Code

005S106

Start

September 2026

Fees

£13,700 (UK) £20,100 (INT)

Duration

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time, 1 year full-time + 12 months placement

Location

Hendon campus

Why study Graphic Design and Creative AI MA at Middlesex University?

Join an interdisciplinary community of digital creatives studying together in our state-of-the-art facilities at MDX Studios. You'll get to connect with the creative industries and the local community through our partners at Screen London Barnet, including the leading regional film studio, Troubadour.

Tuition fee discounts of up to 40%
Reimagine the future of graphic design exploring how AI can extend creativity, critical thinking, and visual communication within contemporary design practice.
Learn to integrate generative and assistive AI tools into professional design workflows to enhance creativity, not replace it.
Explore sustainability, authorship, and the cultural impact of AI to develop a responsible, planet-centred design mindset.
Work on live briefs, placements, and collaborations with London’s creative and technology sectors.
Graduate with a distinctive portfolio that showcases innovation, insight, and professional leadership in the evolving design landscape.
Gain employability support through Careers and Futures, our dedicated career and placement service.
Access facilities including studios for film and radio, digital media, VFX, animation and virtual production. We also have recording studios, and suites for post-production and editing, colour-grading and Pro Tools.

Exclusive launch discount

A 20% discount is offered to all new MA students on this course, with a higher 40% tuition fee reduction available to Middlesex University graduates.

Find out more

Placements in graphic design and creative AI

MDX Studios is a vibrant, industry-connected hub for hands-on learning, research, and innovation - where university meets the real world. We offer a unique environment where students collaborate with external partners to develop cutting-edge skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Through our access to London’s thriving creative studios, agencies, and production houses, MA Graphic Design and Creative AI students benefit from opportunities to work alongside graphic designers, creative technologists, brand strategists and art directors on a variety of real-world commercial projects across many platforms.

At MDX Studios, you won’t just study - you’ll work. Our MA programmes feature one- and two-year options with embedded, credit-bearing work placements on live industry projects. Placements can be long or short, and if a suitable opportunity is not available with an industry partner, we will create professional settings for you to work on university-led projects. You’ll build your CV while gaining experience in professional contexts, from independent content creation to working on productions in our state-of-the-art facilities.

Discover more about placements

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Design meets AI innovation

Master the creative and strategic use of AI within professional design workflows.

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Ethical and sustainable practice

Develop ethical, sustainable, and culturally aware design practices that make a real-world impact.

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London creative hub

Study in one of the world’s most dynamic cities for design, technology, and innovation.

Student stories and experiences

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Financial and student support in 60 seconds

Student life

Find out how student life is at Middlesex.

Diversity at Middlesex University

Modules

You’ll explore conceptual development, studio practice, and cross-disciplinary collaboration within the wider creative industries. Some modules develop your understanding of sustainability, ethics, and technological innovation. Other, shared modules connect design theory with entrepreneurship. You’ll complete a major project demonstrating your professional and creative independence, supported by optional work placements or live briefs in London’s creative sector.

Analyse and experiment with cross-disciplinary creative processes using AI as a co-creator. Evaluate the ethical, legal, and cultural frameworks that shape creative AI practice.

Storytelling and Worldbuilding (15 credits) Use worldbuilding techniques to design coherent visual and narrative systems. You’ll produce a World Bible that contextualises your creative project through research, storytelling, and visual development.

Gain entrepreneurial and project management skills to navigate the creative industries with confidence and adaptability.

Undertake placements or live briefs within London’s creative industries to develop professional experience and networks.

Develop sustainable and ethical design strategies aligned with the Design Council’s Green Design Mindset, working collaboratively with communities to address real-world environmental and social challenges.

Explore how AI can augment design workflows, balancing automation with creative direction to achieve innovative and consistent visual outcomes across media.

Develop a sophisticated, practice-based understanding of how AI can transform graphic design. You’ll experiment with generative tools to extend your creative process while maintaining human authorship, coherence, and critical intent.

Learn to use AI tools critically within design processes to generate distinctive and ethical design solutions, exploring new forms of ideation and problem-framing in visual communication.

Realise a self-directed project showcasing your professional identity and critical engagement with AI in design.

Fly through Middlesex Uni: The Grove building for Arts and Creative courses

Teaching

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.

Teaching combines lectures, workshops, seminars, and studio-based learning. You’ll work on real-world briefs, collaborative projects, and case studies connected to current industry practice. Regular guest lectures, peer critiques, and one-to-one tutorials support your creative and professional development. You’ll be part of an interdisciplinary postgraduate community within MDX Studios, surrounded by artists, technologists, and entrepreneurs.

Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time. Project information, recorded presentations, and assessment criteria will be provided through our online module page.

The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Learning structure	Typical hourly breakdown
Live in-person on campus learning	Contact hours per week, per level: 10 hours
Tutor set learning activities	Average hours per week, per level: 2 hours

Outside of these hours, you’ll be expected to do independent study where you read, listen and reflect on other learning activities. This can include preparation for future classes. In a year, you’ll typically be expected to commit 1,200 hours to your course across all styles of learning. If you are taking a placement, you might have some additional hours.

