SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Social Design & Sustainable Innovation

  • Master of Arts (M.A.)
  • 4 Semesters
  • on campus
  • 120 ECTS
  • €790/Month
  • Full time

Do you want to create what the world really needs? With the Master in Social Design you can become a designer for eco-social change and learn to develop innovative design ideas for the social challenges of our time.

  • English
  • summer and winter semester
Social Design master´s degree students at SRH Berlin

Your course content

Social Innovation, Sustainability, CSR and more

The Master's degree in Social Design & Sustainable Innovation challenges the current system and thinks design from the perspective of the social and planetary state of emergency. The goal: the education of a new, radical, revolutionary generation of designers. You will work with practices such as artistic research, cooperation, co-creation and other methods of qualitative research. The overall goals are fairness, transparency and sustainability.

Social design, social campaigning, corporate design in a social context, socially engaged art, digital innovation, social design theory and design practice in the context of visual communication, editorial design, photography, film and web development and design thinking form the cornerstones of the programme. Within these key themes, you will work with collaborative partners from the (creative) industries and other organisations on social innovations, campaigns and design solutions for a sustainable future. In projects with real-world partners, you will design effective solutions and concrete visions for a better world.

Your career prospects

Social Designer, Art Director and more

Social Design & Sustainable Innovation can mean a significant difference in cultural and business organisation, leading to more real and digital innovation. The professional skills are derived from mastering the respective design disciplines paired with methodologies of social change that are combined.

Graduates take up traditional and new design professions with an extended and scientifically sound design, thinking and action approach. They work as art directors, designers, consultants, project managers, web developers, change managers, curators for companies and institutions. The Master of Arts degree prepares students for a doctoral or PhD degree programme, which opens the way in particular to academic careers in teaching and research.

#wenndannjetzt | #ifnotnowwhen
Social Campaign for change in care

M.A. students design nationwide campaign to draw attention to the poor working conditions and lack of appreciation in nursing and healthcare. If not now, when ...

Brochures
Get more information about the study programme!

Study programme brochure and more ...

Design Thinking as Method of Social Innovation

Students design community space in a refugee camp in Lebanon. They use design thinking processes to design the space in such a way that it has an activating effect and that creative and positive impulses can arise.

Foreign and Foreigness | "This is (not) my story."

German and Lebanese students deal with the topic of "Foreign and Foreignness" in interdisciplinary workshops and create essays, films, photo series, graphics and installations that reflect the realities of life for refugees in Germany and Lebanon.

Heaven above Beirut

Students from the Berlin School of Design and Communication and the ALBA Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts capture Beirut in pictures. The photographs were taken before the devastating explosion in August 2020 and show the struggle of a city for its existence and identity, but also as a place of longing.

To the project & book
Meet your Study Advisor How do I apply? | Webinar

Meet our study advisors and learn how our application system works and which documents and proofs you need to provide. 3 pm CET

Event
Meet your Study Advisor How do I apply? | Webinar

Meet our study advisors and learn how our application system works and which documents and proofs you need to provide. 3 pm CET

Event

Video Project: Social Spots for UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Master Class Social Design and Sustainable Innovation creatively explored the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and designed and produced Social Spots. Under the direction of professor Gilbert Beronneau, films were created by students that humorously and seriously portray the challenges facing humanity in connection with the preservation of the planet.

Social Spots for SDG 10 & 14

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Project

Workshop: Urban Design

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Study Plan MA Social Design & Sustainable Innovation

Your curriculum

4 Semester 120 ECTS
1. Semester

First Semester

  • Social Design Science + Practices A

    5
  • Design Research

    5
  • Social Campaigning

    5
  • Art, Society + Change

    5
  • Marketing and Branding

    5
  • Profession and Best Practice I

    5
2. Semester

Second Semester

  • Social Design Science + Practices B

    5
  • Sustainable Innovation I

    5
  • Sustainable Innovation II

    5
  • Social Design Internship

    5
  • Sociology and Branding

    5
  • Profession and Best Practice II

    5
3. Semester

Third Semester

  • Design Thinking / Research

    5
  • Design Thinking / Synthesis and Creation

    5
  • Design Thinking / Realisation and Prototyping

    5
  • Social Design Manifesto + Portfolio

    5
  • Design Practices

    5
  • Profession and Best Practice III

    5
4. Semester

Fourth Semester

  • Master's Thesis + Colloquium

    30
Find your unibuddy.
Chat with our students.

Do you want firsthand information? Our students are happy to share their experiences with you, tell you about their courses, their projects and student life in Berlin, Hamburg and Dresden.

Admission requirements

Our requirements

The Master's in Social Design & Sustainable Innovation is aimed at university graduates of all disciplines.

Checklist for your online application:

  • Bachelor's degree - please submit your degree certificate and your transcript of records. If you do not have the degree certificate yet, you can also submit it before you start your studies.
  • Letter of motivation
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Secondary School Certificate
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Two to three creative works on the topic of "Why change?", in the form of film, text, photo, illustration or in another creative form of expression

Here are the English requirements you should bring along:

  • TOEFL 87 ibt (direct entry)
  • TOEFL 79 - 86 ibt (with additional agreement)
  • TOEIC 785 (Listening/Reading 785, Speaking 160, Writing 150)
  • IELTS/ IELTS ONLINE (academic) 6.5 on average - please see Language Centre guidelines if results differ
  • CAE (grade A, B, or C)
  • CPE (grade A, B or C)
  • Pearson English Test Academic (PTE-A) 59 points
  • Linguaskill: 176 - 184 (CES) - all four skills required
  • Duolingo 110 points
Fees and Funding

Your tuition fees

As a state-recognised, private university, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences is financed by tuition fees. This revenue goes towards equipping our campus, providing services for our students, and quality assurance. In this way we ensure that you receive the best possible education under optimal study conditions.

Tuition fees

  • citizenship | EU/EEA (incl. Switzerland, Western Balkans and Ukraine): EUR 790 / month
  • citizenship | Non-EU/EEA: EUR 5700 / semester

The monthly/semester tuition fees remain the same for the entire duration of the study programme. 

An additional enrolment fee of EUR 750 (EU/EEA) / EUR 1000 (non-EU/EEA) is to be paid once. More information about our fees.

Financing

Please find more information about funding options on our page "Financing your studies". Our Student Advisory Service will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Apply now

Application process and deadlines

Please find the Application and Late Arrival deadlines here.

We are happy to welcome you to our university. This is our application process:

  1. You submit your online application via the SRH Application Portal
  2. If you meet the admission requirements, we will invite you to a personal/phone interview
  3. If the interview is successful, you will receive an acceptance letter and the study contract
  4. You sign the study contract and send it back to us
  5. You pay the enrolment fee
  6. You will receive your letter of admission
  7. You take part in our Welcome Week and then you are good to go!
Get started now Your path into the future
  • You will take part in a step-by-step learning experience
  • You will study in small teams through practice-oriented tasks
  • You can concentrate on what is important in 5-week blocks
  • You will receive individual support from your lecturers
Apply now!
Your contact

If you have any questions, our team is happy to help you