Programme Overview

The MA Visual Communication Design (Management), which is available fully online from Arden University, has been crafted to meet the demands of 21st-century design thinking and focuses on preparing you for emerging careers.

This course gives you the opportunity to bring your creative talent to the foreground while learning vital modern disciplines in the business side of the design and visual communication industry. Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), this master’s degree is for managers who will use design leadership techniques and apply design management strategies for successful outcomes within organisations.

The course focuses on four key themes – visual thinking, communication design, design practice, and business management. Throughout the course, you’ll also benefit from non-traditional insights and approaches that will help you acquire niche skills. You’ll gain a broad understanding of what is at stake in the successful development of businesses, products, services, communications, environments, and brands, and you’ll graduate with the confidence and attributes needed to transform business culture and lives through visual communication.

Career Opportunities

Upon completing this degree programme you could pursue a fulfilling role such as:

• Design manager
• Senior designer
• Strategic design manager​
• Innovation designer ​
• UX designer, UI designer ​
• Design and brand consultancy
• Design communication management
• In-house design and marketing roles

Degree

This master’s degree is awarded by Arden University, a UK institution who has served over 50,000 students from across the globe. Arden’s courses are all designed with student success in mind and a strong focus on career-ready skills. The learning material is created with guidance and insights from industry experts, so the course itself reflects the real-life work environment and scenarios you’ll encounter after graduating.
Scholarships

As an institution that believes in making higher education more accessible, Arden University has introduced a Scholarship programme for international students studying with us online.

These scholarships allow you to benefit from significant reductions in your tuition fees.

Am I eligible to apply?

In order to receive one of Arden’s international scholarships, you’ll need to be:

• Applying from an eligible country, either as a citizen or permanent resident of the region.
• Applying for one of our eligible online programmes.

Programme Content

Core Modules (20 credits each)

• Design Thinking and Practice
• Design Management Practice
• Emerging Communication Design
• Collaborative Design I
• Collaborative Design II
• Design Professional Practice
• Creative Situated Practice
• Research Report

Programme Delivery

This course is delivered 100% online, which means you decide when and where you work through your self-guided learning materials, without being held to a set lecture timetable. If you’re interrupted during a lesson, you can simply pause the materials and continue later. You can also speak and collaborate with your tutor and classmates through live online forums and email.

Entry requirements

Standard Entry

• Standard entry onto the course takes place through a combination of portfolio assessment and evidence of a completed bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree at level 2:2 in a relevant discipline, such as: graphic design, multimedia and interactive design, visual communication, advertising and marketing, marketing and design, or IT. This list is not exhaustive, and previous academic qualifications are considered on a case by case basis.

Non-standard entry

• Candidates who lack formal qualifications but possess significant, relevant experience will be considered on the basis of at least five years relevant work experience and a portfolio of work. The portfolio must consist of a minimum of 5-10 complete design projects that display design process and use of the full design cycle, with evidence of planning and research.
• Students who wish to apply and who have not previously studies a related discipline will be considered if they undertake one of the pre-requisite modules from Arden’s BA (Hons) Graphic Design course. A minimum of 20 credits must be obtained in order to join the MA Visual Communication Design (Management) course.
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; or equivalent
• Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English, can be accepted