TAUGHT IN ENGLISH ❯
A Master’s programme to design purposeful lives.
In a global scenario led by increasing complexity, design has a crucial responsibility of contributing in a concrete way to making the socio-economic system more sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative. Meaningful ideas will address the major issues of today. Design implies researching, developing, and testing – in an iterative way – innovative and effective products, experiences, and services. Design-driven innovation is multi-dimensional, and a good product/service requires consistent interventions throughout the value chain, including marketing, distribution, and customer care.
The aim of the Master in Design Management is to train professionals with different roles in this evolving framework at large private companies, SMEs, public administration, and non-profit organizations: Research and Service Designer, Service Design Strategist, User Interface Designer, Experience Designer, Brand Strategist, Business Designer, Project Manager, Content Designer, Designer for sustainable social change, Organizational Change Manager, Digital innovation and new business consultant.
INTENSIVE LEARNING > 12 MONTHSTEACHING HOURS > 500
INTERNSHIP HOURS > 250PRIVATE AND CULTURAL PARTNERS > +100
REAL LIFE PROJECTS > 5VISITING PROFESSORS > +20
The Master’s programme is intended as an extensive laboratory in the field of human-centered design applicable to a wide range of sectors: art and culture, health and wellness, traveling and hospitality, education, energy, and public policies. Particular attention will be paid to Systemic design and to Design Management, both as an understanding of business dynamics, general management, business models and development, entrepreneurship, and crowdfunding. Students learn to initiate, develop, organize, and assess any design-driven projects. Design thinking is addressed as a critical and strategic approach to analyze and interpret various contexts, identify future scenarios, and imagine new products and services. User-experience design and Engagement design allow developing creative and innovative solutions also thanks to the potential of visual narratives and digital technologies, and strategic brand management as the ability to define powerful brand identities and communicate in an original way with all users and stakeholders.
The Master in Design Management has many partners who can host students for a 250-hour curricular placement, including 5A Design, AMKA Onlus, Ashtart Consultancy S.r.l., Baas Box, Cappelli Design, Creation, Fifth Beat, FolkFunding – produzioni dal basso, ILI Editore, Iperdesign, Lopelab, Particle, Ragù Communication, TWM Factory, Wemanage.
This Master starts in January of the current year, ends in January of the following year and, and includes 250 hours of internship. Attendance is mandatory. Applications are currently open for January 2026 intake.
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ACADEMIC MASTER IN DESIGN MANAGEMENT
Study Plan
| SUBJECTS | ECTS | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
|
Digital technologies and applications: User experience design
Methodology for analysing user needs to develop accessible and engaging experiences, with a focus on methods for identifying user needs and functional requirements, information architecture and design, wireframe creation tools and graphic design techniques to design the user interface websites, APPs, and games.
| 8 | 100 |
|
Design Thinking
Methods and techniques to tackle complex problems through a creative iterative approach, combining qualitative research, ideation, design and co-design, prototyping and testing phases to launch new businesses, new products and new services, in any sector and market.
| 8 | 100 |
|
Brand Design and Strategy
Marketing and business communication. Strategic brand management methods and tools. Principles of neuro-marketing to develop an effective and consistent customer experience. Ideation, design, and planning digital and content marketing.
| 8 | 100 |
|
Design Management
Methods and techniques that leverage the design principles and approach to manage the main business strategic challenges. Design to analyze and rethink internal processes, activating, planning and assessing disruptive and incremental innovation projects for private companies, public administration and NGO's. Project management tools, both traditional (Gantt) and agile (Scrum, Kanban), including performance evaluation practices (KPIs).
| 10 | 125 |
|
Business management and crowdfunding
Fundamentals of strategic and operational business management for large organizations and SMEs, including value chain dynamics, business modelling, business planning and return on investment veluation, ESG factors, open innovation, entrepreneurship and crowdfunding.
| 8 | 60 |
|
Curricular internship
| 10 | 250 |
|
Final project
| 8 | / |
| Total Credits | 60 |
In order to access the RUFA first-level Academic Masters programmes, a three-year academic diploma (new system), four-year academic diploma (old system), university degree, or another qualification obtained abroad and recognized as suitable by the Academy in compliance with international agreements, is required.
