Course summary
Our MA Visual Communication – Contemporary Dialogues at Swansea College of Art is designed for students who want to develop both creative thinking and analytical thinking within the field of design. It’s an ideal choice if you are aiming to improve your skills in Visual Communication practice and enhance your professional standing in the creative industries. Throughout the course, you will explore the theories and methods that support effective design research. You will be encouraged to engage in reflective practice, taking time to review and assess your work as you respond to complex and often unpredictable professional environments. This approach will help you build essential qualities such as personal responsibility, initiative, and creative enterprise. The course is structured to equip you with the tools you need to confidently tackle real-world challenges. The programme also offers opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing you to work with peers from other fields to broaden your understanding and skills. This collaborative work will help you gain a more comprehensive view of design, enabling you to engage with a wide range of ideas and practices. You’ll also improve your use of visual language, learning how to communicate complex ideas effectively in a variety of formats. During your studies, you will focus on practical application as well as theory, allowing you to build a portfolio of work that reflects your growing expertise. This portfolio development is key to showcasing your abilities and preparing you for roles within the creative industries. The emphasis on industry experience means that you will be well-equipped to enter the professional world, whether you choose to work for a design agency or freelance. The course prepares you to contribute to shaping the future of Visual Communication practice by teaching innovative methods and tools. With a focus on design research, human-centred design, and reflective processes, you will gain the knowledge needed to make a real impact on both current and future design challenges.
Modules
Our Visual Communication course emphasises creative problem-solving and critical thinking, supporting you to become a reflective practitioner. Through hands-on projects, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional engagement, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed for a successful career in the creative industries. We focus on both individual growth and collaborative learning, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive learning experience. The master’s Contemporary Dialogues portfolio at Swansea College of Art offers a unique postgraduate experience. Graduates and professionals from a wide range of specialities benefit from multidisciplinary learning together with expert lecturers and a broad range of facilities. You will have the opportunity to draw upon experiences and knowledge from across the different pathways and reflect this in your own personal study. The research environment benefits greatly from the input of our teaching staff and visiting lecturers, most of whom are research-active artists, designers, and theoreticians of national and international significance. In the first part of the programme, you will complete a series of taught modules. You will participate in multidisciplinary exchanges, through seminars and lectures involving students from all programmes within the Contemporary Dialogues portfolio, to stimulate new perspectives and challenge directions. The cross-fertilisation of ideas through such dialogues is expected to promote a rethinking of the perceptions and production techniques appropriate to your discipline. Throughout the taught part of the programme, you will be expected to undertake material investigations and research into contemporary themes, with consideration given to environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues. Modules Throughout the course you will develop a deep understanding of Visual Communication practice, enhancing your creative thinking and analytical thinking. You will engage with design research, learning to apply visual language in both collaborative work and independent projects. Through hands-on projects, you’ll refine your approach to practical application and build a professional portfolio that reflects your individual style and ideas. Compulsory Coexistent Perspectives (20 credits) The Thought Experiment (20 credits) Collaborative Dialogues (20 credits) Creative Innovation (20 credits) Design Experiences (40 credits) Major Design Project (60 credits)
Assessment method
Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written practical and presented. There is a 4,000-word theoretical essay with a poster presentation in Semester 1, and a 5,000-word report in Semester 3, which accompanies the practical work. There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module. Summative assessment takes place at the end of a module, which includes a presentation of the work to the assessment team. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used throughout the course, which includes, among others: Tutorials These tutorials are held on a regular basis. In Semester 1, full-time/Year 1, part-time, each student sees and discusses his/her work with a member of staff as part of each module. In Semesters 2 and 3, full-time/Years 2 and 3, part-time, students work more independently and sign up for tutorials within, or across, their discipline, in addition to those scheduled when their work requires support. As a team, we ensure that every student in the final semester/year of the course is seen by at least one member of the academic staff each week. Group Tutorials/Seminars These are held on a regular basis, across all stages of the course, with one member of staff. They provide an excellent opportunity for students to share and exchange ideas with their peers in a structured manner, in addition to valuable input from staff. Informal & Formal presentations Some of the modules have a presentation of ideas as part of the module outcome and are an essential way of sharing ideas across the course. Presenting work informally to peers is also part of seminar teaching and a way of getting valuable feedback on the progress of the work. Exhibiting work At the end of the course, there is an opportunity, if appropriate, to show outcomes from the course in a curated exhibition. Students are also supported to create their own exhibitions during the middle part of the course if they wish to do so.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
International applicants
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. For full information read our visa application and guides. Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
Entry requirements
2:2 honours degree or UWTSD recognised equivalent. We are interested in creative people who demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and, therefore, we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. Please note, this master’s programme does require practical and theoretical research as well as some academic writing. We arrange interviews for all applicants to assess suitability for the chosen course. Your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered, as well as your portfolio of work.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
Acceptable Evidence of English
https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/apply/international-applications/english-language-requirements
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £7800 | Whole course |
| EU | £16800 | Whole course |
| England | £7800 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £7800 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £7800 | Whole course |
| Wales | £7800 | Whole course |
| Channel Islands | £7800 | Whole course |
| International | £16800 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources which, in most cases, is sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.
However, it is likely that art and design students will incur some additional costs in the extension of their personal practice. Examples include purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining optional study trips, and paying for printing.
Depending on distance and duration, optional study visits can vary in cost from approximately £10 to visit local galleries and exhibitions, to £200 plus for overseas or longer UK study visits. These costs cover things such things as transport, entry to venues and accommodation, and are normally at reduced rates for our students.
Provider information
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
College Road
Carmarthen
SA31 3EP