Future Students

Admission Requirements

The next intake for the Graduate Program in Design is September 2012. The deadline for applications is January 16, 2012.

Eligibility for admission to the MDes Program requires the following:

  1. Four year undergraduate honours degree or equivalent* in visual communication/graphic design.
  2. At least a B (second class) standing
  3. Design Portfolio
    The portfolio should represent your best work, indicate your major interest and direction, and demonstrate your abilities. At least half of the projects should be work done within the last twelve months, and all work should be completed within the last three years. The portfolio work should draw from any or all of the following areas: graphic design print work, environmental design, broadcast/motion graphics, letterform design, interactive media, and other relevant areas of design.

    The portfolio should include between ten and fifteen (10-15) pieces on a DVD or as a URL. Please ensure that your portfolio can be viewed on a Mac OS. Include the title, date of completion, medium/technical information, and a description with each piece.
  4. Statement
    A statement of 500-750 words that addresses your interests and reasons for applying to a graduate program at this time and a description of the current direction of your design interests.
  5. Curriculum vitae.
  6. Three letters of recommendation submitted online through the Office of Admission's Application Services.
  7. Two copies of official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended (excluding York University).
  8. Demonstration of English proficiency for students whose first language is not English.
  9. Application fee.

The MDes program requires a four-year honours undergraduate degree or equivalent with at least a B standing in visual communication/graphic design. Applicants that do not meet the above educational requirements but show exceptional promise through their experience, portfolio, and written statement may be recommended for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

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Program Curriculum

All students must complete a total of nine courses:

Six Core Courses (completed by the end of second term)

GS/MDES 5101 3.0   Design Theory & Criticism Fall Term
GS/MDES 5108 3.0   Design Studio 1 Fall Term
GS/MDES 5109 3.0   Design Studio 2 Winter Term
GS/MDES 5102 3.0   Design Issues Fall Term
GS/MDES 5104 3.0   Design Research Methods Winter Term
GS/MDES 5106 0.0   Design Colloquium Fall & Winter Terms

Two Elective Courses (normally completed by the end of the fourth term) In order to encourage the development of an individual program of study, each student must select two electives.

Elective requirements are satisfied by courses chosen from among the offerings of other graduate programs at York University (with permission from both programs), or from the list of MDes Elective Courses.

Only one elective may be chosen from: MDES 5402, MDES 5403, MDES 5405, MDES 5407, MDES 5408 or MDES 5412.