Key information
The Pre-Master Graduate Diploma in Design is a one-year programme designed to prepare you for postgraduate taught study, in a learning environment that's been specifically created for you to thrive in.
- Level
- Postgraduate Taught
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- Graduate Diploma
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 1 year
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
The Graduate Diploma provides you with a blend of English language and academic skills set within a discipline context focused on your chosen specialism. Its primary aim is to ensure you are prepared for the demand of study at Masters level, by equipping you with the appropriate English competencies, personal effectiveness and study skills needed for postgraduate studies. You will also be provided with the necessary discipline-specific prior knowledge for your chosen Masters programme.
Upon completion, you will have the opportunity to advance your studies in a selection of design-related Masters programmes. Our Masters degrees are tailored to ensure you have the skills and knowledge to enter the workplace and perform at a high level right away. Most of our postgraduate degrees will give you the chance to work on live projects with global brands that will ensure your CV stands out once you've graduated.
Masters Progression
Completion of this course will get you onto the following postgraduate programmes:
- Design Management, MSc
- Digital Design and Innovation, MA
- Fashion and Textiles Design, MA
- Fashion and Textiles Design with Industry Placement, MA
- Fashion and Textiles Management, MSc
- Interior Architecture and Design, MA
The Heriot-Watt Pre-Masters Graduate Diploma is for you if:
- You're an international student who does not have the appropriate English requirements
- You do not meet the published entry requirements for your postgraduate degree
- You're returning to education after some time away and need support
- You're switching to a different subject from what you've previously studied
Benefits of our Pre-Masters Graduate Diploma:
- Prepares you for entry into your chosen postgraduate degree programme
- A personalised study experience, tailored to meet your needs and optimise your experience
- Become part of the global Heriot-Watt community
- Our award-winning careers team will provide you with lifetime support throughout your career
Once you've completed this programme, our postgraduate degrees are tailored to ensure you have the skills and knowledge to enter the workplace and perform at a high level right away. Most of our postgraduate degrees will give you the chance to work on live projects with global brands that will ensure your CV stands out once you've graduated.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
Inter-Campus Transfer: Dubai
Inter-Campus Transfer: Malaysia
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
The programme consists of three 20-credit courses with one mandatory course in English and Academic Skills for Postgraduate Study and two other option courses taken according to your pathway.
Completion of this course will get you onto one the postgraduate programmes above.
Students should consider which courses are required to progress onto their intended postgraduate degree programme.
Mandatory September
- English for Postgraduate Study 1
Mandatory January
- English for Postgraduate Study 2
Optional September
- Design Studio 1
- Creative Skills Workshop
- Visual Presentation and Communication
Optional January
- Design Studio 2
- Design Research
Fees and funding
| Status | Full Time |
|---|---|
| UK | £14,080 |
| International | £14,080 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Academic entry requirements
- Bangladesh - Undergraduate honours degree (3 Year) with a final mark of 50% or a 3 Year Undergraduate (Regular Pass) 55%
- China - Full time Undergraduate Graduation Certificate/Full time studies or Junior College Diploma (max 1 year internship accepted) with 70% overall
- Ghana - Higher National Diploma - GPA of 3.0
- Hong Kong - Recognised first degree, or an Associate degree with a GPA of 3.0
- India - Recognised 3 year honours degree at 45% or a 3 year degree at 50% or a 4 year degree at 45%.
- Indonesia - Diploma IV (D4) with 3.0 or recognised first degree
- Iran - Recognised first degree
- Jordan - Bachelors degree with a pass grade
- Kazakhstan - Recognised first degree
- Kuwait - Recognised first degree
- Libya - Higher Diploma in a related subject
- Malaysia - Advanced Diploma with 70%
- Oman - Recognised first degree
- Nigeria - Recognised first degree
- Pakistan - Recognised first degree. A 3 Year honours degree with a GPA of 50%, or 3 Year Bachelor degree with a GPA of 55%, 4 Year Undergraduate (Any) 50%
- Qatar - Recognised first degree
- Saudi Arabia - Recognised first degree
- Thailand - Recognised first degree
- United Arab Emirates - Recognised first degree GPA 2.0/4.0 scale or 2.5/5.0 scale
- Ukraine - Recognised first degree
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Student life
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