MDes Social Innovation

Programme specification

The part-time Masters’ programme at Ravensbourne University London accommodates the needs of working professionals and international students wanting to study remotely. The two year part-time programme includes:

• Course content made up of five interrelated Units culminating in an individual research project
• Practice-based workshops delivered in person on site
• A work-based project in the second year of the course that will position you at the leading edge of strategic design thinking and professional practice
• A series of Symposia and public facing events attracting international delegates and open to the public
• The culmination of your postgraduate degree with a curated Festival of Ideas

Part-time postgraduate courses are delivered through both online and face-to-face sessions supporting students learning both remotely and on campus. Coursework includes group projects, online discussion forums, and contributions from guest lecturers and leading practitioners in the fields of design, social innovation, business development, brand innovation and technology. Mentoring and working on live briefs are key elements of the part-time course as are opportunities to apply action research within a specific work setting.

Part-time teaching timetabling details can be found here

We also offer intensive on-campus ‘residencies’, consisting of two full modules that take place in each of the two summer terms. Part-time students have the option to attend these sessions and activities on campus at the Institute for Creativity and Technology on the North Greenwich Peninsula in London.

All courses and class materials are accessible and assistance is available for students with English as a second language, and for those experiencing other challenges for learning and coursework.

Home/EU

First or second-class honours degree 2:1 or 2:2 (or equivalent non-UK qualifications) in a relevant subject, or an equivalent professional qualification in a related subject.

If you are applying directly from an undergraduate degree course without experience or professional practice, you must be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of your chosen subject area.

Non-EEA/EU

In order to be eligible for a course, you will need to be a competent speaker and writer of English. This applies whether you are from the European Union or a country outside of the EU. You need to provide us with an IELTS or equivalent English language qualification, which demonstrates a minimum of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub test) or CEFR Level B2 in each component.

If you are applying as a Tier 4 student, please read the English Language requirements  or contact [email protected] for more information.

Learn more: entry requirements per country

Applications are welcome from those with a wide range of backgrounds and experience, including part-time students who may not necessarily possess formal academic qualifications. It is important that applicants can demonstrate an aptitude for learning and continued professional development through a research-led approach. 

Applicants will be assessed at interview in accordance with Ravensbourne’s Accreditation of Prior Learning Policy and Procedure.

Whether you are a UK resident or a non-EEA/EU national, you will need to apply directly to Ravensbourne via our Online Applicant Portal. Each course and mode option has a unique link to apply. 

Simply select and click your chosen start date and mode via the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate page inside the portal. 

Learn more: how to apply for a postgraduate course

We want to know why you chose the UK as your study destination, what attracted you to Ravensbourne and the course, and how it relates to or fits in with your plans for the future. We love to hear people's motivations and aspirations, so please make your personal statement, 'personal'.

Using a minimum of 500 words, please use your personal statement to explain:

1. Why you chose the UK as your study destination (if you are an international student)
2. What attracted you to Ravensbourne University London and the specific course you are applying for
3. Your experiences and interests
4. What you hope to gain from the course
5. What you hope to do after graduating
6. Any relevant work experience

There are no portfolio requirements for this master's course. To prepare for your academic interview, please make sure you review your portfolio, CV, and personal statement. It is important that you know why you would like to study the course / programme and how this course can benefit you in the future. It is also worth doing researching a current industry that inspired you to do this course. Lastly, you should think about your aims or your area for research in both theory and practice if accepted on the Master's course. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask questions that you may have about the course.

This MDes Social Innovation course in London, UK, is ideal for those interested in learning how to succeed in: 

• Campaigning 
• Social action 
• Community organising 
• Charities and NGOs 
• Corporate social responsibility 
• Innovation and transformation leads 
• Digital innovation 
• Organisational change and development 
• Social entrepreneurship 
• Diversity and inclusion 

Common job titles  include:

• Head of Innovation 
• Head of Diversity and Inclusion 
• Head of Campaigns 
• Head of Corporate Social Responsibility 
• Head of Community Engagement 

You can’t learn in a vacuum, which is why industry connection is ingrained into everything we do. Ravensbourne University London will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries. Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links, while our suite of postgraduate courses has been designed with industry, for industry.

