The National University of Ireland, Maynooth
MSc Design Innovation
Maynooth, Ireland
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 16,000
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The MSc in Design Innovation at Maynooth University trains students in multidisciplinary methods including design, ethnography, psychology, and engineering to develop actionable innovation concepts. The programme blends theory and practice and matches insights with organizational strategy to create competitive products and services. It welcomes applicants from design, social sciences, computer science, engineering, and other backgrounds, and supports mature entrants via a Recognized Prior Learning (RPL) stream that assesses professional skills and life experience.
Career Outcomes: Graduates pursue roles in innovation leadership, product management, design strategy, market research and new product or service development across technology, manufacturing and public service.
The MSc in Design Innovation is the first of its kind in Europe. Utilising a blend of theory and practice you will learn the necessary skills to become a leader in design innovation, developing smart, novel, winning innovation concepts.
Through our unique multi-disciplinary approach, combining design, ethnography, psychology and engineering, you will learn the methods necessary to research, acquire, analyse and present actionable innovation concepts. The MSc in Design Innovation matches actionable insights with organisational strategies and capabilities to deliver differentiating and competitive solutions.
While suited for anyone aspiring to be an effective radical innovator, it directly prepares graduates for the roles in innovation leadership, innovation management, product management, strategic marketing, market research, design strategy and new product or service development. Our graduates have gone on to work in a wide variety of sectors such as design, manufacturing, IT, web design, media and all areas of the public services. We welcome participants from various disciplinary backgrounds, including graduates of social sciences, anthropology, design, computer science or engineering. Graduates of other disciplines are also invited to apply.
We particularly welcome mature applicants through our Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) stream who have gained knowledge and skills through industry experience. Our RPL policy facilitates a review of the professional skills and relevant life experience of applicants without significant academic qualifications, but who have equivalent learning achievements which adequately prepare them for the programme.
Both full- and part-time courses are continuous assessment, with grades awarded for assignments completed within each module.
Full-time programme
The full-time programme is delivered over 12 months beginning in September, approx. 4 contact days per month (9 am - 6 pm). Students use the time between classes to apply their learnings and complete assignments. Taught modules are delivered in semesters 1 & 2 (autumn and spring) with dissertation projects, including field research, carried out in semester 3 (summer).
Part-time programme
The part-time programme is delivered over 24 months beginning in September, approx. 2 contact days per month (9 am-6 pm). Students use the time between classes to apply their learnings and complete assignments. Taught modules are delivered in semesters 1 & 2 (autumn and spring) with dissertation projects, including field research, carried out in semester 3 (summer) of year 2.
The programme is delivered by assignments, lectures, workshops and dissertation. A large portion of the learning is experiential through case research, workshop discussion, fieldwork and individual or group assignments. A substantial field project is carried out in the third semester, with a written dissertation on completion. All modules and dissertation are 100% continuously assessed with no end-of-semester written examinations.
This MSc programme is ideal for anyone aspiring to be an effective radical innovator. In particular, it directly prepares graduates for the roles of innovation leadership, innovation management, product management, strategic marketing, market research, design strategy and new product or service development in a wide variety of sectors such as technology, pharmaceutical, agri-food, design, manufacturing, service industries and all areas of the public service.