This programme has been developed to help you understand how design in practice operates and to examine its importance to a modern international company. This degree is offered as a partnership between the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and the Adam Smith Business School, with your time spent equally between the two institutions. If your degree background is in design and you want to expand your horizons into business, or you have a degree in management and you want to develop your design skills, then this Masters is for you.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

  • International Management & Design will provide you with a detailed understanding of how design is relevant to the industry. You will learn how design drives social and economic development and innovation.
  • This programme seeks to develop your theoretical knowledge of models and concepts within management, from business finance to strategic change.
  • You will engage with classmates and staff who have a range of experience and expertise to help you tackle complex problems, and view issues from a variety of angles, such as the economic, socio-cultural and behavioural factors that play into successful innovation.
  • You will develop decision-making and problem solving skills around management and design through a range of group and individual activities. Your critical and strategic thinking will also be enhanced through case studies and opportunities to engage in critiques used to generate peer/academic debate.
  • You will be equipped with the ability to initiate, manage and deliver innovations in a collaborative and user-led manner, with the consideration of the business environment.
  • This Masters also offers a Winter School, which is a custom designed course taught in the Glasgow School of Art’s centre in the North of Scotland. This is part of an international programme with students from design schools in France, Italy and Germany.
  • Take advantage of our individualised skills development programme, which will ensure you balance academic theory with crucial employability skills to help you maximise your potential and achieve your career goals.

Adam Smith Business School is triple accredited

Programme structure

You will take eight core courses, and complete a substantial independent piece of work in the form of a project or dissertation. 

At the Adam Smith Business School, the programme will employ a Supported Blended Learning approach. This includes a blend of online content such as recorded lectures and informal assessments that students can complete in their own time, and supported content such as webinars and online tutorials which will be live. The programme will also include supported content from our connections with practice, such as masterclasses and (where permitted) live case studies and field trips (although these may be restricted due to Covid-19).

The Glasgow School of Art will be delivering a “hybrid-flex” model of teaching, which will have a remote digital-only baseline, but be augmented (Covid permitting) by studio activity on campus, practical exercises that can be undertaken either on or off campus, utilisation of technical workshops (where appropriate) and an emphasis upon fieldwork and its practice in the current context. GSA envisage small group teaching (on campus, if at all possible).

Core courses

  • Business Finance (Adam Smith Business School)
  • Contextual Practices
  • Collaborative Practices
  • International Marketing Foresight
  • Managing Strategic Change (ASBS)
  • Marketing Management (ASBS)
  • Operations Management (ASBS)

Programme alteration or discontinuation

The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme.

Career prospects

This programme will allow you to pursue careers in either new small companies or international businesses. Recent graduates have found jobs in smaller and less established companies such as Flemingo International and Lavastorm in the UK whilst others have returned to their home countries to roles in international businesses. We have a dedicated careers and employability team who provide 1-2-1 support and advice, group workshops, employer events on campus and networking opportunities throughout the year to help you with your career prospects.

Fees & Funding

Tuition fees for 2023-24:

MSc

  • UK Full-time fee: £13,650
  • International & EU - Full-time fee: £27,930

Entry requirements

2.1 Honours degree or non-UK equivalent in business and management, economics, design, or a related discipline. Your degree must contain at least 20% of undergraduate credits in business and management and/or economics or design. Consideration may be given to graduates with design experience. Those who do not have such a background who would like to pursue further studies in the area of management are advised to apply for MSc Management.