas within a supportive community of interdisciplinary practice, technical expertise, and academic criticality when completing your final project.
Youll present your work to the public at our MA Showcase.
Throughout the year, you'll develop your understanding of enterprise within the creative industries and develop knowledge of the contemporary character and conventions of the creative economy. You'll have the opportunity to refine your professional skills, attributes and identity in preparation to succeed in an uncertain and complex cultural landscape.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
You'll be based in the School of Arts design studios at one of our city centre locations. You will study through a combination of lectures from industry experts and researchers, technical workshops, seminars, one to one tutorials, and consultation with academic colleagues in the library. Studying alongside other designer makers, youll develop your skills and knowledge collaboratively.
All School of Arts MA courses actively encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue and multi-disciplinary interaction across our diverse community of postgraduate artists and designers.
See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.
Study time
This is a full-time course, which starts in September and runs for three terms over 12 months. Learning and teaching sessions typically take place over three days per week. Outside of your contact hours, youll have the opportunity to access the available resources.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a range of methods throughout the year including presentations, portfolio, and practical and written work. Youll spend your last term working towards your final outcomes for the year, which includes an opportunity to exhibit publicly.
Learn more about our assessments.
Features
Study facilities
Bower Ashton houses the main library supporting the creative and cultural industries, student support services, and the extensive resource base that make up the facilities and resources. As well as fabrication for traditional and contemporary materials, including laser cutting, electronics and robotics, computer and digital media laboratories, these facilities also include video and animation resources; print studios incorporating letterpress, screen, and digital wide format; and photographic workshops.
You will also have the opportunity of studying and accessing facilities at other sites within City Campus. This may include attending lectures, including guest lectures, and seminars at Arnolfini and Watershed in Bristol city centre.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Design facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Life
Postgraduate support
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
You will be taught by practising designers, makers, and researchers, bringing their skills and expertise exclusively to you studying at postgraduate level.
You will have the opportunity to enter or continue employment in the creative industries in professional studios, as a self-employed designer/maker, as a designer running your own businesses, or in teaching in both formal and community education programmes.
You may also choose to progress to PhD study at UWE Bristol or elsewhere.
Our award-winning Careers Service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.
Learn more about our graduate destinations.
Fees
Entry
Entry requirements
We're seeking highly motivated students from any background, committed to creative growth in our supportive School of Arts community. Most applicants would have an honours degree in the arts, but those with qualifications in other disciplines or prior professional experience are also encouraged to apply.
While some students enter the course after years of independent work, we also welcome entries from ambitious applicants directly from undergraduate courses.
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on our country information pages.
Selection process
Applicants will be asked to provide a portfolio of practical or project-based work and a personal statement for review.
In your portfolio you may want to include your most recent or ambitious works alongside developmental or process-based details. The work you include can be in media from outside or beyond your chosen discipline, and may include personal or professional outcomes. We are looking for applicants with the potential to connect creatively with contemporary practice; the motivation to excel; and the capacity to contribute to our dynamic campus.
Your personal statement should communicate confidently and coherently your rationale for application: what you hope Masters study will help you achieve in your future. You may want to include detail of the influences that have led you to application, and the attributes you think will be important for success as a postgraduate. We would like to know more about you, and your understanding of what we do.
Most personal statements we receive are around 500 words in length.
Applicants may be invited for an online interview, if we have any further questions about your portfolio.
English Language Requirement
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The University accepts a large number of UK and international qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades, please visit English Language requirements.
English language support
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our pre-sessional English programme.
How to apply
We accept applications throughout the year but if you are working to a funding deadline, you should build this into your application process.
Read more about postgraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333