The University of Macau (UM) plans to launch two new programmes, namely the Doctor of Design in Industrial Design programme and the Master of Design in Industrial Design programme in the academic year 2026/2027. Positioned to nurture high-end international industrial design talents with both theoretical proficiency and innovative capabilities, the programmes aim to promote the high-quality development of design education in Macau and support the Macao SAR Government’s “1+4” policy for appropriate economic diversification. Teaching activities will be carried out at the Transitional Research and Education Site of University of Macau’s Campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (Dezhi Plaza), starting from the 2026/2027 academic year.
Transitional Research and Education Site of University of Macau’s Campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (Dezhi Plaza)
Programme Introduction
The Doctor of Design in Industrial Design programme is a four-year programme that explores industrial design research and practice, equipping students with the theoretical methods and practical skills necessary for innovative product development and design education. The curriculum covers artificial intelligence and advanced technologies for design, design theories, research methodologies, emerging design practices, industrial internships, and academic writing. Graduates will be equipped to become leading professionals, having undergone rigorous training in design research and innovative practice.
The Master of Design in Industrial Design programme is a two-year programme that integrates theoretical frameworks, emerging technologies, hands-on design practices, and professional industry placements. It aims to cultivate skilled industrial design talents with forward-looking vision and strong practical competence. Graduates will be prepared for roles in design, research, development, and management in industrial design firms, technology companies, innovative R&D departments, and related fields. They will also possess the foundational qualifications to pursue doctoral studies in design.
Professor Xu Jie, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at UM, stated that the newly established Doctor and Master of Design in Industrial Design programmes build on the faculty’s profound foundation in the arts, culture, and interdisciplinary education that has been established over the years. Leveraging UM’s strengths as a comprehensive research university, the programmes will promote in-depth integration of design with humanities, society, business, engineering, technology, and other fields. He emphasized, “As the incubator for UM’s design discipline and the upcoming Faculty of Design, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities will provide long-term and stable support for the development of UM’s design programmes, contributing to the university’s leapfrog development and Macau’s appropriate economic diversification.“
The programmes will come into operation upon approval and publication in the Macao SAR Gazette. For details, please visit the UM Graduate School website: https://grs.um.edu.mo/index.php/prospective-student/?lang=en. For inquiries, please call +853 8822 4898 during office hours or email gradschool@um.edu.mo.