Intro

This masters degree in History of Design and Material Culture examines objects and images from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century, exploring how things are created and how they circulate through global cultures.

There is a particular focus on everyday life as critical interpretation through a lens of current debates about materiality and visuality, affect and agency, gender and identity, memory and history, the post human and the Anthropocene, and the de-colonisation of design history.

Since its inception in the late 1990s, the MA has maintained an international reputation and it contributes to shaping the future of design history and material culture in the university and museum sectors.

Our staff team has research strengths in histories of fashion and dress, graphic design and photography, material culture theory and design cultures of political protest. Staff and students work closely with those on the Curating Collections and Heritage MA.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

Course structure

Your MA will be structured around two core modules: Exploring Objects and Mediating Objects (20 credits each). 

Over two semesters, these modules will enable students to understand and use current theoretical frameworks in the interpretation of material worlds and their myriad representations. Collectively seminar working, close reading and wide ranging discussion are the key learning and teaching strategy of these two modules, with the aim of support and developing students’ skills of expression and articulacy.

Alongside your core modules, you will also take a Research Methods module (20 credits) and embark upon your own research towards an 18,000 to 20,000 word dissertation. Supported by one-to-one supervision, students develop their an original piece of writing often based on archival investigations of ethnographic study.

To complete your degree and cater to your specialist interests and learning requirements, you choose three further option modules, one in semester 1 and two that will take place in semester 2.

See option modules tab for a list of options.

Skirt made in an inherited African wax print

Skirt made by Lou Taylor for Cate-May Hann in an inherited African wax print. Photo: Louise Purbrick.

Syllabus 

You will take six taught modules over your MA studies and one key piece of independent research, a dissertation.

The taught modules include two core modules Exploring Objects and Mediating Objects, and four option modules that enable you to explore specific aspects of the History of Design and Material Culture such as textiles, graphics and exhibition practice, or broaden your studies with modules in history, politics and philosophy.

The centrepiece of your MA studies is your dissertation. You will be supported through tutorials to investigate a subject or perspective of your own within the History of Design and Material Culture, undertaking primary research and making new critical interventions in this interdisciplinary field.

Previous dissertation subjects include:

  • Workwear as Fashion and Anti-Fashion
  • Representations of the Holocaust: the rejected works of Arnold Daghani
  • Photography and Jewellery: Older women and the practices of keeping things
  • The Fetishization of Women’s Hair in Victorian Material Culture
  • Japanese Gardens in England
  • Political Posters and the Children of Mao’s China

Graffiti on a wall in Thessaloniki

Graffiti, Thessaloniki. Photo: Zeina Maasri, 2011.

Option modules


  • History of Fashion and Dress: Method, Theory and Interpretation
  • Museums and Collections in Context Digital Curating
  • Cultural Memory: Concepts, Theories, Methods
  • Globalisation and Global Politics
  • Aesthetics and Politics
  • Philosophical Foundations of Critical Theory
  • Causes of War: Theories and Framings
  • Global Issues in Graphic Design
  • Critical Reflection on Contemporary Exhibitions
  • Heritage in a Global Context
  • Caring for Collections and their Users Cultural Theory and Politics
  • Holocaust Memory
  • Philosophical Traditions of Critical Theory
  • Forms of Conflict: Domination and Resistance
  • Collections Intensive (note this module is taught over one week during the summer behind the scenes in a museum or collection).

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Street graphics in Lebanon

Street graphics, Lebanon. Photo: Zeina Maasri.

Resources

This course makes use of the University of Brighton Design Archives, which include the archives of the Design Council, Alison Settle, FHK Henrion and the South of England Film and Video Archive.

Close professional contact with national institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as with local collections and centres of historical interest (such as Brighton’s unique Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, with its internationally famous collection of decorative art from the 1890s onwards), present research opportunities for students registered on the course.

The course is closely linked to our arts and humanities research division through a joint research lecture series, and we have successfully encouraged high achievers to register for the MPhil/PhD programme.

The student environment also includes the thriving postgraduate Design History Society as well as opportunities for conference presentation, professional contact and career development in the field.

The University of Brighton's Design Archives

The award-winning University of Brighton Design Archives.

Student views

Karen Fraser, History of Design and Material Culture graduate

"I was impressed with the range of opportunities for research and learning that included access to a variety of sources for primary research, such as objects in the Dress History Teaching Collection and photographs and written documents in the University of Brighton Design Archives.

"I enjoyed learning from the course tutors, who are active and inspiring leaders in their areas of academic interest. They facilitated an exceptional range of extracurricular lectures, conference sessions, and reading groups that greatly enhanced my experience on the course. While much of the work was completed individually, the seminars enabled me to share ideas with fellow students and gain different perspectives from engaged and supportive individuals who were at different stages in their careers."

Careers

The course has an excellent track record in helping students to pursue careers in related areas as well as further study.

Many of our postgraduates have found work as lecturers, curators, journalists, designers and design consultants, while many others have pursued doctoral research, some also securing prestigious funding from the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council).

Graduate professions

Curating

  • Ej Scott Curator, Museum of Transology, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
  • Dennis Nothdruft Curator, Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey
  • Cassie Davies Curator, Victoria and Albert Museum

Teaching and research in higher education

  • Torunn Kjolberg University of South Wales
  • Mairi Mackenzie Glasgow School of Art
  • Cat Rossi Kingston University

Funded doctoral research

  • Janet Aspley University of Brighton (Design Star, AHRC)
  • Bridget Millmore University of Brighton (AHRC)
  • June Rowe Central Saint Martins (Rootstein Foundation)
  • Sara Skillen University of Stockholm (Centre for Fashion Studies)

Design, consultancy and publishing

  • Georgina Jarvis adam&eveDDB
  • Christine Gent Executive director, World Fair Trade Organisation (Asia)
  • Ness Wood Art director and designer, Random House Books 

Account book, Tarapacá Mining Company, Chile

Account book, Tarapacá Mining Company, Chile, Gibbs and Sons Papers. Photo: Louise Purbrick.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
Normally a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. Candidates with a 2:2 or lower or who do not have a degree will still be considered for admission if they can demonstrate suitable professional experience or substantial experience of the subject area. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through our Extended Masters programme.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 8,100 GBP

International (full-time) 15,800 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Humanities and Social Science in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • For some assessments you may be required to print large format posters for presentations at a cost of £5–£10 per poster.
  • Most coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £100 for printing.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies.
  • Some courses include an optional placement module for which students will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the placement and DBS checks as required.
  • For the Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling PGDip and Psychotherapeutic Psychodynamic Counselling PGDip, the following course-related costs are not included in the tuition fee:
    • Supervision fees: £1,170 for each full year. Estimated based on £45 per hour with fortnightly meetings. In some agencies, supervision will be provided at no cost. Where students have to pay, the cost will only begin when supervision begins.
    • Personal counselling/therapy: £2,000–£2,800 over the course. Estimated based on £40 per hour.
  • For a number of courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits. These are optional and are not required to pass your course but under normal circumstances we would expect a budget of approximately £150 per year will cover the costs of particular trips. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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