Programme Aims

The Master of Design Scheme contains four specialisms: Innovative Business Design (IBD), Intelligent Systems Design (ISD), Smart Service Design (SSD), and Transitional Environments Design (TED). Hong Kong, a world-class city, offers an international environment that blends Eastern and Western influences. Students study in English but explore the increasingly world-changing context of Chinese culture as they acquire interdisciplinary skills and cultural experiences that extend their creative, critical and analytical thinking abilities. Exploring aspects of interdisciplinary design across specialisms in line with global trends is highly encouraged within the Scheme. International and interdisciplinary faculty members prepare students to take charge of their future learning and development in the quickly changing world of design.

IBD for Innovative Business Design (Full-time)

IBP for Innovative Business Design (Part-time)

ISD for Intelligent Systems Design (Full-time)

ISP for Intelligent Systems Design (Part-time)

SSD for Smart Service Design (Full-time)

SSP for Smart Service Design (Part-time)

TED for Transitional Environments Design (Full-time)

TEP for Transitional Environments Design (Part-time)

计划目标 设计硕士课程包含四个专业：创新商业设计（IBD）、智能系统设计（ISD）、智能服务设计（SSD）和过渡环境设计（TED）。香港是一个世界级城市，提供了一个融合东西方影响的国际环境。学生用英语学习，但随着他们获得跨学科技能和文化经验，拓展他们的创造性、批判性和分析性思维能力，他们将探索中国文化日益变化的世界背景。在该计划中，高度鼓励根据全球趋势探索跨专业的跨学科设计。国际和跨学科的教师为学生做好准备，让他们在快速变化的设计世界中负责未来的学习和发展。

Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD)

The Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD) is an interdisciplinary specialism based on a design-centred entrepreneurship approach. Students apply integrative design thinking processes and methods to define business opportunities, configure resources and manage projects with dynamic capabilities in an era of digitalisation and business uncertainty.

设计硕士（创新商业设计）（IBD） 设计硕士（创新商业设计）（IBD）是基于以设计为中心的创业方法的跨学科专业。在数字化和商业不确定性的时代，学生应用综合设计思维过程和方法来定义商机、配置资源和管理具有动态能力的项目。

Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD)

The Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD) is an emerging specialism with interdisciplinarity at its core, based on the integration of intelligent technologies, system theories and innovative design approaches, bringing together professional knowledge in the areas of design and STEM. To achieve ‘transformative industrial innovation’, ISD aims at bolstering the most cutting-edge and competitive industries, enabled by advanced technologies and processes, such as AI, Industry 4.0, robotics, and AIoT (AI+IoT), through systemic design innovations.

设计硕士（智能系统设计）（ISD） 设计硕士（智能系统设计）（ISD）是一门新兴的专业，以跨学科为核心，基于智能技术、系统理论和创新设计方法的融合，汇集了设计和STEM领域的专业知识。为了实现“变革性工业创新”，ISD旨在通过系统设计创新，支持先进技术和流程（如AI、工业4.0、机器人和AIoT（AI+IoT））支持的最尖端和最具竞争力的行业。

Master of Design (Smart Service Design) (SSD)

The Master of Design (Smart Service Design) (SSD) is an interdisciplinary specialism focusing on designing at the intersection of business, technology, and human ingenuity to create meaningful service interventions for broader societal and business challenges. This specialism expands the scope of design beyond the current commercialised and compartmentalised professional practices by orienting it towards the ‘socio-technical dimension of design’, taking a critical, systemic and human-centred perspective within the context of service design.

设计硕士（智能服务设计）（SSD） 设计硕士（智能服务设计）（SSD）是一个跨学科专业，专注于在商业、技术和人类智慧的交叉点进行设计，为更广泛的社会和商业挑战创造有意义的服务干预。这种专业化将设计的范围扩展到当前商业化和条块化的专业实践之外，将其定位于“设计的社会技术层面”，在服务设计的背景下采取批判性、系统性和以人为本的观点。

 Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design) (TED)

The Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design) (TED) is a specialism developed in response to the unprecedented rural and urban changes that have occurred during the last few decades in Hong Kong and Mainland China. TED aims to develop students’ intellectual and practical mastery of the analysis and design of diverse rural and urban environments in the region, with broader implications for global contexts. The approach of this specialism is based on an understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics of the regional context, transformed into new design strategies and design interventions.

