Lighting Design MA



Learn the application of light to transform spaces, enhance experiences and shape perception

Overview

This programme focuses on creative applications of light, enabling you to explore optical fibres, LEDs, and projection-based techniques alongside traditional architectural and daylighting approaches. You will develop the ability to analyse, design, prototype, and document lighting solutions, integrating both technical understanding and imaginative experimentation. Working in a shared studio space with other creative design courses there is room for cross disciplinary exploration and learning.

This degree allows you to explore lighting in a range of interior and exterior contexts, from heritage and cultural spaces to immersive installations and experimental art projects.

Modules benefit by having input from industry specialists, guest lecturers, and site visits, providing exposure to professional practice and live project opportunities.  You will be taught by staff who are actively involved in the fields they teach.

lit up trees

Mode of Study:

Full-time

(also available Part-time)

Duration:

1 years

Start date:

Sep

Virtual PG Info Event - 17 April 2026

Register for our live online info session and chat with staff before you apply. Look for course-specific session:
New Lighting Design and Motion Graphics Masters courses
Friday 17 April 2026 | 10:00-11:00

Course details

In a collaborative and interdisciplinary design studio, you will develop the criticality necessary to create lighting that inspires and excites people.

You will have the space and freedom to develop fully working experiences and prototypes that explore lighting with interaction, experience and placemaking.  You will have the opportunity to show your work to and gain feedback from professionals working in industry.

Our design programmes are supported by our comprehensive workshops.  In these workshops you will be able to fabricate 3D products that augment your creative practice.

By the end of the programme, you will have developed the skills, knowledge, and professional awareness to innovate and lead in the creative lighting and design sector, producing a final project that showcases both your creative vision and technical expertise, supported by interdisciplinary collaboration.

 
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    How you’ll be taught

    The programme uses practice-based learning, workshops, seminars, lectures, guest speakers and supported online learning in which core knowledge and understanding are acquired and assessed in tandem with their specific application to your own individual projects.
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    Assessments

    The Live Projects module in Trimester 2 affords you the opportunity to arrange your own placement, we also work with external partners to offer specific placements. The majority of our projects are in partnership with external organisations. 

     
     
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    Work placement

    The programme offers two modules (Live Project in trimester 1, Research Projects and Entrepreneurship in trimesters 2) where you have the option of working with external partners, which may include some work-based learning.
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    Facilities

    All design programmes in the School of Arts & Creative Industries are delivered in studio learning environments with access to up-to-date technical resources and lighting equipment.

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

Creative Lighting for People and Places ( DES11138 )

Focusing on how light can shape people’s experience of interior and exterior spaces, this module gives you the opportunity to explore, develop, and critically evaluate creative lighting solutions. You will investigate the perception of light, the interaction of colour and movement, and how lighting can enhance mood, wellbeing, and atmosphere in a space.Through workshops, site visits, and input from industry experts, you will explore working with daylight, artificial light, and light–material interactions, testing your ideas to develop both technical skills and conceptual approaches at scale. You will also develop your own process to communicate your designs, using photography, sketching, drawing, or digital methods as appropriate. You will learn to calculate lighting levels and apply principles that support your creative decisions. Sustainability will be integrated into your approaches, encouraging you to consider responsible, innovative lighting solutions and design choices.Throughout the module, you will receive guidance and feedback on your experiments and design explorations, culminating in a lighting installation for either an interior or exterior public space that demonstrates your skills, creativity, and professional standards.

Further information

Creative Research Portfolio Part 1 ( DES11155 )

This module enables you to prepare the groundwork for an extensive individual research project that tests creative practice and design issues through primary and secondary research. Over the course of this module you will be supported through your management and preparation of a literature review. This module will enhance your ability to critically assess methodological applicability, research credibility, ethics and develop an understanding of research in and through creative practice and guide your management of a research project. The suitability of format and research content will be agreed between you and your tutor early in the module. This module is a standalone module that is related to Creative Research Portfolio Part 2 where you are expected to apply the methods discussed in Part 1.

