The MA Graphic Design programme at Edinburgh College of Art is where designers not only emerge through communication, but venture forth to interrogate and envision, and so contribute to the world around them.

We approach research as a generative practice, and designing as a form of enquiry. By asking questions, we initiate. From this foundation, we take an active stance, speculating and expanding not merely on what Graphic Design is capable of as a means of influencing, uniting, and conversing, but also on the identity of Graphic Designers in a volatile world and a reality that is constantly being reshaped by new technologies. 

What kind of designer does the world now urgently need? What must they envision, and what must they take responsibility for?

We hold the demands of the real world alongside the value of craft and experimentation. We encourage a practice that moves fluidly between rigour and curiosity: technical and imaginative by turns, clarifying and refining as it probes, plays and evolves its way towards something new, yet made to matter to its audiences.

Your study will be guided by academic staff who are themselves working designers and creatives, and connected to a network of industry practitioners who open doors to extensive opportunities and knowledge. You will also find yourself in a studio environment where collaborative study and creation happen, cultivating fresh ideas, building momentum, and forming meaningful partnerships and friendships.

Through inquisitive making and progressive resolution, working both independently and as a collective, you will arrive at a clearer sense of purpose and establish a voice of your own as a designer. You will gain new insight and build connections that support your future career, and leave with the capacity to adapt, and to shape what comes next.

This programme is for those with a foundation in Graphic Design who want to deepen and expand their practice. It also welcomes practising designers and creatives from adjacent subjects who want to redefine their direction, sharpen their vision, or step towards a greater sense of mission. Whichever route you take, core skills in visual communication and design are essential.

To find out more about this course, visit our Degree Finder: Graphic Design.

Our graduates work in a wide range of creative career paths. The variety of projects, approaches and opportunities we offer enable you to apply your knowledge and experience of the design process and your considerable skills to many disciplines. Typically, our graduates leave to become members of a graphic design agency.

Our extensive links with industry, built through industry-led projects and staff research, and our range of visiting speakers, ensure you will be aware of the full range of career possibilities and have a strong footing from which to develop your career.

Previous career paths have included:

• experiential design
• packaging
• advertising
• digital design
• interaction design
• exhibition design
• design research
• marketing
• retail design
• multimedia
• design management
• education.

If you'd like to study on a postgraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through EUCLID, our online application system. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh website, where you'll also be able to:

• see detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder
• get information on what to expect after you apply
• find out about study modes, start dates and fees
• find out if, and how, you need to submit a portfolio, showreel or research proposal
• find out where to go for further advice and guidance.

Read the University of Edinburgh's student terms and conditions