Took root in Beijing Normal University 's rich expertise in education and fine arts, the Design Education program is primarily focused on nurturing academic research and practical exploration leaders in design education. The program pays special attention to the evolving demands for innovative design talent in response to societal and cultural developments and the upgrading of information technology within the context of interdisciplinary backgrounds. It also explores design education and its developmental trends, aiming to produce highly skilled design education innovators. They are expected to possess design thinking, mastery of new technologies, interdisciplinary innovation capabilities, the capacity to analyze and anticipate future societal trends, and international perspectives, as well as research and practical capabilities.
Admission Information of Previous Years Year：2024Applicants: 28Enrollment: 1Supervisor: Prof. GAO Peng
Examinations and Admissions
The admission methods for postgraduate students are divided into Admission through Recommendation without Examination and Admission through Examination.
How to Apply
Registration is done online through the following website: https://yz.bnu.edu.cn/. The registration fee is CNY200 and should be paid online. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable.
Candidates must submit the following written materials to the Graduate Academic Affairs Office of the School of Future Design. The written materials must be consistent with the information uploaded in the online registration system. Materials include:
(1)Registration Form Printed from the online registration system,ensure to upload a personal digital photo as required, sign to confirm each page of the printed registration form.
(2)Personal StatementDownload the blank form from the online registration system, fill it out with details about your academic research experiences, academic interests, achievements, motivation for applying, and career plans. Be sure to submit a digital version in the online registration system.
(3)Photocopies of language proficiency certificates for the chosen second language in application (e.g.CET-6, TEM-4, TEM-8, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)；
(4)Representative works that demonstrate your academic level and research capabilities Including papers, research reports, patents, software, game development, publications, etc., originals or photocopies are acceptable). And original research achievements or high-level practical experience, which require proof of international or national awards, or written recommendations and evaluations from experts in the field. Applicants are required to simultaneously submit in the online registration system up to three of your own published representative academic papers or other relevant supporting materials.
(5)Research plan for doctoral studiesIncluding the research topics, knowledge background, innovation, research framework, research methods, main references, etc. There is no fixed template, but the total word count should be around 5,000 words. Please submit a digital version in the online registration system；
(6)Reference lettersAt least two reference letters from associate professors (or equivalent positions) or higher-ranking experts in a field related to the applied discipline. (Download the blank reference letter form from the online registration system and have the reference experts fill it out. The letters must be sealed by the experts, and they should sign across the seal)；
(7)For those who have already graduated or obtained a master’s degree, you must provide a copy of your graduation certificate or master’s degree certificate. If your master’s degree was obtained overseas, you must provide a certificate of authentication from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). Additionally, you should include the full text of your master’s degree dissertation and the original postgraduate academic record. This transcript must be provided by the postgraduate training department of your master’s degree-granting institution and bear their official seal. Alternatively, you can make a photocopy of your transcript and have it stamped with an official seal by your institution’s archive department. Recent master’s degree graduates only need to submit the original postgraduate academic record, the abstract of your master’s dissertation, the table of contents, and the full text of the dissertation proposal. Applicants admitted to the program must obtain graduation certificate or master’s degree certificate before enrollment. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of admissions. Applicants with equivalent qualifications should provide photocopies of bachelor’s degree and graduation certificates and the original postgraduate academic record.
Admission through Examination
The assessment process consists of two stages: preliminary selection and final assessment.
(1)Preliminary SelectionThe School of Future Design Preliminary Review Committee will evaluate the materials submitted by candidates, which include the research plan, research achievements, overall qualities, and relevant work and practical experiences.The maximum score is 100 points. Candidates who score below 60 points will not proceed to the final assessment. Candidates who score 60 points or higher (including 60 points) will be ranked by score, and a certain percentage of top candidates will be selected to proceed to the final assessment.
(2) Final AssessmentThe final assessment will take place in the middle to late March 2024 and the date will be specified in the list of interviewees. It will be comprehensive professional interview and cover professional knowledge, professional qualities, research potential, academic level, language skills, and innovative thinking and abilities, among others.
(3)AdmissionsThe final score of candidates is determined by the results of the final assessment. The graduate admissions team of the school will rank candidates in descending order according to their final total scores. The list of candidates to be admitted will be finalized by the school’s admissions team and then publicly announced.
Fees & funding
The tuition fee for doctoral students in Fine Arts is CNY10,000 per student per academic year, totaling CNY30,000 for the three-year program. The tuition fee should be paid in registration of first semester of each academic year.
Beijing Normal University offers various financial assistance programs, including basic grants, subsidies for “three-assistant” roles, and scholarships. For detailed information, please refer to the Beijing Normal University Postgraduate Student Scholarship Establishment Plan and related documents.
The School of Future Design also offers academic achievement scholarships, special program scholarships, and rewards for students participating in overseas study and exchange programs at cooperating institutions.
Duration of studies and Degree Award
Upon admission, students start the program in September of next year. The duration of study is 3 years.Upon completing the three-year programme and meeting the requirements, students will be awarded a doctoral degree certificate (Doctor of Arts) and a certificate of graduation.
Location and Accommodation
The course will take place at the Zhuhai Campus, and full-time students will be accommodated as per the university’s arrangements.
Address: A1-302 (Academic Affairs Office of the School of Future Design), Yuanbai Building, Beijing Normal University Zhuhai, No.18, Jinfeng Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, 519000, P.R.China
TEL: 0756-3683976 LIANG Xu
Delivery Instructions: When sending any documents, please choose SF Express or China Post to ensure safe and reliable delivery.
Links：BNU Graduate Admissions: https://yz.bnu.edu.cn/BNU School of Future Design: https://design.bnu.edu.cn/