MA in Sustainable Design, University of Kingston International Study Centre

London,

12 Months

Check Eligibility

About this course

Kingston University’s Sustainable Design MA is designed to help you channel your creativity toward building a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable society. The course offers a socially-led, multidisciplinary approach, encouraging exploration of innovative, practical, and radical ways to realize sustainable visions through design. You will examine diverse sustainability agendas and the intersectional challenges they present. The program involves working with expert tutors, professional designers, and specialist practitioners, along with field trips, workshops, and talks from a range of sustainability-focused organizations. Situated close to London, students have easy access to the city’s museums and galleries, providing rich inspiration and networking opportunities. Through a blend of making, testing, questioning, and imagining, this course aims to boost your sustainability literacy and help you develop meaningful responses to contemporary challenges in design.

Why this course is highly recommended

Students appreciate the course’s holistic approach to addressing sustainability, which goes far beyond typical green clichés. It emphasizes critical thinking, practical experimentation, and real-world application. The teaching staff includes experts in sustainability, social, participatory, strategic, and service design, enriching the learning experience. The course encourages reflection on the designer’s role in tackling climate emergencies and imagining sustainable futures, making it ideal for those committed to social impact and innovation. Additionally, students benefit from a vibrant creative community, state-of-the-art workshops, and strong industry links, all situated within a prestigious art school environment.

Specialisation

The course offers a broad, multidisciplinary approach, welcoming students from various design backgrounds such as graphic, product, service, furniture, textile, digital, experience, fashion, interior design, architecture, illustration, filmmaking, and strategy. This diversity aims to push students beyond their existing disciplines, fostering a holistic understanding of sustainable design practices. Notably, students have the opportunity to enhance their employability through modules like Design for Social Innovation, which focuses on applying design thinking to social and societal challenges.

Course fees

Application fees

1st year tuition fees

22.06L

Living cost

Degree requirements

The course offers core modules including Design for Social Innovation, Designing Research, Sustainable Design Principles, Perspectives and Practices, Creative Futures, and a Major Project. Optional modules, such as Professional Placement, provide opportunities for applied learning and employability development. To complete the course, students must accrue 180 credits, mainly through coursework, practical design projects, presentations, and a final major project. Each credit involves around 10 hours of study, making the total approximately 1,800 hours of learning.

English language test

IELTS

6.5

PTE

TOEFL

DUOLINGO

Career prospects

Graduates from the Sustainable Design MA have gone on to roles in social innovation, strategy, sustainability consultancy, and design management. Other pathways include communication, circular and biophilic design, policy, and service design. They find opportunities in agencies, start-ups, social enterprises, charities, and government organizations, or may choose to start their own ventures. The course’s industry partnerships and collaboration with organizations like the Design Council and Sustrans help students build valuable professional contacts and practical experience.

FAQs

Can I do a work placement during the course?

Yes, there is an optional 12-month professional placement available, which must be arranged independently by students. It allows practical application of skills and can inform your major project or future career decisions.

What facilities are available for students?

Students have access to state-of-the-art workshops and studios, including 3D workshops, animation and post-production studios, digital labs, knitting and sewing workshops, printmaking, photography, and a HackSpace for collaborative projects.