_ Quick Facts
Language
Duration
Form of study
Location
Scholarships
Admission 2025/2026
Application requirements
Tuition
_ Who Should Apply
The ideal candidate for the Response_Able Futures Masters programme is a recent graduate who holds at least a bachelor's degree in a design-related field. They should be passionate about utilising their design skills to create a more equitable and inclusive world but they do not have to have any specific prior knowledge or experience within design for healthcare. The programme welcomes students from diverse cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds, though students must also be able to be respectful of their fellow students regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds. The programme seeks individuals who are eager to engage with complex challenges, both locally and internationally and possess a strong desire to develop their skills as empathetic and confident social change makers.
Applicants must be willing to travel, be communicative and open to working in a team while also be open for giving and receiving critical feedback. The programme is looking for future care design leaders who are driven by a desire to make a positive social impact and are eager to connect with a global network of like-minded individuals striving for design equity and improved healthcare services and products. If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!
_ Admissions Process
To apply to the program, you'll need to create an online application. Ensure you provide a valid email address for communication and upload all of the required documents. Those with incomplete applications will not be considered.
The following documents are required, you can find specific details about each requirement below.
- Educational documents (diploma and transcripts) with official English translations (pdf)
- Proof of English proficiency (pdf)
- Identification Documents (pdf/jpg)
- Design portfolio (pdf/link)
- Statement of Motivation
Personal data that is submitted to the admissions portal, is regulated by European and UK privacy laws and compliant with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
_ Submission Requirements
To apply, you must have a diploma from a Bachelor's (BA) or Master's (MA) degree, along with official transcripts. The diploma must meet at least the National Framework Qualifications level 8 or the European Qualifications Framework level 6. If the diploma is not in English, an official certified translation, including the university’s stamp, is required.
- The diploma must be accompanied by a transcript that details the courses taken as well as the grades received.
- If you are currently in your final year of study and want to apply, please submit an official school certificate stating that the applicant's bachelor degree will be completed by June.
- The degree must be at least a bachelor degree of at least 180 credits in a design-related discipline (Product Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Service Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Interaction design, Game Design, Architecture etc.).
The Selection Board of the Response_Able Futures programme can admit applicants who do not meet the conditions specified above but whose academic, scientific or professional experience reveals an adequate preparation for the programme, e.g. applicants with relevant experience with a degree other than design will also be considered provided they have a strong portfolio, existing design research skills and the ability to communicate both visually and verbally well in an articulate manner.
The Response_Able Futures programme is taught in English and applicants must show that they are proficient in the English language. In order to assess this, you must provide one of the following:
- IELTS 6.5 (Exam taken with a maximum of 2 years prior the enrolment with no component less than 6.0;
- Academic IELTS or TOEFL IBT 92 or Cambridge EQ C1 Advanced C1 Advanced (former name Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE): A,B or C or C2 Proficiency (former name Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE): A,B,C or Level C1);
- If you received your diploma from an institute of higher education in one of the Inner Circle countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland or the Caribbean Islands, you do not have to provide an English-language test result.
As mobility is a key aspect of the programme, applicants must hold a valid identification which helps us assess what visas are required for the mobility. You will need to provide:
- An identification document. This must be an official document that includes a photograph and personal details, such as first name, surname, and date and place of birth, all in English (as in passports). (pdf)
- A recent headshot photograph. (jpg)
The portfolio required for the application should not be a collection of all the work that you have done as a student or professional, it should be curated specifically for this application and meet the following requirements:
- The portfolio should highlight your ability to position yourself as an active player in society by building on your own design practice-oriented approach, highlighting design processes (research, prototyping, testing, concept visualisation…) as well as design execution;
- The portfolio should be a maximum of 10 pages, and should cover a maximum of 5 relevant projects, detailing both the process, the end result and your contribution in both (if it deals with group work);
- The portfolio should be a maximum of 10 pages, and should cover a maximum of 5 relevant projects, detailing both the process, the end result and your contribution in both (if it deals with group work);
- The portfolio should be screen resolution, not print resolution, and size of the pdf should be maximum 10mb;
- The projects should be supported with visualisation and each project should contain a short description of the briefing (max. 500 characters) and of your personal approach (max. 1000 characters).
- Explain your interest in the sector, how it will benefit your future, your expectations of the program and possible areas of interest for what topics you would like to work on in the future.
