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Term one
Defining Your Practice
You'll explore creative practice in order to inform the detailed development of your project proposal later in the course. The unit aims to provide a structured framework to allow you to investigate the potential of methods, ideas and themes in your discipline as well as helping inform and locate your practice. -
Term two
Context and Method
Through a series of lectures and seminars, you’ll actively engage in a range of current debates which provide cultural and intellectual context for the consideration of ideas in visual communication. The programme addresses inter-disciplinary issues through the discussion of theory and the consideration of specific design-led work and texts.Project Development
In this unit you will develop the themes and focus of your final project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study. At this stage, the development of your project will be guided and questioned through tutorials, group critiques and presentations, which will support the progress of your work and provide rigorous critical appraisal from staff, peers and professional practitioners. While encouraging the continued exploration and questioning of your ideas, you will continue the process of developing appropriate methods and strategies for your project’s realisation as you begin to work more independently as a researcher and practitioner, refining your research questions and the research methods you are using. -
Term three
Realisation and Dissemination
You'll apply knowledge and experience gained in previous units to the realisation of your final MA project - the culmination and consolidation of your studies in the form of a resolved piece, or body of work. It should show coherence and innovation at a professional level of resolution. You'll also be required to prepare a critical paper intended to reflect upon the specific practical outcome of the MA project, its interpretation and its success as a demonstration of your approach to creative practice through research. -
Fees and additional course costs
Tuition fees
The course fees per year for 2021 entry are:- UK students full-time - £10,400
- UK students part-time - £5,200
- International and EU students full-time - £17,500 (standard fee)
- International and EU students full-time - £16,800 (full early payment fee)
Additional course costs
In addition to the tuition fees please see the additional course costs for 2021 entry.Further information
Find out more about our course fees and any financial support you may be entitled to:These fees are correct for the stated academic year only. Costs may increase each year during a student’s period of continued registration on course in line with inflation (subject to any maximum regulated tuition fee limit). Any adjustment for continuing students will be at or below the RPI-X forecast rate.
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Fee discounts and scholarships
To support all of our current students and our recent UK and EU alumni to progress to the next level of study, we have developed a new range of fee discounts across a range of courses.
Visual Communication MA
UCA Canterbury - 2021
Length of study:
One year full-time or two years part-time*
Campus:
UCA Canterbury
Course overview
We believe the most successful designers are cultural innovators who, through their practice, inform, persuade and entertain. Through our MA Visual Communication course, you’ll develop a confident design voice and create an outstanding portfolio of work in readiness for the contemporary professional world.
You’ll explore the mechanisms for conveying messages and meaning through a diverse range of media, you’ll be encouraged to develop new skills to strengthen and inform your design practice, and you’ll gain an understanding of the skill sets required for print, motion, and digital design.
You’ll also have the opportunity to enhance your practice in the areas needed to become a creative leader and go on to a career within the broad field of visual communication, which includes areas such as print media, user experience, motion design, web design, exhibition design and advertising, collaborating with other members of our creative community.
MA Visual Communication is designed to help you develop a voice as an author and innovator, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to identify and solve design problems within cross-disciplinary environments, including traditional and digital printmaking, moving image suites and 3D studios.
You’ll learn to approach design as an agent of change – a strategy for positively transforming behaviours in desirable and sustainable ways.
Led by Hugh Harwood and a team of experienced professional designers with connections at the highest level of industry – including Slawa Harasymowicz, Vida Vega and Jayoon Choi – you’ll learn through of a range of lectures, project briefs, workshops, written assignments, group critiques and individual tutorials.
*Please note the part-time version of this course has been suspended for 2020 entry.
Course details
Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.
Facilities
Visual Communication facilities include dedicated studios with space for both personal and group working; digital media suites with Macs programmed with the latest industry design software including, Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro and Autodesk Maya. We have photography studios and processing and printing darkrooms for black and white film-based photography; printmaking studios with access to lithography, screen-printing, etching and relief printing.
Programme Director
Hugh Harwood
Programme Director Graphic Design, Illustration and Animation
Hugh Harwood leads our Graphic Design and Illustration & Animation undergraduate degrees and the MA Visual Communication at UCA Canterbury.
What our students say
"Studying at UCA is definitely one of the greatest experiences I’ve had. I can feel creative and energetic vibes everywhere on the campus. The UCA team at the campus are really helpful and friendly, they’re supportive in many ways, regardless whether we need academic or personal advice. "
Ka I Lei, MA Visual Communication
Apply now
UK applications
Apply for full-time study - starting February 2021:
Apply for full-time study - starting September 2021:
Apply for part-time study - starting September 2021:
International & EU applications
Apply for full-time study - starting February 2021:
Apply for full-time study - starting September 2021:
When to apply:
You can apply throughout the year but we recommend you try and apply as early as possible so you have time to arrange accommodation and visas, if required.
For more information visit our how to apply pagesEntry requirements
UK entry requirements
- An honours degree or equivalent qualification in the subject or a related discipline
and/or
- Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.
Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.
Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?
You may be able to enter the course through the following entry courses:
Pre-sessional English courses in the UK or China
Your portfolio
For this course, you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via your UCA Applicant Portal. Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided once you have applied. If you receive an offer, you’ll be invited to attend an Offer Holder Webinar where you can meet the course team and learn more about the course.
Get in touch