设计硕士（过渡环境设计）（TED） 设计硕士（过渡环境设计）（TED）是为了应对过去几十年来香港和中国大陆发生的前所未有的农村和城市变化而发展起来的一门专业。TED旨在培养学生对该地区不同农村和城市环境的分析和设计的知识和实践能力，并对全球环境产生更广泛的影响。这种专业化的方法基于对区域环境的社会文化动态的理解，并转化为新的设计策略和设计干预。

Curriculum of Master of Design Scheme

The four specialisms within the Master of Design Scheme have a common curriculum, with a normal study duration of one academic year (three semesters, including the Summer Term). Students are required to attain a total of 36 credits from the subject categories below:

• 6 credits in "Compulsory Common" subjects;
• 15 credits in "Compulsory Specialism" subjects; and
• 15 credits in Elective subjects.

For full-time students, the normal duration is 1 year; for part-time students, the normal duration is 3 years. A full-time study load is 36 credits in a year; a part-time study load is 6 – 9 credits in a compulsory semester (Semester 1 and 2).

All specialisms begin with a 'Compulsory Common' subject, Research and Analysis for Design, followed by elective subjects to enhance students' individual profiles and experiences. Students then focus on their Studios and Lab Studies specialism subjects. In the final stage of the study, all specialisms conclude with a 'Compulsory Common' subject, Research and Academic Writing, together with a specialism Capstone Project or Industry Research Project, which synthesise students' learning.

Full-time and part-time students follow the same timetable and attend classes together. Classes are normally held during the daytime on weekdays. Please see below for the core areas of study in different specialisms.

Core Areas of Study by Individual Specialism

Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD)

The programme begins with subjects in which IBD students formulate a knowledge foundation in their focal domain, identify appropriate directions for further development, and develop skills in multidisciplinary collaborations.

In the second stage of the study, students will learn the core knowledge of Innovate with Lifestyle and Culture and Design for Transformation with a holistic view of design's value in the new business context created by human-centred design thinking and new technologies.

The final stage is for students' self-reflection and career preparation. Every student should have completed three projects by the end of this programme, i.e., an interdisciplinary project, a theme-based project and an entrepreneurial project.

Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD)

The ISD comprises a series of intensively taught subjects that directly support the ISD Studios and Lab Studies specialism subjects.

• The ISD Studios subjects take various forms, from individual work to teamwork, and from self-initiated to externally sponsored projects.
• The Lab Studies subjects provide a unique platform for students to gain exposure to ‘real-world’ research projects; to familiarise themselves with lab equipment (which is normally more research-oriented, technologically advanced and hands-on than classroom teaching materials); and to work with established and experienced researchers in the field.

In addition, a range of elective subjects is available to enable students to tailor their learning experience based on their individual interests. Students are expected to be fully committed to their studies and to work well in a studio environment.

The specialism concludes with an Industry Research Project that unites research, industry collaboration, social investigation, creative exploration, user understanding and prototype testing to provide solutions to the chosen project.

Master of Design (Smart Service Design) (SSD)

The programme begins with subjects that offer foundational knowledge of service design and advanced research skills through a combination of lectures, studios and multidisciplinary project collaboration.

The programme is followed by subjects that provide a detailed and analytical perspective on the latest socio-technical developments that have an impact on the service economy. The Studios and Lab Studies subjects articulate diverse perspectives on service factors and service design approaches that students can use to evaluate, transform and create future services in the service sector.

The final stage of the study is where knowledge, skills and practice integrate through either a self-directed or an industry-sponsored project in each student's area of interest. A Capstone Project, which is a significant and integrative final service project, synthesises students' learning in a real-world setting.

Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design) (TED)

TED comprises intensively taught short courses that directly support workshop investigation. The studios and workshops take various forms, from individual work to teamwork, and from self-initiated to externally sponsored projects. A range of elective subjects is available to enable students to tailor their experiences to their individual interests. Students are expected to be fully committed to the programme and to work well in the studio environment. The specialism concludes with a Capstone Project that unites research, creative exploration, user understanding and prototype testing to provide a solution to the chosen project.

