Master of Arts in Design Innovation

at De Montfort University United Kingdom

Our programme is diverse, international in focus and innovative. We will teach you the skills for effective research and analysis, helping to hone your ability to absorb, communicate and critically analyse complex information.

Reflecting the globalised world we live in, the History curriculum covers a wide range of modern and contemporary European and non-European histories, exploring topics such as colonialism, decolonisation, immigration, ethnic minorities, racism and gender.

You will also gain an understanding of the role politics plays at local, national and global levels and explore the crucial issues in contemporary international politics that are impacting our world. Our research-informed curriculum provides both the practical tools and the theoretical knowledge to understand a wide range of political issues and respond to the current social, political and economic challenges.

As you progress through the course, we’ll challenge you with more in-depth explorations, and the subject matter will become increasingly complex. You can choose to specialise in either History, Politics or International Relations. You’ll be supported by a passionate teaching team who provide a dynamic learning environment and whose national and international expertise is embedded within the curriculum.

English Language with Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is a stimulating, thought-provoking course designed to make you think about how language functions in the world today.

English Language with TESOL at DMU allows you to combine the study of English Language with the key theoretical and practical issues involved in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

The course is designed to enable you to develop your own ability to teach English to non-native speakers whilst enabling you to think about how language in general and English in particular functions in the world today. You will study linguistics, grammar, the evolution of the English language and a variety of writing styles, while also exploring the theory of how to teach English as a second language. You will acquire skills in the analysis of digital communication and the study of language through the application of digital tools and methodologies.

You will develop a set of linguistic and analytical skills, which will help you become a highly-skilled communicator and prepare you for a range of careers.

Our Marketing BA course will provide you with an in-depth understanding of all areas of contemporary marketing and how that fits into the wider business function and society.

You’ll learn how to select and apply appropriate methods and techniques to develop marketing solutions to challenges faced by some of the biggest companies in the world.

You will study emerging trends and gain real-world experiences through our partnerships with award winning digital marketing agencies giving you the opportunity to develop the necessary skills and attributes to succeed in a professional marketing position.

You can also expect to develop knowledge of the range of marketing disciplines, the relationships between them and their application to practice. For instance, you’ll apply knowledge of customers, markets, brands, market research and marketing strategy to propose, justify and implement effective marketing solutions. Which ultimately will enhance your skills, knowledge and behaviours to help you contribute to the development of a just, peaceful and sustainable world.

The course offers diversity in the range of study, from international relations theory to regional integration. Through studying international relations alongside economics, you will develop a critical awareness of the role of economic policies in shaping global issues, and gain the skills to help shape organisational responses to changes in the business and organisational environment.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and how it shapes and influences our behaviour. On this course, we explore human behaviour using sound scientific methodology – observation, measurement, and testing – to understand how and why people function in the way they do.

Gaining a professionally accredited psychology degree is an essential first step to a career as a psychologist or to move on to postgraduate study. Our graduates thrive in careers where an understanding of societal issues is key – in criminal justice, education, social work, research, advertising, human resources and healthcare.

On the course you’ll study core areas including biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology, and you’ll cover personality and intelligence, research methods, and historical perspectives. You’ll also complete a work experience placement where you’ll see academic theory applied in practice.

Our course encompasses two distinct practical themes - concept art and comic art, both of which focus on fundamental, traditional art skills and contemporary digital techniques.

In concept art you will be helped to master a range of industry-focused tools and techniques for developing pre-production, production and post-production art for the film and video game industries. In comic art you will develop a practical understanding of idea generation, visual storytelling and visual communication.

These two themes mean you will access a wide range of creative possibilities and opportunities. They are underpinned by contextual studies to inform and enhance your practice through an exploration of the historical, cultural and social contexts of the wider world of print and web-based comic arts, graphic novels and visual communication.

The course features regular guest lectures and workshops, giving you an opportunity to experience first-hand what it takes to design successful content. Our studio culture encourages peer collaboration and networking with industry professionals to support you as you create your portfolio.

You will be able to develop skills in your own special interests and graduate as a skilled comic and concept artist, ready to work in a range of roles across the creative industries.

Computational Intelligence (CI) encompasses the techniques and methods used to tackle problems that traditional approaches to computing struggle to solve. The four areas of fuzzy logic, neural networks, CI optimisation and knowledge-based systems encompass much of what is considered to be computational (or artificial) intelligence. There are also opportunities to apply what you learn in areas such as robot control and games development, depending on your interests.

You can choose from a number of specialist modules including natural language processing, artificial neural networks and data mining techniques, while developing your skills in our dedicated robotics laboratory, equipped with a variety of mobile robots. The applied computational intelligence module considers knowledge-based systems, as well as the historical, philosophical and future implications of AI, and focuses on current research and applications in the area.   

Intellectually and artistically demanding, this course offers daily dance classes in contemporary techniques, ballet for contemporary dancers, fusion (street, urban, hip-hop), improvisation and African principles.

Alongside developing an outstanding dance technique, you will acquire critical thinking, technical and artistic skills to prepare you for a range of dance-related careers. With a diverse and inclusive approach, the curriculum explores themes at the forefront of today’s industry and you can choose to specialise in areas such as education, choreography and creative media.

We have strong industry links, providing opportunities to engage with national and international organisations, work with local community groups and hear from visiting lecturers and artists. Employability and performance opportunities are embedded throughout the curriculum, with flexibility for you to develop your skills and personal interests towards your career aspirations. You will also benefit from great facilities that have contributed to DMU being recognised as a Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts, reflecting our commitment to innovative and excellent teaching and learning.

The Criminology with Psychology degree examines the causes, legal framework and responses to crime, combined with the study of psychology.

Students will cover a range of material to develop a holistic appreciation of criminal justice matters. For example, whilst students will explore a range of theoretical perspectives on causes of crime and philosophical justifications of punishment, they will also develop a solid understanding of how the criminal justice system works in practice. We encourage our students to develop as critical thinkers engaging with the world around them and preparing them for life after university.

The majority of this course is led by the Criminology team and so is suited to those with a predominant interest in society as a whole – please see the module breakdown for more detail.

Studying Politics and International Relations at DMU offers students a dynamic experience, ranging from understanding theoretical ideas that underpin the way the world works to experiences beyond the classroom and engaging with real-world projects. This vibrant course will develop your understanding of political events and processes and the skills to use your knowledge in real-world settings. A strong focus on student-centred learning allows individuals to flourish in a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment. Group projects, individual tasks, simulation games, book reviews, and much more make up the diverse portfolio of assessments students can choose from on this course.

After a common core of modules that challenge you to think about politics from the local to the global, you will have the opportunity to follow one of two pathways specialising in politics or International Relations.

On the Politics pathway, you can take modules that deal with British Politics beyond Westminster, the politics of the Americas, race, identity and class in the City and the politics of sustainable futures. On the International Relations pathway, you will focus on global inequalities and development, security and peace issues and international crisis management. All students have the chance to undertake a final project on a subject of their own choice.