The Master in Design Management prefers knowledge and training in the area of design or in the humanities and economics area.
Enrolment in Master’s programs is on the basis of an admission assessment, which aims to understand the candidate’s potential and verify their commitment to undertake the chosen Master’s program. Candidates must submit their Curriculum Vitae, a 500-word personal statement and the certificate of English language proficiency (min. B2). Candidates can also submit their portfolio, the abstract of their thesis, or any relevant documents to show their skills and experience. The admission assessment consists of an interview with our academic staff discussing the applicant’s portfolio, experience, projects, and any works and documents that may be relevant for admission purposes. The interview may also be held online.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Applications are currently open for January 2026 intake.
ADMISSION
Online application for admission
Photocopy of identity document and tax code (only for Italian applicants)
Original academic qualification or self-certification – Download Template
CV
Motivational letter
Portfolio or other documents (not mandatory)
ENROLMENT
Online application form
Two passport photos
Receipt of payment of the enrolment fee
Language certification or documentation proving knowledge of the English language, B2 level, for all students
For non-EU students: study visa/residence permit required to attend academic programs
For foreign students or Italian students who obtained their qualifications abroad: declaration of value, request in the country of origin, or certificates of verification and comparability issued by CIMEA.
For further info please contact the Orientation office.
| Italian Students | EU Students | EXTRA EU Students |
|---|---|---|
| € 11.800,00 | € 11.800,00 | € 13.800,00 |
PAYMENT METHOD
ITALIAN AND EU STUDENTS
€ 1200.00 Annual enrolment fee to be paid upon enrolment each year by bank transfer addressed to Rome University of Fine Arts S.r.l. IBAN: IT29D0306905048100000012207, BIC CODE (Swift): BCITITMM, entering your name and surname as the reason for payment, by cheque, or directly to the admin office in cash. The remaining part of the tuition fee can be paid, via bank transfer, in:
• one-off payment by 31 January, with a 5% reduction;
• 3 installments (31 January, 28 February, 31 March);
• 4 installments (31 January, 28 February, 30 April, 30 June);
• 6 installments (31 January, 28 February, 31 March, 30 April, 31 May, 30 June);
• 12 installments using 0% interest financing. (Terms & Conditions).
EXTRA EU STUDENTS
€ 1200.00 Enrolment fee to be paid upon enrolment by bank transfer addressed to Rome University of Fine Arts S.r.l. IBAN: IT29D0306905048100000012207, BIC CODE (Swift): BCITITMM, entering your name and surname as the reason for payment, or by credit card on rufa.flywire.com.
The remaining part of the tuition fee must be paid by 12 December, by bank transfer.
For each Academic Master RUFA offers n. 2 scholarships to Italian and international students enrolling in any Academic Master’s programme.
For each Academic master RUFA offers 1 scholarship covering 50% and 1 scolarship covering 30% of the attendance fee, which will be directly deducted from the tuition fee. The Master’s scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic and artistic merit.
An expert committee will evaluate the candidates for the scholarship considering the strength and consistency of the academic profile, the examination of the thesis, portfolio, projects shared by the applicant and the outcome of the interview, if any.
The submission of the scholarship application should be done together with test registration by selecting the appropriate flag when filling out the form.
RUFA strongly believes it is vital to provide visible pathways of access across our programs to those in financial hardship and those from a diverse range of backgrounds:
• “zero interest financing” 12-month payment (Terms & Conditions);
• “per merito” student loan does not require any guarantee for students in good standing with the chosen study course
• exemption of € 2,000.00 students with > 66% disability;
• 5% reduction by paying in one installament by 31 January (only for Italian citizenship students);
• 10% reduction for enrolled brothers and sisters;
• 15% reduction for RUFA graduates.
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