HK$5,600 per credit for local students

HK$5,900 per credit for non-local students

Merit-based Entry Scholarships

The Master of Design (MDes) is offering two entry scholarship schemes to outstanding non-local creative talent to further their studies in Hong Kong. The scholarship programmes are part of the MDes' new vision to develop proactive leaders and game changers for the future of industries. International Excellence Scholarship (IES) and Top Universities Scheme (TUS) are the two scholarship programmes, with 50% and 15% tuition scholarships valued at HK$106,200 and HK$31,860, respectively. For details, please visit the School website.

Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme

A total of 26 fellowships shall be awarded to local students. Please click here for details.

PolyU reserves the right to change or withdraw the scholarship/fellowship at any time. In case of any dispute/disagreement, PolyU’s decision is final.

Common admission requirements

A standard recruitment and intake procedure is conducted to help advise students on the appropriateness of particular specialisms to their personal and career development. Applicants for individual specialisms, however, must also undertake specialism-specific interviews and meet some specialism-specific requirements (see below). Applicants are required to indicate their choice of specialism upon application.

If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University's minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details. Applicants are normally also required to demonstrate oral competence in English by means of an interview.

Specialism-specific requirements

Master of Design (Innovative Business Design)

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in design, business, humanities, or a technological field is required, preferably along with two years of relevant professional experience. 
• Candidates with other tertiary qualifications and substantial relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Portfolios of professional work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read "Additional Documents Required", which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.

Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design)

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in design, STEM, or a related discipline, e.g. communication, psychology, or anthropology, is required. 
• Candidates with other tertiary qualifications complemented by substantial relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Portfolios of professional work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read "Additional Documents Required", which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.

Master of Design (Smart Service Design)

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in design, business, humanities, or a technological field is required. 
• Candidates with other tertiary qualifications complemented by substantial relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Portfolios of professional work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read "Additional Documents Required", which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.

Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design)

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in spatial design, architecture, landscape design, or urban and rural design, or a related discipline is required. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related discipline, e.g. environmental studies, ecology, or urban studies, will also be considered.
• Candidates with other tertiary qualifications complemented by substantial relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Portfolios of professional work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read "Additional Documents Required", which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.

Other Information

Notes to Applicants

1. Before applying, read through the following sections on the School’s website:
2. - FAQ: admission process, portfolio submission and requirements
3. - Admission Events: meet our faculty and students
4. - Employers of MDes graduates: list of companies and organisations at which our full-time graduates have secured jobs
5.  
6. Ideally, you should provide your IELTS or TOEFL report at the time when you submit your application. Otherwise, please indicate the date when your results will become available. Applications without a satisfactory English test score or availability date may not be reviewed. Please do not post your IELTS or TOEFL report to the School.
7.  
8. If you are currently in your final-year study, you must provide a transcript showing your academic records up to your most recent semester. Certification of your GPA/average score is needed if this information is not shown on your transcript.
9.  
10. Read the Academic Registry's "Guide to Application Submission for Taught Postgraduate Programmes" and ensure that all relevant fields are filled out, even if you have already provided your CV. Failure to do so will cause your application to be handled as an incomplete application. We encourage applicants to provide full details of their post-secondary qualifications, together with previous and/or current employment. This information and corresponding evidence submitted via eAdmission is used for assessing whether an application meets the entrance requirements. Incomplete applications cannot be processed promptly.
11.  
12. Admission places for each programme are limited; early applications to Early Round and Round 1 are advantaged.
13.  
14. The School reviews applications in several admissions rounds and makes decisions on a rolling basis from mid-February 2023.

Additional Documents Required

Employer's Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation

Requirement and Format

Two letters of recommendation are required, preferably one related to academic qualifications and the other to work experience. If you are in your final-year study, you could consider asking your internship supervisor/team leader for a recommendation letter. In other cases, two academic recommendations are acceptable.

Recommendations should be provided on official letterheaded paper with the recommender's name, affiliation, contact details, and signature.

Note that certification of employment is not the same as a letter of recommendation. Recommendations written specifically for admission purposes are preferred over generic reference letters.

