Direct answer
The MA Designing Education at Goldsmiths, University of London sets entry requirements around applicants’ experience as a designer or educator. Candidates normally need a second class standard degree in a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Designers must provide a portfolio showing projects with an educational dimension. Educators do not need a portfolio but will discuss their interest in designing education at interview. For 2026/27 entry, the international tuition fee is £23,650.
Who the programme is for
The programme suits applicants from many backgrounds. Goldsmiths states it is a good fit if you:
- hold a degree in design or a related creative field and want to focus on the educational applications of design
- have expertise in a non-design background and want to learn how to use design approaches in audience or community participation or change
- are a qualified teacher wanting to develop design expertise at postgraduate level for varied educational contexts
- work in public engagement and want to specialise in using design
- want to use design for participation in a variety of educational contexts
Degree and experience requirements
Candidates are normally expected to hold a second class standard degree in a related field. Related fields include education, design or a creative subject, management, or innovation. Equivalent professional experience is also accepted.
Entry requirements are based on experience as either a designer wanting to apply designing to an educational context, or an educator with experience in an educational, training or leadership context who can show commitment to furthering their practice as an educator.
Portfolio and interview requirements
Designers must provide a portfolio evidencing projects with an educational dimension. Educators do not need to submit a portfolio but will be required to talk about their interest in designing education at interview.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0. Goldsmiths also accepts equivalent English language qualifications.
International qualifications
Goldsmiths accepts a wide range of international qualifications. The official page directs applicants to a separate page listing qualifications accepted from around the world. Specific equivalencies for individual Chinese qualifications are not detailed on the MA Designing Education page itself.
Fees for 2026/27
The international full-time tuition fee for students starting in the 2026/2027 academic year is £23,650. It is not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa.
Programme structure
The MA runs full-time over one year. You complete three compulsory modules: Critical and Radical Pedagogies (30 credits), Spaces and Practices of Education (30 credits), and an Independent Research Project (60 credits). You also select 60 credits of option modules from themes including management and leadership, creative and cultural entrepreneurship, design practice and innovation, education, and anthropology.
What requires live rechecking
The official MA Designing Education page does not publish specific academic equivalencies for Chinese bachelor’s degrees or grading scales. Applicants should consult the separate international qualifications page on the Goldsmiths website for country-specific entry criteria. The list of option modules is indicative and subject to change each year; current availability should be confirmed directly with the programme.
FAQ
Do I need a design background to apply?
No. The programme welcomes applicants from non-design backgrounds who want to learn how to use design within education. Educators, teachers, and those working in public engagement are among the groups Goldsmiths identifies as suitable.
What IELTS score is required?
You need an overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and no individual element below 6.0. Equivalent English language qualifications are also accepted.
Is a portfolio always required?
Only designers need to submit a portfolio, and it must evidence projects with an educational dimension. Educators do not need a portfolio but will discuss their interest in designing education at interview.
Can international students study part-time?
It is not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you hold another visa type that may permit part-time study, Goldsmiths advises contacting the Admissions Team for more information.
What is the international tuition fee for 2026/27?
The international full-time fee for students starting in the 2026/2027 academic year is £23,650.
What degree classification is normally expected?
Candidates are normally expected to have a second class standard degree in a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Official sources
All information in this article is drawn from the official MA Designing Education page on the Goldsmiths, University of London website: https://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-designing-education/.
For broader context on studying in the UK, you may find these resources useful: information on Northumbria University Newcastle and the University of East Anglia. If you are exploring support with applications, you can read about free study-abroad agencies and agencies that may offer refunds if unsuccessful.