You will be part of a diverse community of creatives, working collaboratively to explore new professional practices. Ravensbourne have strong industry links with a range of high-profile companies, including: Apple, Barclays, the BBC, European Space Agency, Marks & Spencer, Museum of London, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Samsung and many more.

“The course gave me a firm foundation into design thinking. This is intrinsic to how government should be designing policies and services for the citizen and is a style of thinking that is just starting to emerge.” Tim King, Cabinet Office, UK Government

“The course offered me the best possible training to face the outside world. Now working as an insight/innovation strategist within a brand and design agency, I am able to communicate effectively with clients and creatives, understanding challenges and developing effective strategy.” Riccardo Trevisani, FutureBrand

“Since completing the MDes in Service Design I have worked as Design Lead in Cabinet Office policy team and now a User Researcher at the Government Digital Service. I'm certain both these would have remained as dreams had I not completed the MDes at Ravensbourne.” Polly Gannaway, Government Digital Services

"The course broadened my horizons and gave me a better appreciation on what defines me as a designer. It allowed me to learn from very practical project-based work and, as a result, become more aware of the value that creative professionals can bring to managing today’s business." Caterina Conte Luque, Claro Partners, Barcelona

“Studying the MDes certainly generated a great deal of debate, questioning and research. In fact, the more I learned about the concept of design, the more it became a conundrum constantly shaped by aspects of online and globalisation. I learned a lot about people management, design and methodology." Ashley Vu, Tiffany & Co

"The MDes has helped me start my design career and was an amazing course to come and learn about design. It has given me so much confidence to go out into the real world and test different approaches and ways of thinking. This eventually helped me join IBM, where I contribute to their worldwide design thinking journey." Richard McMurray, IBM

"The MDes course was fantastic at helping me experiment and play with ways of designing services and new approaches to addressing social issues. Collaborating with other creatives helped me question and build my own design approach which has been essential to developing my career." Ben Norsworthy, National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA)

*All quotes from students who studied MDes Service Design, Social Innovation and Design Leadership (the predecessor of this course, which has now split into two entities)

Incubation+

Incubation+ is a collaborative community of Ravensbourne graduates, local businesses and professional partners bringing new entrepreneurial business ideas, services and products to market. Incubation+ supports an ecosystem of small creative and tech start-up companies with specialist business support and mentoring from local and national experts. Providing access to funding through a pool of specialist funders.

EventsHub

The EventsHub is a flexible space designed to house various industry-facing lectures, presentations, events, launches, promotions, showcases, exhibitions and short courses for Ravensbourne, the local community and across the Design District. 

TheWorkshop

The Institute’s prototyping facilities are designed to enable and support experimentation and exploration of materials and making through hi-tech, lo-tech and no-tech facilities. This includes 3D printing, large-format digital print, laser cutting and vacuum forming, Arduino and Raspberry Pi coding and workshop hand-tools. 

CreativeLab

CreativeLab is Ravensbourne’s own in-house design and media production studio. Working across creative commercial projects, not-for-profit third-sector briefs and internal design and content requirements, CreativeLab combines professional design expertise with employment opportunities on projects for our students and graduates.

Learn more: The Institute for Creativity and Technology

For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England,  language and entry requirements, application requirements and access to international agents, please visit our international section.

Quick links:

• How to apply
• Student route visa admissions
• International Education Agents
• Visas and immigration
• Student Route visa CAS deposit & fee refund
• International student FAQs

If you have any questions, we'd love to hear from you. 

Get in touch with a member of our admissions team:

T: +44 (0) 20 3040 3998

E: [email protected]

If you have specific queries about being an international student, contact [email protected]

For general information, call +44 (0) 20 3040 3500

You can also chat to our students 

Find specialist information hubs for:

• Prospective students
• International students
• Students with a disability
• Parents and guardians