Submission

Letters of recommendation are to be uploaded to the corresponding sections on eAdmission.

Combine multiple PDFs of academic recommendations, transcripts, and certificates from the same institution into one PDF document and upload the file according to the specific academic qualification in the "Post-secondary Qualification" section.

Work recommendations are to be uploaded according to the specific previous/current employment in the "Employment" section.

Personal Statement

A Personal Statement is similar to a cover letter for your application, addressed to the admission committee. The purpose of this page-long written statement is to convince the admission committee that you would be a good fit for the programme and contribute to the MDes community at large. You may provide an overview of your goals in applying, background, experience, research interests, career goals, and aspirations.

Transcript / Certificate

Academic Transcripts and Certificates

Evidence of your academic qualifications, i.e. full official transcripts and explanatory notes (usually printed on the back of the transcripts), and degree certificates, including the accompanying graduation statement or diploma supplement (if applicable).

For holders of academic qualifications from Mainland China, the evidence must include your Academic Credential (毕业证书), Degree Certificate (学士学位证书), and GPA certification letter or average score and notes explaining the grading system(s) (课程绩点与等级换算关系表).

Documents not issued in English must be accompanied by certified, literal English translations. We must have your transcripts and certificates in both your native language and in English to evaluate your qualifications. We do not require applicants' original documents at the application stage. Readable scans of original documents will suffice.

Others

Design Portfolio

Guidance Notes

A portfolio is required for all applicants to all MDes Specialisms, namely Innovative Business Design (IBD), Intelligent Systems Design (ISD), Smart Service Design (SSD), and Transitional Environments Design (TED). Please read the below General Requirements and Specialism Specific Requirements.

General Requirements

The content of your portfolio may include the most advanced design work you have done. We are interested in the process of concept development in self-initiated, experimental and commercial work. Samples of work should be accompanied by succinct descriptions where needed.

Please include your CV, and a maximum of five (5) best projects in your portfolio.

The portfolio submission should be based on a high standard of undergraduate work (especially the final-year work or advanced professional work of an equivalent level) as reflected in your portfolio. Your work is required to demonstrate a level of maturity and readiness to undertake a higher degree in design.

Upon entry to any of the Master of Design (MDes) programmes, you should be able to demonstrate:

1. prior experience and knowledge indicating the potential to achieve the competency for the MDes;

2. the potential to benefit from and contribute to the programme to which you are applying; and

3. enthusiasm and aptitude to confront various challenges in your targeted Specialism or field. 

Indicate your project references (name and organisation) whenever possible. State the project type, i.e. individual or group projects. For group projects, you must clearly specify your role in the creative process.

The organisation and appearance of your portfolio should be of a professional standard.

Those with a non-design background may present design-related projects with clear research and design processes or other projects related to making, innovation or even invention. The portfolio may include concepts, idea sketches, plans, experiments, testing data, and processes related to the above. 

IBD Specialism Portfolio Requirements

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio. Your portfolio is a compilation of your interests, beliefs, skills, qualifications, education, training, and experience. It provides us with insight into your personality and work ethic. 

For applicants with an academic qualification in the field of design, you should prepare a design portfolio with the following items:

• three (3) most representative design/business/innovative projects;
• a maximum of two (2) recent design or innovative projects from the past two years;
• indicating the process of defining the problems, concept development, final solutions, and any validation in each showcased project;
• evidence of your domain skills and knowledge, with the information about the date, nature and your role in the work; and
• any design-related awards or public/professional recognitions.

For applicants with an academic qualification in business, humanities, or a technological field, you should prepare a self-introduction presentation including the following items:

• your most relevant experiences to convey your organisational, communication, and tangible career-related skills;
• a work philosophy where you briefly describe your beliefs about yourself and the industry;
• your career goals for the next five years; and
• examples of work efforts and projects demonstrating your skills and work experience.

ISD Specialism Portfolio Requirements

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio of work to be assessed by the ISD team. The portfolio should evidence: 

• the excellence of your current expertise, study area or professional activities in the fields of intelligent design and/or systemic design, including but not limited to, interaction design, experience design, product design (with intelligent components or systemic approach), or innovative design;
• your interest or ability in the fields of innovation, design, technology, and engineering; and
• your creative problem-solving abilities or relevant personal interests.

