Design Informatics MFA, MA

Please be aware that the structure of this programme may change.

You will work both individually and in collaborative teams of designers and computer scientists.

Distinct to Design Informatics MA, our students work in parallel to our MSC students who bring experience from a largely computer scientist background. Together, our students create a novel, compelling and supportive environment to blend and explore applications for data thinking in design, reflective of an industry setting and real-world team experience.

Within this collaborative framework, everyone will have to write code and make physical objects during the programme.

Several courses, including the dissertation, will involve presenting an artefact, product, service, or interactive experience you have created to the public.

What you will study

• Design Informatics: Histories and Futures
• Data Science for Design
• Case Studies in Design Informatics 1
• Design with Data and a Design Informatics Project (both likely to include work with an external partner such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, Amazon, Edinburgh City Council, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh or the National Museum of Scotland)
• 20 credits of optional courses

MA students then complete their self-directed dissertation.

This programme will enable you to engage across a wide range of fields that exploit the intersection between:

• data science

  • Design
  • information technology
  • Experience and immersive design
  • Programmable matter

The programme will open a host of opportunities in working with:

• companies
• charities
• the public sector

For those who wish to stay in academia, the course provides a solid foundation for a PhD in related areas.

We actively encourage entrepreneurship.

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in any subject relevant to themes within design informatics.

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. Your portfolio should include:

• a high degree of contemporary thinking, creativity and originality

• evidence of high quality and original research using recognisable methods (qualitative and/or quantitative)

• examples of sketchbook work or design process development

• examples of prototyping processes, including ability in manipulating materials or graphics

• evidence of ability to use design thinking in the development of ideas.

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Additional costs

No additional costs

Tuition fees

Featured funding

• Edinburgh College of Art scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments. The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your residency status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding