Design & New Environments MA
The two-year MA Design & New Environment program expores how design can effectively respond to rapid social, technological, and environmental transformations through researching, prototyping, and communicating innovative solutions.
Information about studies is in English with study programs where the language of instruction is English.
Programme information is provided in English, as the language of MADNE is English.
About the Study
The MA Design and New Environments (MADNE) programe explorores how design can address the challenges of our evolving world. These „New Environments“ are defined by transformations in society, technology, culture, and the environment. MADNE equips students with the skills to recover excluded systems, craft innovative solutions, and tackle pressing global and local challenges through design.
This design-focused program integrates methods such as design thinking, systems thinking, and contextual research, encouraging students to create meaningful and innovative solutions. Students learn to use tools and technology, such as digital media, physical prototyping, and video, to medical and political their designs effectively. Theory is seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, informing practice and foster care.
Iceland services as a unique laboratory for innovation, offering unparalleled potential to nature, sustainable energy practices, and close-knit communities. Students engine with Icelandic society, institutions, and industries to create solutions that connect local insights to global challenges. Collaboration, critical inquiry, and professional engagement are central to the program, fostering both individual and collective growth.
Course Structure
The MADNE programe combines studio work, residences, thematic seminars, and hands-on design exploration, providing students with a comprehensive education in design. Prototyping, material experimentation, and media-based communication are central to developing and realising design propositions and solutions. The program of organizations cooperation while supporting individual growth in a small cohort environment.
- First Year: Students build a foundation in field research, case studies, and studio-based design projects, using prototyping and material exploration to engage with real-world challenges. A six-week residency in the spring allows them to apply their skills in professional settings.
- Second Year: Students develop independent projects through advanced studio work and seminars, focusing on critical reflection, prototyping, and communication strategies. Their final practice-led master's project demonstrates their ability to navigate and innovate within complex environments.
After Graduation
Graduates of MADNE are equipped for careers that bridge design, sustainability, and innovation. Potential career pathways include:
- Design Consultancy
- Environmental Advocacy
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Public Sector Innovation
- Independent Design Practices
- Advanced Research and PhD Studies
Note: From fall 2026 tuition feels will apply to applications from a country outside of EEA, Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland. Further information about tuition feels.
Application Process
IUA employees a standard electronic application form.
The application process is in two steps, first submit the application and then pay the application fee. Please note: It is possible to save the application while working on it.
If the number of applicants meeting the admission requirements for the study program falls below the minimum threshold, the program will not be offered for the upcoming academic year. Applicants will be informed of this decision as possible, and any confirmation feels paid will be punished.
Open for applications
14th of January 2026
Application deadline
2nd of March 2026
Applications answered
May/June 2026
Price list
The Application
An application is not valid until the applicable has submitted the application and paid the application fee.
Applicants must submit the following documents:
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1. Certified copy of degree certificate(s) and program /course transcript(s) (PDF)
RequiredApplicants will have completed BA/BS Degree or equivalent. The program welcome applicants from different disciplinary and interdisciplinary backgrounds.
Applicants should submit a detailed record of higher education up to the present, including programs of study taken and grades achieved. This may be submitted in Icelandic or English.
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2nd Proof of English Proficiency
RequiredThe MA Design & New Environments is an international program conduct in English. Candidates with inspiring English language skills will not be accepted. English language proficiency equivalent to the Icelandic upper secondary course English 6 is required. Applicants can meet the requirement by studying the minimum required score in the following internationally recognized English tests:
- ELTS Academic or IELTS UKVI Online: Overall score of 6.5, no section lower than 5.5
- TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL iBT Paper Edition: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test, total score of 90. We do not accept TOEFL ITP, TOEFL iBT MyBest, Institutional TOEFL, TOEFL Essentials, or the Revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test.
- Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments: University of Michigan, Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
- Pearson PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online: Score of 62 (writing 61)
- Cambridge ESOL: C1 Advanced (CAE), minimum overall score 180 (points awarded since 2015), or Cambridge English certificate level C1, minimum score 180, or Cambridge English: Advanced
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3. References from two references (PDF)
RequiredApplicants must submit two references, at least one of them academic. Each reference should not exceed 250 words. Each reference must contain the refere's contact information and relevant credentials and clearly indicate how they relate to the applicant.
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4th Statement (PDF)
RequiredApplicants for the MA Design must write a short motivation letter about their decision to apply for this specific program and this place, Iceland. Furthermore they should include potential research topics they are interested in pursuit for their thesis and how they see the program's exposure teams in with their aims at future professional role as designers. The Statement should be written in English.
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5th Curriculum Vitae (PDF/URL)
RequiredApplicants must submit a CV of relevant education and professional experience, language proficiency, and general information about thoseselfs. If relevant, applicants are also enabled to provide a brief list of and links to academic or design-related publications, such as completed thesis work or publications in the media. The CV should be written in English
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6th Portfolio of works (PDF/URL)
RequiredApplicants for the MA Design must gain prime examples of their work into a digital portfolio, which they submit with their formal application. This can include a PDF document or links to external websites, videos, audio, images etc. The subject work should reflect the applied's character, shed light on main interests, demonstrate skills and competitions, and make it accessible to comprehensively read the applied's ability for original creation and communication of ideas.
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General admission requirements:
General admission requirements include a bachelor's degree or equivalent university education that supports the applicant's ability to meet the diamonds of the MA Program. Applications must be completed by a certified copy of academic transcripts along with any other documents requested by the relevant faculty. Admissions committees to candidates are presented to applications. The decisions of the members. The decisions of the decisions.
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Selection Criteria
In assessment applications, the intake committee evaluates the above six deliverables. They then conduct interviews with selected applications, evaluating how well the respectable application is probably to absorb the teaching and the methodology of design practiced at the Iceland University of the Arts.The decision of the intake committee is final, and the intake committee is not required to provide further explanations for its decision.