Program Overview
The Design at Cornell University is a MA programme in Arts & Design over 24 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of arts & design. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Design programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United States and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 24 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 7
- Tuition: USD 20,800 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; USD 20,800 (Tuition (Year)) — National students
- Location: Ithaca, United States, United States
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Design programme are prepared for diverse careers in arts & design:
- Creative Director
- Graphic / UX Designer
- Art Director
- Curator
- Visual Artist
- Media Producer
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
- Interior Design, which focuses on understanding and defining the expanding role of interior design as it relates to business strategy, environmental sustainability, health and well-being, advances in virtual reality, as well as the theoretical and historical issues which underpin these emerging concerns.
- Sustainable Design Studies, which examines developing a new worldview founded on a skeptical, critical approach to reasoning, a deep sensitivity for things living, and a broad understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the human/nature relationship.
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
The following required documents must be submitted online:
- Statement of Purpose
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- Portfolio
- GRE general test
- TOEFL - test for International students (DEA overall minimum: 105, plus Graduate School minimums must be met for each section: writing: 20; listening: 15; reading: 20; speaking: 22)
- OR IELTS - The Graduate School requires an overall band score of a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS
English Proficiency: IELTS 7 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
USD 20,800 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; USD 20,800 (Tuition (Year)) — National students
Tuition fees: USD 20,800 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; USD 20,800 (Tuition (Year)) — National students
IELTS requirement: 7
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact Cornell University directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About Cornell University
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States
private and statutory land-grant research university in Ithaca, New York, USA
University Profile- Application Deadline Jan, 2027
- Start Date Aug, 2026
- Language English
- Duration 24 months