Further information

Creative Research Portfolio Part 2 ( DES11156 )

This module responds to work proposed in Creative Research Portfolio Part 1. This module enables you to prepare the groundwork for an extensive individual research project that tests creative practice and design issues through primary and secondary research. This module usually involves the delivery and evaluation of the research proposed in Creative Research Portfolio Part 1. This module is assessed through portfolio and is a rigorous demonstration and discussion of the work undertaken throughout the module. You will be guided through the delivery of your portfolio by an allocated supervisor.

Further information

Design for Heritage and Culture ( DES11137 )

This is an interdisciplinary module that will require you to place your own subject specialism within the broad context of design for culture and heritage.Through this module you will develop your understanding of the core aspects of design for Heritage and Culture. User journeys, engagements, interactions and experiences will form the foundation of explorative studies where prototype designs will aim to change visitor relationship to heritage and culture. The module introduces you to a variety of design strategies used by designers to address thematically driven project briefs in a variety of physical contexts.Studio-based design projects form the core of the module. Within the projects you will critically explore current themes in areas of heritage and culture and you will look towards forecasting and designing for future potentialities. In developing design proposals, you are required to undertake thematic, contextual and material research and to illustrate how your design solutions provide for enhanced user experience and interaction in a defined heritage and cultural role.

Further information

Light Art & Projection ( DES11122 )

You will apply principles of light art and projection to architectural and spatial design schemes. This will include the specification of hardware and software for light art installations and interpretation of proposed locations. You will consider human factors along with technical issues (installation, power supply, control schedules). Physical and CAD modelling will be used to prototype and communicate location and layout, and details for installation. Costing and budget constraints are also included.

Further information

Live Projects ( DES11136 )

There are three ways in which you can engage with this module. You should select one approach:1) Edinburgh Napier University has sourced a number of work placements relevant to the MA Design Suite. These placements can be applied for through a competitive process involving the placement provider, and the Student Futures Team.2) You may already be working or volunteering in a role relevant to your degree and you may wish to use your ongoing employment (or volunteering) to complete the assessments for this module.3) You may want to pursue a new employment or volunteering opportunity once you have built up experience on the programme and decided where your interests lie. The programme staff, in conjunction with the Student Futures Team will support you in taking route 3).Through engaging in a work placement, or relevant voluntary work, related to your course you will explore the concepts, debates, policies, initiatives, and funding related to the area in which you will be working. You will also relate your work experiences to the academic content of your course and reflect on the value of your prior learning. You will undertake self-assessment and reflective and critical thinking will be a key part of your submissions.

Further information

Research and Entrepreneurship Projects ( DES11144 )

This module gives you the opportunity to explore and understand your own professional practice.Whilst engaged with the module you are encouraged to consider entrepreneurial practice. Projects and opportunities may arise from the ongoing practice and research within the university, or may be initiated by yourself. You will work to produce a professional online presence and/or portfolio detailing your professional abilities. Over the course of the module you will be introduced to entrepreneurial skills and encouraged to consider starting your own professional practice.Learning on the module will be demonstrated through a written reflective report where you will critically analyse and appraise your own work within the context of your own professional practice.

Further information

Research as Critical Practice ( DES11143 )

This module is designed to develop the knowledge and skills required to undertake an advanced range of research methods appropriate to contemporary creative practice in design and lens media, from ethnography and interviews to phenomenology, collaborative methods and practice-based approaches . You will explore advanced research paradigms for creative practice which include critical, participative and performative-oriented research approaches and methods. You will develop and refine your skills in creative research methods, analysis of creative and practice-based research precedents, and critical and reflective interpretation of your projects. Using a wide range of primary and secondary sources you will learn to critically explore and evaluate design or lens media research practices. The module will cover research methods that will enable you to ask, learn, look and try things during the early exploratory stages of the creative process.

Further information

* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above in an art & design or related discipline (architecture, creative computing & engineering design)

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional work experience within the industry.

All candidates are interviewed with a portfolio of creative work or technical/business projects. Applicants from overseas can be interviewed by teleconference with an online portfolio.

English language

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • MSc Nursing courses
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2025/26 2026/27
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,160 £9,615
Overseas and EU £19,750 £20,540
Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online degrees. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please read our full T&C here.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers

Graduates from this programme pathway can pursue careers in: 

  • interior and spatial design
  • lighting design
  • urban design
  • exhibition and museum design
  • installation art
Lighting desplay