Students share a flexible and common core study in the first 2 years of the programme before deferred selection into the individual degree streams; the common core involves contextual and language studies and a choice of subject focus in humanities at the University; communication and design skills, criticism and theory input are delivered by Glasgow School of Art; international study placement is offered to students on the BDes (Hons) degree, and substantial European study is central to the MEDes degree in which students undertake 2 1-year exchange placements with European partners in Finland, France, Germany, Sweden or Italy.