MSc Digital Design Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MSc Digital Design
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MSc
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9	What level is this qualification?			7			Length of programme			12 months
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full and Part Time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			School of Arts and Creative Technologies
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17	Lead department			School of Arts and Creative Technologies			Other contributing departments			N/A
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus based
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	N/A
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27	Reference points
28	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
29	University’s Taught Institutional Framework for Programme Design and Postgraduate Programme Design Policy; QAA Subject Benchmark for Art and Design; FHEQ level 7.
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31	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
32	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
33	N/A
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35	Exceptions to Regulations
36	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
37	N/A
38	N/A
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40	Internal Transfers
41	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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43		Transfers in:	Yes				Transfers out:	Yes, most likely across ACT PGT courses, but no restrictions.
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45	Statement of Purpose
46	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
47	The Masters in Digital Design gives you an opportunity to learn and apply a range of design skills and methods. This programme is aimed both at applicants who have existing digital design skills (either through qualifications or professional experience) and those who wish to move into these spaces and want to learn more about digital design and user experience practices. You will take a set of core modules with peers across the suite of programmes to understand and apply cutting edge interaction and interactive design technologies (e.g. screen-based interactive prototyping tools and graphic design, creative AI, 3D modelling and printing, and physical computing) using contemporary design thinking and research approaches. You will take additional option modules to specialise in areas of arts and creative technologies that best suit your career aspirations, taught by leading academics and researchers across in the School with specialist subject knowledge. This will bring together key skills and diverse expertise to provide you with an unrivalled, multidisciplinary experience. You will collaboratively tackle contemporary challenges through advanced digital interaction design and research skills, working in partnership with local communities and regional and national organisations such as charities, policy-makers, research institutes and cultural organisations, to understand and articulate their needs and develop creative solutions and design provocations in response to the problems they face. You’ll have access to high end equipment and industry software and a digital design studio: a space to collaborate, generate knowledge, and prototype design concepts and showcase solutions. Throughout the course you’ll have the chance to develop your networks with external organisations, develop a design portfolio and attend masterclasses, preparing you for future careers in user experience, service and interaction design, creative arts, technology sectors, product development, research work, government and public roles, or further PhD study.
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58	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
59	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
60	PG Cert in Digital Design			Exit Award Only	Students exiting with a Postgraduate Certificate must be able to: PLO1 Understand a range of established and emerging design methods and approaches, and apply and evaluate their effectiveness in real-world contexts and projects; PL02 Demonstrate working knowledge and expertise in digital design skills across a range of platforms and technologies; and, depending on what modules they have completed, made progress towards PLO4 and PLO5.				Successfully complete modules worth 60 credits. These can be any combination of 20 credit taught modules described in the module list below or the capstone.
61	PG Diploma in Digital Design			Exit Award Only	Students exiting with a Postgraduate Diploma must be able to: PLO1 Understand a range of established and emerging design methods and approaches, and apply and evaluate their effectiveness in real-world contexts and projects; PLO2 Demonstrate working knowledge and expertise in digital design skills across a range of platforms and technologies (e.g. graphic design, interactive media, physical computing, VR/AR); PLO3 Collaborate confidently and professionally as part of a team with colleagues, end-users, decision makers, and interested/affected groups and non-academic partners and clients to design and co-design solutions for real-world challenges; PLO4 Understand the role, impact, opportunities and significance of digital design as applied to creative arts and technologies with knowledge of end-users and stakeholders’ requirements; and made progress towards PLO5 & 6: PLO5 Apply and extend digital design skills and methods to [creative arts and technologies/museum studies/mental health/social media], developing interactive, novel prototypes to address real-world challenges; PLO6 Communicate complex design concepts, prototypes, and their underlying principles and research confidently and clearly to professional audiences, using appropriate means (e.g. graphic, immersive, interactive, aural, written).				Successfully complete modules worth 120 credits. These can be any combination of 20 credit taught modules described in the module list below and/or the capstone.
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63	Programme Learning Outcomes
64	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
65	1	Employ a range of established and emerging design methods and approaches, and apply and evaluate their effectiveness in real-world contexts and projects
66	2	Demonstrate working knowledge and expertise in digital design skills across a range of platforms and technologies (e.g. graphic design, interactive media, physical computing, VR/AR)
67	3	Collaborate confidently and professionally as part of a team with colleagues, end-users, decision makers, and interested/affected groups and non-academic partners and clients to design and co-design solutions for real-world challenges
68	4	Understand the role, impact, opportunities and significance of digital design as applied to creative arts and technologies with knowledge of end-users and stakeholders’ requirements
69	5	Apply and extend digital design skills and methods to creative arts and technologies, developing interactive, novel prototypes to address real-world challenges
70	6	Communicate complex design concepts, prototypes, and their underlying principles and research confidently and clearly to professional audiences, using appropriate means (e.g. graphic, immersive, interactive, aural, written)
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72	Diverse entry routes
73	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
74	The expectation is that students taking the MSc Digital Design will have completed a suitable UG programme relevant to interaction design/interactive media that leads into this programme. However, this MSc is designed to help students from other disciplinary directions (e.g. computer science, journalism, English; history; digital arts; media studies etc) transition successfully into PG life and engage with designerly approaches and techniques. Furthermore, the programme’s core modules brings students of different backgrounds together to foster a collaborative and open learning environment and develop experience in key design skills and methods, bringing all students to the same level. Taking option modules across the diverse offerings of School of ACT will enable students to develop specific disciplinary knowledge. The MSc programme offers a part-time route which will support mature and part-time students.
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77	Inclusion
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79	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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81	Employability
82	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
83	The Msc Digital Design degree helps to develop students’ employability by equipping them with design theories and methods and practical digital and interaction design skills, that can be applied across job markets in today’s digital environment. Throughout the programme, students will engage with diverse external organisations including national charities, museums and community groups, working together on live briefs to hone their team working, project management, and communication skills. Skills for employability are embedded throughout the suite of programmes through masterclasses and assessments that support portfolio development.
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90	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
91	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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93	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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95	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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97	Year in enterprise			FALSE
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99	Placement year			FALSE
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