Art, Design & Communication

The Art, Design & Communication Subject Group comprises five undergraduate and two post-graduate programmes (including a suite of eight design pathways).

Our inspirational team of permanent academics and visiting part-time tutors from industry provide expertise across a diverse range of visually creative disciplines including digital arts, graphics, product, interiors, advertising and communication.

We are based at our Merchiston Campus just one mile from the city centre. We have up-to-date digital studios for Mac and PC, a well equipped model making workshop with rapid prototyping facilities and all students have access to the library and 24hour Jack Kilby Computing Centre.

We have a strong culture of learning by doing, using creative studio spaces within which our students develop creative thinking, practical and collaborative skills preparing them for employment. We have excellent links with industry and the majority of undergraduate projects in 2nd and 3rd year use live briefs, often leading to short work-placements. Graduate employment within the design and communication industry is highly competitive, but with this university being one of the top in the UK for employability our graduates do extremely well. Our alumni have gone on to work at Lego, Vitra, Dyson, Tayburn, Adidas, Ben Dawson, to name but a few.

Our award winning subject group has a long list of acolades in student competitions, with recent successes in D&AD (2012 Winner for Packaging Design); Roses (Winners of five categories 2012) and HI-MACS, and a "Best in Show" award at New Blood 2012 for BDes (Hons) Graphic Design.

Undergraduate students in trimester 2 of their 3^rd year have the option of taking a work placement or overseas study exchange with one of our partners in Europe, North America, Asia, or Australia. Nine of our students study for three months each year at the Zhengzhou University of Light Industry in China, and students can also study at the University of South Australia in Adeliade, Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, or Ecole Superiere in Paris, to name but a few (view our international exchange map). Our BA (Hons) Communication, Advertising and PR programme is also offered in Hong Kong.

Student success is celebrated at our annual degree show in May, and our graduates go on to show their work at New Blood and New Designers in London.

Undergraduate Courses

Entry to our undergraduate courses starts with an application through UCAS. Applicants to BDes courses are interviewed with a portfolio of art & design work.

BDes (Hons) Interior & Spatial Design 

Taught Postgraduate Courses

Our post graduate programmes attract students from a diverse range of educational and professional background with a large number of applicants from overseas. Whether you are following on directly from your undergraduate studies or returning to study from industry, our taught post-graduate courses can provide you with extended opportunities for employment or to re-shape your career. With close ties to our research centres, all students have a base room and all courses are offered in both full and part-time mode. All applicants are interviewed, either in person or online. Home and EE applicants can also apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for PG student loans.

MA / MDes Design [pdf]