Domus Academy
Service Design Master's Degree
One Year

In the Master in Service Design program, students learn new skills in storytelling, prototyping, problem-solving, and business design that can be applied to developing intuitive and relevant service ideas. Through observing users, participants detect unmet customer needs and develop physical and virtual systems of service experience, working in close contact with professionals from private and public sector organizations.


Degree Length
One year; Fall Intake

Application Requirements
Complete online application
Personal statement (300-500 word essay)
Curriculum vitae/Resume
Digital portfolio
Official Undergraduate Degree transcript
Copy of Undergraduate Degree
Passport scan (photo page)
Digital photo (passport style)
Italian privacy consent form

Application Deadline
June 15
Apps accepted after deadline as space permits

Program Dates
Late August – Mid July


Eligibility Requirements

Age: 18+

Academic: Completed Bachelor’s degree

*contact SAI if you don’t meet requirements

Undergraduate GPA:* 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)

English Language:* Non-native English language speakers must submit IELTS: 5.0+ or equivalent.



Program Aims & Objectives
The Master in Service Design program is meant to foster storytelling and prototyping skills, the problem-solving and business design approach to help students develop innovative service ideas. Through user observation, students will detect unmet user needs and develop compelling scenarios, physical and digital systems of service experience, working in close contact with professionals, firms and public-sector organizations.

Moreover, Domus Academy ensures that students attending the academy become aware of the great opportunities surrounding them, such as the fact that Milan is an international and design-oriented city with a lot of famous design studios and agencies, research labs, trade fairs and companies. Students at Domus Academy come from about 50 different countries and this fact makes it an international school where different cultures can be met; Domus Academy is part of an international network of universities and the faculty of the academy are internationally renowned professionals in their field.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the Master in Service Design the students will:

  • Be able to develop all the project steps, from research and analysis to concept definition, from idea selection to its development, prototyping, testing, execution and market launch.
  • Identify user observation and user experience as core elements of Service Design projects.
  • Learn and use methodologies and tools for research, analysis, strategic planning and idea generation to successfully take on the most diverse Service Design projects.
  • Develop business design knowledge in order to verify and validate the financial sustainability of project proposals.
  • Understand the importance and effectiveness of prototyping as a way to present and iteratively test ideas throughout the whole project duration.
  • Develop storytelling and storyboarding skills to produce

Degree & Certification
Upon graduation from Domus Academy, you’ll earn a degree that’s recognized around Europe and the world—an Academic Master’s Degree (60 ECTS credits) accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR). The Academic Master’s Degree is validated through NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano. You’ll also earn a second valuable qualification: the Domus Academy Master’s Diploma.

Domus Academy’s accreditation has helped build relationships with prestigious companies, so you have the chance to gain practical work experience during your course of study. An accredited degree, plus the practical experience you gain through an internship, shows employers that you received a top-quality education and that you bring industry-relevant knowledge and skills to the table when you join their team. Domus Academy’s accreditation also means that the relevant academic credits you earn at Domus Academy will transfer to other institutions if you choose to work toward another master’s or a doctoral-level degree.

Career Opportunities
Graduates from the Master in Service Design may seek employment at established firms, such as large corporations, service companies, design consultancy, as well as NGOs, government agencies, research institutions, or start their own consulting business. Possible job titles include: Service Designer, Design Strategist, Experience Designer and Ethnographic Researcher.

Declaration of Value
In order to receive the Academic Master Degree at the completion of the program students holding a non-Italian Bachelor Degree are required to have their degree validated prior to starting the program. In order to do so, students must contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the country where the degree was issued in order to ask for the so called “perfezionamento documenti”, consisting of:

  • Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s High School Diploma*
  • Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s High School Academic Transcripts*
  • Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s Bachelor Degree*
  • Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s Undergraduate Academic Transcripts*
  • “Dichiarazione di valore in loco” (Declaration of Value) of the student’s High School Diploma & Bachelor Degree. (The “Dichiarazione di valore in loco” is the document attesting that the study qualification obtained in the student’s country of residence is valid for accessing Italian Universities or Academies)

For a complete list of Italian representative authorities worldwide please see here. The legalized and translated documents, as well as the “Dichiarazione di valore in loco” will be issued to the student.

*Please Note: All Consulates vary and they may have slightly different requirements. You must contact the Consulate, which holds jurisdiction where the diploma/degree issuing school is located.

The program is organized in four main modules including DNA kicks, courses and workshops, followed by a fifth module providing a professional experience period and a final portfolio presentation. For a full description of the program structure see Service Design Master’s Degree.

Core Workshop

  • Experience Design
  • Service Design

Elective Workshop – One to be chosen among:

  • Envisioning
  • Product Strategy

Free Choice Workshop

  • Storytelling and Visual Narrative
  • Business for Design
  • Design Thinking
  • Personal Branding
SAI Program Fees* USD
Application Fee $125
Program Fee
Includes tuition, Master’s degree and SAI Select Services, no housing (see What’s Included).
Contact SAI
Program Fee: EU Citizens
Students who are EU citizens can receive a discount on their program fee.
Contact SAI
Optional / Additional Fees:  
International Mailing Supplement
Students residing outside the U.S. are charged an international mailing supplement to ensure visa paperwork arrives in a timely manner.
$85

*prices are subject to change

Budget Low Est. High Est.
Airfare to/from Milan
$900 $1,500
Visa
Visa and Permit to Stay fees.
$300 $300
Books, Supplies & Course Fees
$200 / course $200 / course
Housing
SAI can provide recommendations.
$800 / month $1,500 / month
Meals
Combination of cooking at home and eating out.
$600 / month $1,000 / month
Personal Expenses $250 / month $350 / month
Transportation within Milan area
Public transportation with some taxi rides.
$100 / month $250 / month
Weekend Travel
Cost varies greatly by student.
$300 / month $1,000 / month

This is an SAI Select Services Program; it includes the important on-site services!

  • Academic Master’s Degree awarded by Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA)
  • Master’s Diploma from Domus Academy
  • Program tuition
  • Student health insurance providing full coverage and medical emergency evacuation
  • SAI orientation to the host city and school
  • SAI staff on-site providing assistance as needed and 24-hour emergency support

Pre-departure and Re-entry services

  • Admissions counselor assigned to you, providing friendly assistance throughout your study abroad experience
  • Helpful pre-departure tools and resources
  • Assistance with student visa application
  • Assistance with financial aid and loan processing
  • Paid registration fees for national re-entry conferences
  • SAI alumni network

Housing is not included in SAI Select Services Programs. However, your SAI Admissions Counselor will be happy to provide you with information and recommendations for local housing agencies, as well as school-provided apartments. Students who do not have prior housing arrangements should begin speaking with their Admissions Counselor as soon as possible.

Passports
Passports should be valid for 3 months after planned departure from Italy.

Student Visas
In accordance with Italian law students studying in Italy for 90 days or more are required to obtain a student visa. Those with Italian/EU citizenship are exempted. Non-US nationals should consult their local Consulate for information on student visa requirements.

Students must appear in person at the Italian Consulate to present their student visa application. Our Student Visa Office is available to assist students in getting ready for the appointment; SAI provides student visa consulting for all our students at no cost.