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Design Studies

Every Design Studies course we can place students on, with what each department asks for and what it costs.

443
courses
101
universities
£9,500 - £35,530
a year
5.5
IELTS from
57
cities
See where I stand Jump to the courses
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What this subject is

We list 443 Design Studies courses at 101 UK universities across 57 cities. They run at undergraduate and hnd and foundation level.

Teaching in Design Studies is assessed on the work you produce rather than on examinations, which changes how the year is paced.

Send us your transcript and English result and we will come back with a shortlist of departments, the entry conditions on each, and what any offer is likely to be conditional on.

What you will study

  • Studio practice
  • Visual language and composition
  • Industry standard digital tools
  • Contextual and critical studies
  • Critique and presentation
  • Materials and making
  • Professional practice
  • A final portfolio and show

What departments ask for

The lowest English requirement across the departments we hold on this subject is IELTS 5.5. Component scores count as well as the overall: a department asking for 5.5 overall normally sets a minimum in each of the four papers, and writing is the one applicants most often miss.

Postgraduate entry is judged on your bachelor degree and its classification. Most departments ask for the equivalent of a UK 2:1, which is broadly a 3.00 out of 4.00 or 70 out of 100 on a Turkish transcript. A 2:2 is accepted at a number of departments, more readily where you have relevant work behind you.

Undergraduate entry is judged on your school leaving certificate and grades. Where a qualification is not a direct match for A levels, departments either ask for a foundation year first or accept it at a higher grade.

Alongside the transcript you will need a personal statement, one or two references and a passport copy. Statements that name a specific module, a piece of work or a problem you want to study read very differently from statements that would fit any course.

Where it leads

  • Designer
  • Art director
  • Studio practitioner
  • Creative lead
  • Freelance practice
  • Curator

Questions we get asked

Can I apply before I have an IELTS result?

Yes, and most applicants do. Departments read the file and issue a conditional offer, then wait for the English result. Leave time between meeting the condition and the intake date, because the CAS and the visa both sit after it.

How many universities should I apply to?

Four or five. One or two above your current profile, two that match it, one you are confident of. We hold 101 departments on this subject, which is enough to build that spread without repeating yourself.

How long does a decision take?

Two to six weeks for a postgraduate application once the file is complete. Undergraduate applications go through UCAS and follow its calendar, so the timing is fixed rather than set department by department.

Is there a January intake?

On a number of postgraduate courses, yes. It is less common at undergraduate level. If your documents or your English result will not be ready for September, a January start is usually better than rushing the application.

Can I work while I study?

A student visa allows twenty hours a week during term time and full time in the holidays for degree level study. The exact permission is printed on your visa, so read it rather than assume.

What does your service cost?

Nothing. Universities pay us when a student enrols, so the counselling, the application and the visa support are free to you.

Free counselling

Not sure which course fits?

Half an hour with an adviser, no cost and no obligation to apply.

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