The Master’s Degree Curriculum

The central feature of the Master’s Degree in Design is the division into a Major and Minor study. The Major study will be completed in one of the five «Fields of Excellence». These represent disciplines with themed study programmes providing in-depth study in specialist professional areas. According to each Field of Excellence, studying in the Major is composed of seminars and workshops, or individual mentoring. The theory-oriented Minor provides additional competences in terms of methodology and knowledge base in order to develop the theoretical part of the master thesis.

Master of Arts in Design 90 ECTS	1. Semester	2. Semester	3. Semester
Major 65 ECTS	18 ECTS	22 ECTS	25 ECTS
Fields of Excellence - Event - Interaction - Communication - Products - Trends
Minor 25 ECTS	12 ECTS	8 ECTS	5 ECTS

Major study

The major study is characterized by the technical project work in the selected Field of Excellence. This is largely based on an individual intention and theme interpretation, as well as an independent and reflective approach. Integral part of the course is the acquisition and application of research methods and reflective practice for one’s own master project. Students can work on topics on their own or in collaboration with research and industry partners. The department’s own Institute for Design Research (IDE) also offers an agenda.

See advertised project proposals

Minor study

THIS INFORMATION IS BEEING UPDATED. SEE GERMAN VERSION.

3 semesters programme – 90 ECTS credits

The three-semester, 90 ECTS programme requires you to define projects and to manage your own course of study. A maximum of one semester can be spent at another foreign university that is compatible with the Master’s programme at ZHdK. The personal work in the Master environment promotes in-depth professional dialogue with fellow students and lecturers. An extensive infrastructure of laboratories, workshops and media complement the study with room for experiments and realizations.

You are encouraged during your course of studies to engage in an active dialogue with teaching and research faculty about your work and to participate in the courses and projects on offer. In particular, we also want to encourage you to make use of competences in the Fields of Excellence beyond your chosen discipline, crafting your own distinctive and individual biography of studies.

You will graduate with a Master thesis. This consists of a research-oriented and practical design work whose complexity and quality will stand up to international comparison. You will receive the internationally recognised and protected title «Master of Arts in Design».

Information about the Specific Study Regulations of the Master of Arts in Design (BSO) www.zhdk.ch

For current semester dates please visit www.zhdk.ch