MA Graphic Design

To gain the 180 credits you require for this qualification, you must study the units in the order shown below and pass the first unit before progressing to the second unit, and so on. 

Unit 1.1 Research and Practice 

The unit supports you in developing an advanced awareness of graphic design through practical projects and independent research. The aim of the unit is to develop a highly critical and creative conversation between your practice and research interests. This will introduce you to:

• innovate professional design practices 
• relevant academic literature and theories 
• current debates around graphic design and its subject boundaries 
• strategies to apply research and practice to inform your creative approach and critical position.

Unit 1.2 Innovation and Development

The unit provides the opportunity to identify, develop and manage a substantial self-directed project, and present the outcomes through suitable publications, exhibitions or presentations. The aim of the unit is to apply highly fluent creativity to resolve professional and innovative ideas. A Professional Practice folder will gather and reflect on external facing aspects of the project. 

The unit encourages you to apply specialist graphic design skills by undertaking projects with a focus on professional practice, enterprise, collaboration, or other external partners. The aim of the unit is to apply specialist design skills in research, creativity, critical-thinking and problem-solving, and to develop a professional understanding of how to operate as a graphic designer.

Unit 1.3 Resolution and Presentation

The unit provides the opportunity to identify, develop and manage a substantial self-directed project, and present the outcomes through suitable publications, exhibitions or presentations. The aim of the unit is to apply highly fluent creativity to resolve professional and innovative ideas. A Professional Practice folder will gather and reflect on external facing aspects of the project. 

A contextual study in Unit 1 provides an opportunity to demonstrate your advanced awareness of contextual knowledge and critical thinking. In Unit 2 you can explore ideas through a contextual study, or produce a suitable project report or business case. These can be developed through written, presentation, or visual essay formats. Throughout the course you will document your work through a learning log and produce reflective presentations to help synthesise your learning.

Related Documents

• Review Accessibility Statements here
• Review Programme Specification here
• Review Academic Framework here

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available units – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which OCA might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 14 December 2022.

Timeframe

Course Materials 

Course materials are delivered through the OCA Learn online learning environment, through a combination of written, audio and audio visuals and links to external online content. To support students across different disciplines, we encourage them to utilise the Skills Hub. Here, they can access tailored skill-building resources to apply relevant content to their ideas and study.

Coursework

Coursework entails self-directed individual learning documented through a learning log or online blog, alongside portfolio presentations incorporating a personal framework. OCA Spaces provides students with a secure online journal service to record your learning log.

Department Space

Your degree has an online Department space, within OCA Learn, to help encourage academic dialogue and develop a learning community. This space will offer an overview of your degree, regular group activity opportunities, spaces to ask questions, signposting to additional support and/or resources, and access to your Programme Leader.

Online Library

Online library access, reading lists, and additional resources are available via the Library page on OCA Learn. Library support is offered by a librarian, via ‘Ask the Librarian’ forums. Key reading lists are accessible electronically.

Through the module there will be critical reviews, either written or audio visual, where students connect practice with research.

1 – 1 tutorials or written formative feedback, to reinforce individual understanding and ensure learning is in line with learning outcomes are also incorporated into the module.

A summative assessment upon completion of a unit is carried out digitally with students providing links to their online learning logs, images and videos of work and a written or video reflective evaluation.

To be eligible to study, you must;

• meet the minimum English language and IT proficiency entry requirements linked here
• have 25 study hours available per week

OCA courses are studied and paid for one module at a time with fees being reviewed annually. You will study three 60 credit modules, equating to 180 credits required to complete a masters qualification.

You can pay for a module fee upfront or break down the payment through a deposit and instalment option. You cannot pay for all three modules of study upfront.

Review postgraduate course fees here. 

Registered students will be contacted individually before each module intake to facilitate their unit registration.

This course is no longer accepting new enrolments.