Visual Communication Postgraduate Diploma/MA

The Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip)/Master of Arts (MA) course provides the opportunity for students to extend their Visual Communication knowledge and understanding within a recognised specialist area of practice that is reflective of, and responsive to, contemporary practice.

Course Content

Following the declaration of your area of practice you will undertake modules to develop your critical understanding through reflective practice, with opportunities to develop speculatively and experimentally, as well as modules that are driven by externally generated projects and practice.

Creativity, innovation and development are measured against pe-defined communication objectives, across a range of projects and micro projects, designed to enrich and support your emerging practice specialism.

In addition to developing your understanding of your specific practice, the course is underpinned by a theoretical base in communication studies, emphasising factors such as audiences, cultural contexts, materiality and ideologies.  The course also hosts two contextual lecture programmes (‘Heroes' and ‘Constructed Meaning'), providing both breadth and depth to your understanding of issues and practice in Visual Communication.

Delivery takes a variety of forms including lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials, with emphasis on in-class peer group learning activities and structured self-evaluation models.  All students are assigned a specialist personal tutor from within the wider school of Visual Communication.

Award Titles

The title of your award can either be the general MA Visual Communication or one of the more specific titles:

• MA Animation and Moving Image
• MA Graphic Design
• MA Illustration
• MA Multimedia
• MA Photography
• MA Scenography
• MA Visual Identity and Branding

Study Modes

The programme provides for both full-time and part-time study modes.  Full-time study is typically 3 semesters over one academic year, running from September to September.  Part-time study is typically 6 semesters over two academic years, running from September to September.  Part-time attendance is one day per week, through there is an expectation that an average of 20 hours per week are committed to your studies - in and out of class.

Assessment

A range of assessment methods are used, as deemed appropriate to different aspects of learning, including the submission of reflective visual journals, visual presentations, a written case study and construction and delivery of an instructional presentation.

Admissions Criteria

You should have a first degree within a Visual Communication subject or a closely aligned practical visual studies degree that relates to the area of practice that you wish to study within the programme.  Applicants may also be considered on the basis of a significant portfolio of practical experience within the area of practice that you wish to study within the programme.  All applications are subject to a portfolio review, either as part of a formal interview or equivalent process.

Portfolio Guidance

A visual portfolio should show a range of different project work undertaken by you in a way that thoroughly exposes the process of learning that has been undertaken.  This should include evidence of the understanding and application of relevant practice-based principles, as well as clearly identifying the context (objective) of each piece of work.

The work presented should demonstrably support the area of practice that you wish to pursue.  Development work MUST be included to support ‘outcomes', with evaluative commentary and/or annotation where applicable. 

Portfolios from international students will be accepted as electronic PDF documents, constructed under project or subject headings to enable immediate access to your work.  Moving image work should be prepared in QuickTime format, with web and interactive media formatted to load in a browser from one clearly labelled index file.

Careers

Graduates of the programme go on to higher-level professional practice and management in the following areas: illustration; photography; web and multimedia design; visual imaging; moving image; design for information; persuasive design; theatre; education; commerce; leisure; the arts; and the media.