On this unique and exciting new course, you will explore current issues of global significance from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and examine how positive change can be achieved through the application of the theory and practice of design. This is a future facing programme which aims to develop a new generation of designers as holistic, strategic, and agile interdisciplinary practitioners. By studying this degree, you will acquire the knowledge and skills to become a responsible and ethical designer able to tackle society’s major challenges in order build a sustainable and regenerative society.

You will work with design industry experts and regional communities to co-design products, processes and solutions. You will have the opportunity to enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.

The course is structured on a 50/50 basis with half of the modules each year being taken in each half of the course.  

In the first year, core modules will provide a critical understanding of the ‘three pillars of sustainable development’ and the core principles of design theory: 

• Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development 
• Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development 
• Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development 

• Introduction to Design 
• Introduction to Design Practice 
• Service Design with UX for Social Impact 
• Visual Practice and Curiosity 

You will also study the core Global Sustainable Development Project module, giving you the chance to see how the principles of GSD apply to a real case affecting a local community.  

The second year will consist of a combination of core and optional core modules. The GSD optional core modules provide you with the opportunity to engage with a key issue in sustainability either: 

• Health and Sustainable Development 
• Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System 
• Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All 

You will also choose optional modules with a GSD focus from within or outside the School for Cross-faculty Studies. 

In the core Design modules you will learn different methods of approaching design: 

• Systemic Design 
• Social Design  

And the optional core modules offer the chance to apply those approaches to either Materials, Space or Society. 

You may choose to study abroad for part of your second year at Monash University. During Term One at Warwick you will study 50% of the workload outlined above. In terms two and three at Monash University you will study modules with an approved sustainability and design focus. These modules will be pre-approved by the GSD Department and will be subject to the approval of your Warwick personal tutor. 

In the final year you will take the core Dissertation and Major Project modules as well as modules that examine The Business of Design and Design Research. You will also study optional modules from within the GSD Department and optional modules with a GSD focus from within or outside the School for Cross-faculty Studies. 

Your GSD modules will be taught by a range of academics from different disciplines. They will communicate their expertise on a specific issue and describe their methodology for addressing it. We expect you to bring together these various approaches and to develop your own informed stance on each issue. 

Your Design Studies modules will be taught by our expert staff in our dedicated Design Studio which provides facilities and materials to enable to you develop and hone your creative design skills. You will learn to work through practical, project-based design assignments that will range in their nature from working with hand constructed materials, plans and curation to digitally developed designs that simulate physical and virtual environments. Throughout your course you will work with live briefs from communities and employers in preparation for a successful career in the design industry. 

Class sizes

Seminar and studio practice groups consist between 20-25 students.

Typical contact hours

First-year core modules have between 20 and 25 hours of contact time. Each module consists of lectures, workshops, practical classes and fieldwork. The Global Sustainable Development Project' module, includes group supervision sessions. The core modules in Design Studies which include a significant proportion of practice-based teaching have up to 60 hours of contact time.  

Second-year core and optional core modules typically have between 30 and 40 contact hours. 

The final-year cores modules involve lectures, tutorials and supervision sessions. 

Optional modules in the GSD Department are available with between 25 and 50 hours for scheduled contact time, depending on the module. Some modules have lectures, workshops, film screenings and research supervision, whereas others only have lectures and workshops. Some GSD modules may also include field trips. 

The course uses a variety of assessment methods which are intended to reflect the types of outputs required in the professional environment. In this way, the course prepare you for the working world. Across the course, you will produce practical work that is both material and digital in nature, sketchbooks and visual research, research papers, reports, policy briefings, posters, portfolios, critical commentaries, presentations in public fora, EPortfolios; blog posts; design dialogues (viva voce); video presentations, pitches, manifestos and you will also write traditional academic essays.

Although it is not compulsory, we encourage you to study abroad during your degree.

Option 1: Part of your second year abroad

Spend part of your second year at Monash University, home to the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. You will learn to appreciate the different concerns and priorities for design for sustainable development including different approaches to tackling global issues and the associated challenges for designers. 

Your academic achievements abroad will count towards your degree awarded by Warwick. 

Find out more about studying abroad for part of your second year.

Option 2: Year abroad

You may choose to apply for an intercalated year spent either studying abroad or on a work placement (subject to you meeting departmental academic requirements). This will mean extending your course to four years. 

Warwick has partnerships with universities across the world. You will spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year before returning for final year. 

Your year abroad will not count towards your overall final mark, giving you the freedom to choose modules outside of your comfort zone. 

Learn more about spending a year abroad.

We encourage you to undertake a work placement as part of your degree. 

You will have the opportunity to take part in short and long work placements. These support you in developing your employability skills and prepare you for future employment. 

• Apply theory to practice 

• Explore a future career path 
• Learn about the professional environment 
• Learn from industry professionals 

We will also support you in sourcing your own work placements outside of the options below. 

Year-long work placement

You can complete a four-year degree and your work placement will take place in your third year. The work placement can take place inside or outside the UK. 

Short work placement

As part of the Link opens in a new windowCertificate of Professional Communication, you will undertake a four-week work placement during the summer. 

Transferable skills

You will learn valuable transferable skills that will help you with your employment prospects, including: 

• Analysing and problem solving: Through your study of economic principles and models, you will learn how to extract the essential features of complex systems, providing useable frameworks for evaluation 
• Systems thinking and application: You will learn how to investigate and assess systems and apply this in practice  
• Critical thinking: You will assess arguments, make judgements, formulate reasoned debates and generate feasible solutions 
• Communication: You will develop advanced visual, textual and verbal communication skills that enable you to communicate with a variety of audiences and in different settings 

• Research: You will undertake an integrated programme of research skills training, teaching you how to source, evaluate and use different forms of information and data 
• Organisation: Through a rigorous assessment schedule and a compulsory dissertation module in your final year, you will learn the essentials of time management, prioritisation and how to be well organised 
• Collaboration: You will have plenty of opportunities to work with others and nurture your emotional intelligence, developing a professional attitude 
• IT: You will have received foundational software training 
• Design Skills: You will have acquired creative design skills in a range of areas 

Helping you find the right career

We have a dedicated Employability and Placement Manager who will provide you with one-to-one careers guidance. They work in collaboration with employers, so you will be supported in securing appropriate work placements. You will have access to specialist pre-placement advice, guidance and preparation, as well as on-going support during your placement.

You will also have access to the University’s Student Opportunity resources (including careers counselling, employment advice, and job fairs).

Find out more about careers support at Warwick.