Ceramics, furniture and jewellery design share rich cultural histories and traditions of practice. Each is concerned with what can be described as 'intimate architecture' - a physical relationship of the artefact with the body.

The role of design practitioners is changing as a result of emergent technologies, global marketing, the internationalisation of production, and a rising interest in a 'bespoke approach' or 'craft content' within design.

Designers need to be able to think creatively and strategically about the identity of products and their cultural backgrounds and to support their ideas with innovation, commercial thinking and ethical questioning. MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery (by Project) develops your creative abilities, imagination and expertise in relation to real design world demands by linking formal design approaches with practice-led research.

The postgraduate course is achieved in the context of your own personal project, explored and developed according to your individual pathway choice, in a stimulating, supportive, creative and collaborative environment.

MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery lasts 60 weeks structured as two consecutive periods of 30 weeks each (i.e. two academic years) in its 'extended full-time mode'.

MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery is credit rated at 180 credits, and comprises 2 units. Unit 1 (60 credits) lasts 20 weeks. Unit 2 (120 credits) runs for 10 weeks in the first year and 30 weeks in the second year.

Both units must be passed in order to achieve the MA, but the classification of the award of MA derives from your mark for Unit 2 only.

You are expected to attend three days each week.

The framework for the postgraduate course is an independent study route defined by your chosen project. The project becomes a vehicle for developing your creative abilities, problem solving and analytical skills, and for locating your work within the professional world.

You'll be encouraged to refocus your skills intellectually, contextually and practically, to exploit and extend design strategies from your own and other disciplines, and to question and test your ideas through teamwork and group critiques. On applying to MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery you'll be asked to produce a comprehensive project proposal that you refine during Stage 1 of the programme. In Stage 2, this proposal becomes an Action Agreement, the blueprint for the MA project submission at the end of the postgraduate course.

Unit 1- Investigation and Development: Research for your Personal Project and allied elements

This Unit is concerned with the clarification, investigation and development of the Personal Project. You'll be supported by a range of teaching and learning strategies, including the opportunity to undertake a consultant design team project with a significant client,

A range of teaching and learning strategies will support you, including the opportunity to undertake a consultant design team project with a significant client, and the introduction of specialist research information that will enable the development of your project. There will be a short period of introduction to the course, the College and the University resources and postgraduate community. Research methodology seminars will focus on your own project and practice understanding and you'll be introduced to the use of professional mentors. The development of your Project Proposal and Critical Synopsis are preparation for the Critical Review in Unit Two.

Unit 2 - Reflection, Synthesis and Resolution: delivering and fully understanding your Project

During this Unit you bring your Project to both a practical and critically reflective conclusion, manifesting the practical outcomes and defining your position through the Critical Review. During the final stages of the postgraduate course there will be professional futures workshops to support your career development.

Through the professional experience of the teaching team there are strong links with commercial, artistic, craft and industrial bodies in London, nationally and internationally. Over the duration of the MA, meetings with practitioners, industry professionals, and participants in the wider design community will enable you to learn to communicate effectively across a range of different environments.

Future careers and graduate prospects

Many MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery graduates move speedily into self-employment, developing businesses at the highest levels finding opportunities to progress their independent practice at both a national and international level. These includes students showing work at the Victoria Miro Gallery and Sotheby’s and collection designs for Swarovksi, MADE, Top shop and the House of Fraser.

Other MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery graduates work for design teams in Europe and Internationally either in their country of origin or increasingly in a country of their choice. A significant minority enter educational work at Masters level.

MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery requirements are: relevant Honours degree; evidence of experiential learning equivalent to a degree; or three years relevant professional experience.

What we look for

We are looking to make a dynamic and supportive cohort of students with a range of different experiences within the ceramic, furniture or jewellery design areas, who will be able to share expertise and add value to the experience of all students on the course.

We offer places to a variety of applicants, ranging from exceptional students who have just completed undergraduate degrees in the appropriate subject, to graduates who have been working in the field for some time and who wish to return to study.

We are interested in applicants from a range of arts/design backgrounds who are looking to relocate their career paths or who feel that their skill base can be used to open new opportunities and avenues in the ceramics, furniture or jewellery fields.

Applicants who have proven managerial experience of design will also be encouraged, especially if they have worked in an area directly related to ceramic, furniture or jewellery production.

Student selection criteria

Admission to MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery will be based on submission of the following:

• A Project Proposal written by the applicant outlining the main project's intentions and the research support and commercial/industrial connections applicable to the project.
• A portfolio of supporting work illustrating the applicant's previous experience and practical skills. Documentation relating to exhibitions or particular 'live' projects will also be required

The interview (for applicants selected following submission of the application form, action project proposal and supporting work) is used to evaluate the extent to which a candidate demonstrates:

• The suitability, appropriateness and deliverability of the Project Proposal in relation to the professional expertise of the staff team
• Analytical and critical skills and the ability of the applicant to apply these to the Project Proposal
• The quality of the design work submitted in support of the application and the 'match' between this and the Project Proposal
• The applicant's awareness of the historical, cultural and social implications of their project
• The resource implications of the Project Proposal and the ability of the course and the applicant to support the practical realisation of the project

English language requirement

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you send us an English language test score together with your application to prove your level of proficiency. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please clearly indicate this on your application form. When you have received your test score, please send it to us immediately. The standard English language requirement for entry is IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in any one paper, or equivalent. For further information visit the Language Centre website.
 