SSD Specialism Portfolio Requirements

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio that showcases design-related works made up of images, videos or writing samples that will be assessed by the SSD team. The portfolio should show your ability, motivation, and potential capacity by including:

• a minimum of three (3) most representative projects not limited to a single design domain but wide ranges from communication design, product design, experience design, business/ strategic design, as well as computing or other technological disciplines with services and service system design;
• clearly articulated process of problem framing, concept development, and final solution design that shows an intellectual engagement with the work;
• evidence of having both technical skills and knowledge with creativity and innovation; and
• personal motivations, interests or aspiration that are appropriate to the work.

TED Specialism Portfolio Requirements

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio.

For applicants with an academic qualification in spatial design, your portfolio should include urban environments projects of multiple scales and typologies, demonstrating your conceptual and technical skills in analysing and designing hybrid and composite spaces.

For applicants with an academic qualification in other related disciplines, your portfolio may be supplemented with a presentation of your research and studies on transitional and environmental challenges in cities and sustainable futures.

Format and Submission

Files:

- Via PolyU eAdmission – prepare your file in PDF format under 5 MB and upload to "Additional Document". A maximum of one file is allowed.

- Via MDes submission platform – if your file is larger than 5 MB, you may submit it via the School's MDes submission platform. Before we can set up your account on this platform, your application fee must have been settled and your payment status must have been updated to "paid". This will allow your application to be released to the School of Design from the Academic Registry. After that, we can set up your account manually during office hours from Monday to Friday. Please do not submit your application until you have provided all relevant information and documents via eAdmission. After submission, applicants can only make limited amendments by themselves.

Link:

- Via MDes submission platform – indicate the Web address to view it in the "Personal Website" field. We expect to be able to view your portfolio online, i.e. without needing to download the file to a local computer.

During the application period, the School reviews applications in several admissions rounds, as follows: Early Round: December 9, 2022; Round 1: February 3, 2023; Round 2: March 17, 2023; Round 3: April 30, 2023.

Career Prospects

MDes graduates are well equipped for professional success in their chosen fields. Whether working in-house or for design firms, they excel in a wide range of design areas, such as product design, interaction design, spatial design and branding. Some broaden their professional fields and take up roles in project management, consulting, research and teaching. Others run their own design firms.

Industries that hire our graduates include fashion, retail, hospitality, financial services, healthcare, toys, consumer electronics, information technologies, advertising, research and development, higher education and the public service. Visit our website for a list of companies and organisations at which our full-time graduates have secured positions.

Non-local graduates (non-local students who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally accredited programme in Hong Kong) may apply to stay in or return to Hong Kong and work under the ‘Immigration Arrangements for Non-Local Graduates’ (IANG) scheme. Successful IANG applicants may be granted 12 months’ leave to stay, with the only limit being the time (no other conditions of stay apply), provided that normal immigration requirements are met, regardless of the term of employment.

职业前景 医学博士毕业生具备在所选领域取得专业成功的条件。无论是在内部工作还是为设计公司工作，他们都擅长广泛的设计领域，如产品设计、交互设计、空间设计和品牌。一些人拓宽了自己的专业领域，在项目管理、咨询、研究和教学中发挥作用。其他人经营自己的设计公司。 雇佣我们毕业生的行业包括时尚、零售、酒店、金融服务、医疗保健、玩具、消费电子、信息技术、广告、研发、高等教育和公共服务。访问我们的网站，查看我们的全职毕业生获得职位的公司和组织列表。 非本地毕业生（在香港全日制和本地认可的课程中获得本科或以上学历的非本地学生）可以申请留在或返回香港，并根据“非本地毕业生移民安排”（IANG）计划工作。成功的IANG申请人可以获得12个月的居留假，唯一的限制是时间（不适用其他居留条件），前提是满足正常的移民要求，无论雇佣期限如何。

English Language Requirement

If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the following minimum English language requirement for admission purpose, unless otherwise specified by individual programmes concerned:

• A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 for the Internet-based test or 550 for the paper-based test;
• OR
• An overall Band Score of at least 6 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).