Master's Programme in Transportation Design 120 credits
About the programme
Transportation is an essential and integral part of any society, with population growth and environmental problems creating challenges the transportation industry must address with new and innovative solutions. As a transportation designer you can influence this development by producing competent products that appeal to the hearts and minds of people. During your studies you learn how to work with conceptual ideas through projects in collaboration with external partners.
Student work
Discover designs created by our MFA Transportation Design students.
While studying
The Master's programme in Transportation Design is unique in broadly covering mobility and its relation to the transport industry worldwide. The programme is based on the Scandinavian design tradition, which emphasises the understanding of the users' needs as a key towards designing successful products.
Applied design courses
Students get to develop their work with conceptual ideas, and gain genuine knowledge of work development in the automotive industry, as well as a good comprehension of the use of modern methods and aids in transportation design. During your studies you develop specific knowledge in areas like presentation techniques, strategic design, visual storytelling, physical and digital development. The backbone of the programme is devoted to project work in collaboration with external partners like company design departments or research institutions. During such projects, students receive constant feedback from experienced industrial designers working in the industry.
Collaborative degree projects
The fourth and final term is devoted entirely to the examination project. You will carry out your exam project in cooperation with a corporate sponsor or other external partner. It is important that the project is seen as a collaboration and not a commission. You are expected to define a problem area, establish contact with an external partner and write a project brief that includes aims, method description and anticipated deliverables.
Internships
Internships allow further development of professional skills and the expansion of one's own business networks in preparation for a future career in transportation design. Over the years, our students have been taking advantage of the school's broad network of industry connections, engaging in voluntary internships during the summer months between the first and second year in the programme, or by applying for a full gap year sometime before the final thesis project. The school encourages a period of practice in connection to the master's education and for this reason an elective third term internship is also a formal possibility in the programme syllabus.
Industry-like design studios
All programmes reside in industry-like design studios, where each student has an individual workspace. The shared spaces - workshops, computer labs, painting rooms, libraries - build innovative learning environments defined by a collaborative spirit.
24/7 access to facilities
Whether it's a weekend, day or night, all students have access to the school premises. Key equipment within the facilities include 3D-printers, laser cutters, milling machines, painting rooms and much more. The cutting-edge digital infrastructure with multiple computer labs and studios allow students to master 3D-modelling, digital sketching, electronic prototyping and programming.
Reviving China’s vanishing street vendors
Ziqi An's grad project explores how future mobility can revive the culture of street food and mobile vendors.
Courses within the programme
Year 1
- Skills and Techniques (7.5 credits)
- CAID 1 & 2 (7.5 credits)
- Vehicle Concept Design (15 credits)
- Form in Transportation Design (7.5 credits)
- Vehicle Design Analysis (7.5 credits)
- Strategic Design (15 credits)
Year 2
- Storytelling in Design (7.5 credits)
- Vehicle Interior Design (15 credits)
- Future Mobility (7.5 credits)
- Elective track: Practice in Transportation Design (30 credits)
- Degree project (30 credits)
Future and career opportunities
Many previous graduates are today employed in major global corporations like Volvo, Tesla, Scania, Geely, Toyota, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley, Kia Motors as well as design consultancies like Semcon, Kiska and Cliff Design.
During your education you have the opportunity to enrol in industry placements (internships) which will help you develop your professional skills as well as your own network in preparation for a career in design.
Depending on your performance and professional experience upon completion of the studies, you may join such companies as junior, senior or freelance designer.
Further studies?
An MFA degree from Umeå Institute of Design will provide the basic academic merits required to apply for PhD positions worldwide.
Programme director
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Film about the programme
Meet students sharing their MFA TD experience.
Voices about the programme
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From Umeå to Polestar: The journey of Juan Pablo Bernal
Alumni
Following his degree from the Master's programme in Transportation design Juan Pablo Bernal stands at the helm of interior design at Polestar, a Swedish electric car brand focused on sustainability and innovative design
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Alberto Villarreal on creativity and staying relevant
Alumni
In design, one should always strive towards becoming a generalist, not a specialist. That's according to Alberto Villarreal.
Frequently asked questions
How well should I be able to communicate in English?
Your English proficiency should be equivalent to English 6/English B from the Swedish upper secondary education.
Read more about English language requirements
Are there any grants or scholarships for design students?
Accepted students that come from non-EU countries are offered the possibility to apply for a reduction of the tuition fees.
Read more about tuition and scholarships
What should my portfolio contain?
The Master's programme in Transportation Design has special requirements for the portfolio. You can find more information on the admission website
Read more about admission and portfolio
Do I need a degree in industrial design to be eligible?
Holding a degree in industrial design is considered a positive but is not a requirement.
The basic entry qualifications are a Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognized university. Specific entry requirements are: 60 ECTS in the field of design + Portfolio. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.
Am I eligible without 60 ECTS credits in the subject of design?
You are unfortunately not eligible if your degree does not include at least 60 ECTS credits in the subject of design. To be eligible you need to do additional studies where you can get the required credits in the subject of design.
Can you look at my diploma/transcripts to see if I am eligible?
Umeå University Admissions looks at and approves academic documents. Umeå Institute of Design only looks at the portfolio. Umeå University Admissions only assess academic documents if/when you have completed an application and uploaded the requested documents.
Can you look at my portfolio before I apply?
We are not allowed to give any pre-assessments. We start to look at portfolios after the application deadline.
Can I apply to the programme if I'm in my last year of bachelor studies?
Yes, you can. You need to submit an official document from your current university stating that you are likely to be awarded your bachelor's degree by the start of the programme. Please see the information provided by Umeå University Admissions for specific information on how to do this: final year of bachelor's studies.
Do I have to be able to speak Swedish to study at UID?
No, our MFA programmes are taught completely in English. The daily language of communication and information at UID is English.
Can I start the programme, or be a guest student, during the spring term?
Due to the nature of the programme and its sequence of activities, a number of obligatory basic skills are taught in the fall semester. If the student has not passed these courses they cannot participate in several of the courses that follow. Thus, in principle we do not accept applications for the spring term.