Applicants who will need a Tier 4 General Student Visa should check the External English Tests page which provides important information about UK Border Agency (UKBA) requirements. 

Application advice

The following points are intended to help you think, research and structure essential areas of your project proposal. We understand that you are only at the beginning of a journey of exploration and do not expect you to have complete answers to all your questions. It is important to us that you examine your knowledge and experience with regards to your proposed project and are able to identify questions and areas that you do not know about. Naturally, we would like you to demonstrate how you intend to tackle those areas and questions. This process should help you gain more clarity about your project proposal and give us a chance to identify how this course can support you and your professional development.

Introduction:

• Using bullet points, state professional qualifications, experience and abilities that how relevance concerning your project/application.
• Briefly describe your work, outlining recent developments.
• Describe the precise area of study you wish to undertake, including the intended programme, demonstrating your contextual knowledge.

Development

• Refer to specific areas, issues, critical ideas and precedent, which may underpin and frame your proposal.

Intentions

• Outline the sequence of practical, theoretical and visual research that you intend to follow. This will be vital to your programme of study in Stage 1 of the course, where the Project Proposal records your progress.

Evaluation

• Critically evaluate your work to date, drawing any conclusions that you are able to make. List any visual work undertaken, including tests, experiments and outcomes.

Research sources

• Document your research sources including professional contacts, libraries, museums, galleries, special archives, or collections that you have visited or accessed as part of your research towards the Proposal.

Bibliography

• Insert relevant documentary material. Keep a full record of the original and documentary material consulted, listing appropriate reading material.

Appendices

• Insert any additional material that you consider relevant but not a core part of the Project Proposal. This could be other projects, notebooks, drawings, company analyses, or additional research material.

Home/EU and International applicants

Download your MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery application pack:

• MA Design application pack - international [Word, 0.5mb]
• MA Design application pack - home/EU [Word, 0.5mb]

Each form contains detailed information about the application process.

Your application must include:

• A completed application form
• A completed project proposal form
• Two references from your tutor or someone who knows your work
• Copies of your latest examination results where applicable
• A portfolio of your work - this must include at least six images of ceramics, furniture or jewellery and visual material that illustrates design development and outcomes

Please ensure you send all these items at the same time - we need all the information to consider your application. We recommend you send your application by recorded mail. Due to the large number of applications we get, we're unable to send confirmation that your application has been received.

Further information for International applicants

Our website includes all the information you need to successfully apply. However, if you still have unanswered questions about the admissions process, please contact us. Email: international@csm.arts.ac.uk

The University has a dedicated team to help prepare you for your studies. For help on visa requirements, housing, tuition fees and language requirements visit the University's International section.

The Language Centre offers international students quality language training from qualified and experienced teachers. The Pre-sessional Academic English Programme is available to all international (non-EU) students who have been offered a place on a full time course at the University of the Arts. For further information visit the Language Centre website.

We also offer a number of short courses that enable students to improve their portfolios and English skills before applying to their chosen course. For further information visit our Short Course section.

Home/EU applicants please send your completed application to: Student Administration, MA Design: (Ceramics) or (Furniture) or (Jewellery), Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA.

International applicants please send your completed application to: International Office, MA Design: (Ceramics) or (Furniture) or (Jewellery), Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA.

When to apply

Applications can be submitted throughout the year. Places are limited, however, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

Home/EU applicants who wish to apply for the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) bursary should apply to the college before 1 March.

Deferred entry

Entry can only be deferred in exceptional circumstances. Please contact us before submitting your application if you're considering applying for deferred entry.

What happens next?

We read and consider all application forms and personal references. Please note we give particular attention to your Project Proposal and references.

Subject to your meeting the entry requirements and consideration of your application form, preliminary selection is based on your study proposal, documentation of work and supporting information. You may then be invited to attend an interview. You'll be asked to bring a portfolio of your latest work. For candidates applying for external funding, interviews will be scheduled prior to funding body deadlines.

Can't attend the interview?

If you're a home/EU or international applicant unable to attend for interview, the MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery Course Leader would hope to discuss your application by telephone.

In the case of applicants unable to attend for interview and unable to discuss their application by telephone, a decision regarding the offer of a place on the course will be made on the basis of a review of the application materials. We keep notes about decisions made following the initial application review and the interview process.

Selection is by two members of staff (normally the Course Leader and one other), and offers of places are made on the basis of our selection criteria. Applicants are informed of the decision via either the Student Administration or the International Office.

Open days

Open days are a great opportunity to meet staff and students and to find out at first hand about courses, teaching and student life. Bookings can only be made online – to book and find dates, times and locations please visit our open days page.