Your motivation and suitability for the program are key factors in the selection process. We look for candidates who are open-minded, creative, possess strong problem-solving skills and a curiosity. While design experience within Health_Care is not required, a desire to make a positive societal impact and a strategic mindset are highly valued.
To demonstrate your suitability please create a short motivation statement (max. 500 words). There will be a text box available in the online application form:
_ Selection Criteria
The student selection is organised transparently, impartially and equitably. All eligible candidates who submitted the required documentation and are eligible according to the academic requirements are ranked according to the following criteria:
- Academic ability based on previous university results, certificates, and qualifications.
- Sufficient design skills for graduate studies, demonstrated through a portfolio.
- Motivation for the program, linked to prior studies, work experience, and career goals, assessed through the motivation statement.
- English proficiency, evaluated through provided proof, written skills as seen through the written components.
The above criteria are used to rank applicants and make a selection for the second round interview process. Applicants who do not qualify for the interview will be informed by email. A maximum of 50 applicants will be invited for a 15-20 minute online interview.
- Interview criteria will emphasise communication skills, especially the applicant’s ability to think quickly, reflect critically, and engage with topics discussed during the interview and in their motivation materials.
_ Scholarship and Fees
The Response_Able Futures programme accepts a maximum of 21 students per intake. Students can apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship, by indicating this choice in the application form. An Erasmus+ scholarship has a value of EUR 1400 per month, for a total duration of 24 months. For these students, the tuition fee is waived. The scholarship can cover the living costs incurred by the student, including travel, visa, installation, house-rent and other living costs.
There are a number of dedicated scholarships available for excellent students from Albania , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Kosovo *, Montenegro , North Macedonia , Serbia , and Turkey.
Students who have already obtained an EMJM scholarship or an Erasmus Mundus Master Course / Joint Doctorate scholarship are not eligible to apply for an additional scholarship under the EMJM action. Erasmus+ scholarship holders cannot benefit from another EU funded scholarship scheme to follow the same EMJM course. This holds for the entire period of the course.
Self-funded students
Self-funded students are defined as students who did not receive an Erasmus+ scholarship, but have received scholarships or financial support from other sources including their own financial means.
For self-funded students, the tuition fee is 5000 Euro per year, thus 10000 Euro for the 4-semester program that is payable in two instalments. Tuition fees cover participation in all classes, emergency and accident insurance, administrative support, enrolment costs, examinations, and the final diploma. Tuition fees do not cover travel costs, visa expenses, accommodation, living expenses, or other personal costs like software subscriptions, printing costs, prototyping costs or books. Living expenses are estimated to be between 600-1000 Euro per month. The tuition is the same regardless of international or EU residency status.
Students from outside the EU need to be able to provide a proof of sufficient financial means.
One way to obtain proof of sufficient financial means is a ‘blocked account’ supported by LUCA School of Arts. In this setup, students provide sufficient funds to support themselves for living expenses and each month the student receives the money back to pay monthly expenses. With this ‘Blocked Account’ procedure, the LUCA School of Arts can provide a certificate of financial solvability that can also be used for other purposes such as e.g. visa applications. The minimum amount required by LUCA School of Arts depends on your individual situation, see example below.
Example of sufficient financial means for non-EU, self-funded student:
Skills & Education Guarantee
The EU's Skills and Education Guarantee (S&E) allows students to apply for support for their Master’s studies abroad. Loans will be offered by participating banks and student loan agencies on favourable conditions to mobile students, including better than market interest rates and up to two years to allow graduates to get into a job before beginning repayment. This process is not facilitated by the Response_Able Futures programme.
For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/opportunities/individuals/students/erasmus-plus-master-degree-loans_en
_ Appeal Procedure
If you think your application wasn't processed according to the rules on the response-able-futures.eu website and those provided by the EACA, you can file an appeal. It is important to understand that you cannot appeal the decision (whether or not you were selected), but you can register an appeal if you believe a mistake was made during the application and Selection process.
- Write an email explaining your appeal with clear subject heading. Be clear about why you think there was a problem and include anything that supports your claim. Attach any documents that help your case. You need to do this within 7 working days of getting your result.
- Send your email to the Response_Able Futures Coordination Team: Andrea Wilkinson (andrea.wilkinson@luca-arts.be), Eve Stirling (e.stirling@shu.ac.uk) and Joana Quental (joana.quental@ua.pt).
Important: please refer to the section ‘apply as a student’ section in the EACA publication for more information: https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-01/guidelines_for_ersamus_mundus_student_complaints.pdf
