Business & Management Distance Learning Design Management M.A.

Master of Arts (M.A.)
2/3/4 Semesters
Distance study
60/90/120 ECTS
from €579/Month
without NC
ACCREDITED
state approved

The distance learning Master’s degree in Design Management M.A. prepares not only designers and managers, but also those seeking to design professionally in their relevant field, for the interface between design and management.

English
monthly intakes

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SRH Fernhochschule – The Distance Learning University

Your programme content

This is what you will learn

Your goal is to lead through design.

You are a designer, manager or have a strong interest in design. Well-managed design processes and creative teams as well as the professional management of creative processes inspire you. This degree programme is suitable for you if you have completed a Bachelor of Arts and would like to qualify for the management of design processes.

Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)
Credit points: 60 / 90 / 120 ECTS
Standard period of study: 2 / 3 / 4 semesters
Language: The programme is taught entirely in English
Start of studies: On the first day of each month
Tuition fees: From EUR 579 per month (Total cost: EUR 14,475) for 90 ECTS
Accreditation: Accredited
Certification: State approval by the ZFU (national central office for distance learning), No. 2107123 for 90 ECTS

Please note that some modules in your degree program require the use of Adobe Collection, Adobe XD or a comparable software. If you do not have access to use the Adobe Collection or Adobe XD, we recommend a student subscription or the use of the public domain software gimp, Pixlr X, Photopea Online, Figma and Hotjar, etc.

Our Master’s degree programme in Design Management offers practical and professionally sound content that prepares you for the intersection of design and management. Through partnerships with businesses and design companies, you will have the opportunity to experience and evaluate real-world problems and solutions. Our programme combines design, management, and research methods with creative and professional practice.

You will gain fundamental insights into design thinking and problem-solving at the intersection of management, including contemporary models and theories and the skills to apply them to your environment. You will develop both management and design knowledge, as well as sound communication skills to take on leadership roles in cre- ative environments. Using scientific methods, you will learn to design for a constantly evolving global environment. With your acquired professional and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, you will be able to manage increasingly complex design requirements successfully and responsibly in a wide range of organisations.

Your outlook

You will become an expert in design processes.

As an expert in design processes, you will become skilled in using design thinking to approach problems with a creative mindset. Design processes and design thinking are used throughout companies to generate innovative solutions. Your role will be to guide these creative processes successfully, drawing on your knowledge of both creative and management techniques.

This expertise will make you highly sought after in industries that require creative problem-solving, such as design and media agencies or product and service companies. You will have the opportunity to work in various positions within these organisations or lead creative teams as a Chief Design Officer. Your skills will open up exciting career opportunities for you to steer and guide companies towards success.

Design Management M.A.

Your curriculum

Your master variants:

90 ECTS

60 ECTS

120 ECTS

3 Semester 90 ECTS

1. Semester

General Business Administration
6
Design Management Leadership
6
Design Research & Design Methods
6
Design Theory, Scientific Design Concepts & Design Science
6
Project 1 - Practice-based research
6

2. Semester

Marketing
6
Decision Making, Management and Design
6
Design Management Strategy
6
Design Systems & Designing in complexity
6
Project 2 - Research based project
6

3. Semester

Change Management
6
Master-Thesis
24

Curriculum for 90 ECTS (PDF)

Admission Requirements for 90 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 180 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least one year work experience
Basic knowledge of the chosen study programme
Motivational interview

Admission Requirements for 90 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 210 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least one year work experience
Basic knowledge of the chosen study programme

Admission Requirements for 90 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 240 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least one year work experience
Basic knowledge of the chosen study programme

2 Semester 60 ECTS

1. Semester

Decision Making, Management and Design
6
Design Research & Design Methods
6
Design Theory, Scientific Design Concepts & Design Science
6
Design Systems & Designing in complexity
6
Project 1 - Practice-based research
6

2. Semester

Change Management
6
Design Management Strategy
6
Master Thesis and Colloquium
18

Curriculum for 60 ECTS (PDF)

Admission Requirements for 60 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 180 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least two years work experience
Basic knowledge of the chosen study programme
Aptitude test

Admission Requirements for 60 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 210 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least two years work experience
Basic knowledge of the chosen study programme
Motivational interview with the course director

Admission Requirements for 60 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 240 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least two years work experience
Basic knowledge of the chosen study programme

4 Semester 120 ECTS

1. Semester

Empirical Research
6
Change Management
6
Design Management Strategy
6
Design Theory, Scientific Design Concepts & Design Science
6
Project 1 - Practice-based research
6

2. Semester

General Business Administration
6
Design Management Leadership
6
Design Research & Design Methods
6
Project 2 - Research based project
6
♥ Elective module 1
6

3. Semester

Marketing
6
Decision Making, Management and Design
6
Design Systems & Designing in complexity
6
Project 3 - Methodology research
6
♥ Elective module 2
6

4. Semester

Master Thesis and Colloquium
30

Curriculum for 120 ECTS (PDF)

Admission Requirements for 120 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 180 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least one year work experience

Admission Requirements for 120 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 210 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least one year work experience

Admission Requirements for 120 ECTS

Completed university degree or equivalent degree (min. 240 ECTS)

Knowledge of the English language level B1
At least one year work experience

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Information material

Still undecided?

You want to fulfill your dream of studying design management but are still undecided? Whatever your plan is, we're here to support you! Learn about the content, perspectives, and specializations of your distance learning program at your own pace. You can easily view your brochure with just a few clicks in our digital letter shop.

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Accreditation & Rankings

Accreditation & Rankings

Our quality standards

You have high aspirations. And so do we. You can rely on the outstanding quality of our programmes. We are one of the few private universities that enjoy permanent state recognition. We are system-accredited – which means that the excellent quality of our degree programmes is guaranteed, as is the recognition of your degree.

The quality seal of the German Accreditation Council acknowledges the high standards of teaching and learning at our distance learning university. Moreover, we are entitled to use our tested quality assurance processes to accredit our degree programmes internally. You can therefore be sure that the degree you take will be up-to-date, application-oriented and methodologically tested. And you can rest assured that we plan, teach and assess according to certified processes.

Meet the most popular distance learning university!

Online information event Design Management (M.A.) 22.01. - 30.11.-0001

Find out about your desired Master's degree program in Design Management (M.A.) without commitment and from the comfort of your own home on January 22, 2025 at 5:00 pm. (CET)

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Tuition fees

These are your tuition fees

Your Programme with 60 ECTS

Flex 1: 12 monthly instalments à 829 €, totalling 9,948 €
Flex 2: 16 monthly instalments à 679 €, totalling 10,864 €*

Your Programme with 90 ECTS

Flex 1: 18 monthly instalments à 729 €, totalling 13,122 €
Flex 2: 25 monthly instalments à 579 €, totalling 14,475 €*

Your Programme with 120 ECTS

Flex 1: 24 monthly instalments à 629 €, totalling 15,096 €
Flex 2: 36 monthly instalments à 449 €, totalling 16,164 €*

*Pay less each month for a longer period of time - that's our financing proposal in the Flex 2 model. However, you can still finish your studies within the standard period of study if you wish. You then simply continue to pay after your studies until the total fee has been paid. The Flex 2 option is only bookable with residency in the EU and in Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom.

What you can count on with our payment model:

You are not required to set the duration of your distance learning programme before you start studying – in fact, you are entirely flexible.
You can rest assured that we will support you for up to twice the length of the standard duration of studies – without charging you any additional fees.
You will always receive the study materials in digital form.