Design (Lighting)

MA / MDes Full time

Course Overview

UCAS code:
Duration: 3 trimesters
Study type: Full Time
Napier code: 54756MM

This forward-thinking and flexible course suite embraces the increasingly trans-disciplinary activities of the design profession and contemporary creative practice. It also allows you to refine and enhance your skills within a specific design discipline. At the beginning of your course, you will develop and apply a range of research methods to redefine your own design practice and creative outlook. In later modules, you will develop specific design skills to inform and enable highly developed outcomes in your self-directed major project work

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This forward thinking and flexible programme is part of a disciplinary suite embracing the increasingly trans-disciplinary activities of the design profession and contemporary creative practice, while concurrently allowing you to refine and enhance skills within lighting design and light art installations.

At the outset of the programme you will develop and apply a range of research methods in redefining your own design practice and creative outlook. You will further develop specific skills for spatial lighting design and light art & projection which will inform and enable highly developed outcomes in your self-directed major project work. This will also allow you to collaborate and make professional contacts with practitioners from other areas, including Design & Digital Arts and those in the School of Engineering and Built Environment. You also have the option of taking an MA or MDes award, depending on whether you complete a dissertation or design project report in trimester 3.

The two part major project allows you to create and develop design outcomes within your own area of interest and further enhance and apply your subject specific skills and knowledge.

We have a strong studio culture supported by our multidisciplinary staff team of academics and industry based practitioners. You will be able to develop creative, professional, strategic and contextual knowledge and skills and apply design thinking to a range of creative outcomes and design interventions.

This course will advance your knowledge and skills in design research methods, spatial lighting design, light art & projection and related software and develop new professional skills to a high level. You’ll be able to deal with complex issues within lighting, make informed judgements and communicate your conclusions clearly to professional audiences. You will also gain transferable skills in problem solving, planning, leadership, team work and time management.

  • Spatial Lighting Design
  • Museum and Exhibition Design
  • Light Art
  • Interior and Spatial Design
  • Urban Design

What's it like?

Design is everything. Everything!

Career prospects

We are one of the top universities in Scotland for graduate employability, with over 93% of our graduates in jobs or further study six months after graduating.

The skills you gain will prepare you for work in a number of design and creative disciplines. If you already work in design and the creative industries, you can expect advanced personal development and career progression. The qualification also provides a platform for further research and PhD study and a further academic career.

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What's involved

Modular learning

Our courses are structured by modules which gives our students a flexible learning programme. Modules covered by this course:

On offer

Campus life

World class facilities


Why I chose Napier

Requirements at a glance

Entry to the course

International students

Full-time study (per year)

The fees listed are stated per annum.

Part-time study (per year)

The fees listed are stated per annum.

Part-time study

The number of modules studied is dependent on the exit that you wish to achieve, for example:

  • A Grad Cert is 60 Credits (3 modules)
  • A Cert HE/Grad Dip/ HND is 120 credits (6 modules)
  • A Dip HE credit is 240 credits (12 modules)
  • A Degree is 360 credits (18 modules)
  • An Honours Degree is 480 credits

Please note that some part-time courses give modular exemptions for previous study and vocational experience. Advice is available during application.

Fees Table

Fees displayed are correct at the time of publication but the University Court reserves the right to make changes in fees at any time, and without notice, before or after the student's admission to the University.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and will rise each year during your programme of study, at least in line with inflation.

Funding your study

We have a selection of funding opportunities available such as the UK postgraduate tuition fee loan (Scottish & EU) and specific scholarships aimed at student from India and across Africa. Visit our funding pages to find out what you could be eligible for.

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