Apply to MFA Programme in Child Culture Design

How to apply

You need to complete the following three steps:

1. Apply to the programme

Apply to the MFA Programme in Child Culture Design on universityadmissions.se.

Application deadline: 15 January 2027

2. Submit your portfolio

Submit your portfolio through SlideRoom.

Portfolio deadline: 15 January 2027

3. Document your eligibility

Submit the required documents through universityadmissions.se to show that you meet the entry requirements. Make sure your documents are correct and submitted by the deadline. 

Provide application documents

Documentation deadline: 1 February 2027

If you have studied in Sweden, you normally do not need to upload documents. Check that your qualifications are correctly registered under My pages on universityadmissions.se.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for the MFA Programme in Child Culture Design, you must have:

• a Bachelor's degree in Designor other relevant field of at least 180 credits
• English 6 or equivalent.

You can apply even if you have not yet completer your Bachelor's degree.  Final year of Bachelor's studies .

Prior learning

If you don't meet the formal entry requirements, you may be considered eligible through the following:

• other relevant educational qualifications  
• relevant work experience or other practical experience
• relevant artistic skills and abilities

Submit official, certified documentation of your qualifications or experience on universityadmissions.se by the application deadline: 15 January.

Exemptions are not granted for the English language requirement (English 6).   

Portfolio instructions

Your portfolio must include:

1. Background and experience
2. Project Reflection
3. Portfolio/Work samples

Important things to consider

• Your application must be written in English.  
• If you include projects or work in your portfolio created in collaboration with others, briefly describe the nature of the collaboration and your individual contribution.
• If you have used generative AI to create or process images, sound, or text we ask that you describe how you used it.  

Instructions 

1. Background and experience - 1 pdf, maximum 2 pages
   Describe your professional and academic experiences that are relevant to studying design at MFA level in general and to Child Culture Design.   Describe your professional and academic experiences that are relevant to studying design at MFA level in general and to Child Culture Design.  
2. Project reflection - 1 pdf, maximum 2 pages 
    One key feature of our programme is the practical projects that students define themselves. From the start of your studies, you are required to identify your personal interests and expected direction of your studies in design. In the project reflection, we ask you to write about an already realised or intended project that reflects your interests.  
   
   Please feel free to use images or visualisations as references.  

We will assess your ability to articulate components and aims with the described project as well as your understanding of the field of design.  

• In the project reflection describe BRIEFLY: 
• The subject area in design you have investigated or want to investigate 
• What question(s) your project is concerned with 
• An outline of the outcome of the project 
• At least one reference to an inspirationalsource for your project (other designer’s work, art work, film, academic paper, etc.)  

Note: The project reflection is only a part of the application procedure and does not have to be realised as a part of your studies at HDK-Valand.  

3. Portfolio/work samples 1 pdf, maximum 20 pages. You can also upload maximum two video files as part of your portfolio

You are required to include images (or other relevant digital material) that demonstrate the  

• Breadth and depth of your creative work  
• Key stages of the design process to a realised intention  
• Skills in presentation, visualisation and communication.  

Submit your portfolio

Submit your portfolio through SlideRoom

Before the deadline

• You can start your application at any time during the application period.
• You can save your progress, log out and return later.
• SlideRoom closes at midnight (CET) on the day of the application deadline.
• You will receive a confirmation email when your portfolio has been submitted.
• We recommend uploading your materials at least 24 hours before the deadline.
• Portfolios cannot be submitted after the deadline.

Assessment

Your application will be assessed based on the following criteria: 

1. Design Process – design knowledge, references, methodology and concepts 
2. Field of Interest – design questions, societal questions, skills and relevance to the programme profile
3. Artistic Approach – expression, method and communication
   
   The assessment is made by an admissions jury consisting of the Programme Director and representatives from the department. Your work samples must meet the assessment criteria to be approved.

Key Dates