You’ll have access to specialist tutors, academic advisors, Careers and Futures employability support. You’ll benefit from free software, high-spec computing labs, high-end industry-standard video and audio equipment available to borrow from our Kit Hub loan service, Wi-Fi, library access, and online design resources - all designed to help you thrive as a postgraduate creative professional.

You’ll be assessed through design portfolios, reflective journals, project proposals, and written reports. Continuous formative feedback is provided during studio sessions, with summative evaluations at major milestones. Assessment focuses on creative innovation, ethical awareness, and professional presentation.

A colourful graphic design project depicting a street and the words: Seeing the Unseen: Misogyny and sexism thrive in silence. Report what you see, support those affected. Be the change we need.

Explore our world-class facilities MDX Studios

A graphic design project showing a square of orange and purple sunset colours, and poetic floating words about birds and singing

A graphic design project with different coloured squares, with the words

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Careers

How can the Production Design MA support your career?

Graduates progress into roles in film, TV, streaming and immersive media such as:

production designer;
art director;
set designer;
draftsperson;
art department assistant;
prop master;

Many also move into creative consultancy, theatre, or virtual production environments. Middlesex’s strong industry links and London location ensure excellent employability outcomes.

The course also supports freelance and entrepreneurial pathways within the global creative industries.

Our employability service Careers and Futures will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

As an alumni, we offer you lifetime career support so we can help you as you progress.

MDXcelerator student start-up support

We can help you bring your business idea to life with our MDXcelerator programme which includes masterclasses with high-profile entrepreneurs, workshops, mentoring opportunities and competitions to secure seed funding.

Students at Middlesex span 122 countries and you will be part of our thriving global network. After you graduate, you'll join our alumni network. You will get access to:

Lifetime careers support from the Careers and Futures employability service;
Raise your personal profile as one of our featured alumni;
Continued limited usage of the Sheppard Library;
Exclusive MDX alumni networks to connect with your peers.

Entry requirements

Qualifications

We normally require a 2:2 undergraduate degree or above, or equivalent qualification, in a related discipline.

We also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or equivalent professional experience.

Portfolio

If you don’t hold a degree in a relevant field, you’ll need to submit a portfolio as part of your application. This is your chance to show us your creative ability, enthusiasm, and potential to succeed on the course. For more information please see the Portfolio tab.

We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:

Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
Work placements and networking with top London employers
Award-winning career support to get you where you want to go after university.

Qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the accepted qualifications on your country's support page. If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest international office.

English language

You will need to meet our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer a Pre-sessional English course.

Visas

To study with us in the UK, you might need a Student visa. Please check to see if this applies to you.

Portfolio review

We’ve put together some simple notes to help you prepare:

Be selective about the work you show while continuing to show a range of skills and ability;
Show mostly recent work that you are most proud of;
Consider how to present your work and the impression the overall look of your portfolio will have on the viewer.

We'll ask to see your portfolio so we can get to know your creative style, ideas and potential. A portfolio is a collection of your creative work that introduces you as an artist.

After you have applied, we will send you a link for you to submit your portfolio online via the applicant portal.

We welcome portfolios in any digital format. Please share your work in whatever way best represents your creativity and skills.

Graphic Design and Creative AI - Portfolio Guidance (PDF)

If you are having difficulty with the file format, please contact ACIPortfolios@mdx.ac.uk who can help you submit.

Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university.

Please visit our postgraduate application page for further information and to apply.

Entry onto this course may require a portfolio review.

Register your interest

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Fees and funding

The fees below are for the 2026/2027 academic year.

UK students¹

Full-time students: £13,700
Part-time students: £90 per credit
Part-time students: £45 per dissertation credit

If you were to study over two years part-time, you would usually pay £5,400 for the first year of study, and £8,100 in the second.

International students²

Full-time students: £20,100
Part-time students: £134 per credit
Part-time students: £67 per dissertation credit

If you were to study over two years part-time, you would usually pay £8,040 for the first year of study, and £12,060 in the second.

Exclusive launch discount

For the 2026 intake, new MA students on this course receive 20% off tuition fees, with Middlesex alumni eligible for an enhanced 40% discount. Terms and conditions apply. See our scholarships and bursaries page for details.

All basic printing and copying required for your study are included in the fees.

There are no additional compulsory costs for this course. Optional field trips, specialist printing, or exhibition materials may incur small additional expenses.

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

The Alumni Postgraduate Award: a 20% fee reduction for UK/EU Middlesex alumni who studied eligible undergraduate courses;
The Chevening Scholarship: full course fees;
The European Academic Awards: £1,000 to £7,000 for students showing academic excellence;
Regional or International Merit Award: up to £2,000 towards course fees.

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Work while you study

If you are not currently working, we can help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Important information

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.