The School of Future Design actively responds to the national future talent training policy, advocates interdisciplinary training and comprehensive ability cultivation. Cross-disciplinary candidates are encouraged to apply for the above programs without limitation of their undergraduate major. The application is adopted by major admission, and the major direction and postgraduate supervisor are determined during the first year of graduate study.

“Design and Education”is the innovative research in art and design education for future development. The program involves the investigation of “Design Thinking” for adolescents, “Aesthetic Education” in K-12 education and Learning Environment Design (campus, classroom, desk, chair, teaching aids and other educational products and services). By taking the advantage of BNU’s leading disciplines such as education and psychology, it highlights the characteristics of teacher-training institutions, creates a new direction of design interdisciplinary education, and explores the future development of design education.

Examinations and Admissions
The admission methods for postgraduate students are divided into Admission through Recommendation without Examination and Admission through Examination.

Admission through Recommendation without Examination
The admission phase for recommended postgraduate students without examination occurs annually in late September for the following academic year. The admission process is divided into two stages: the application stage and the re-examination stage. Applicants must log into the Beijing Normal University’s Recommendation Application System before the deadline to complete their personal information in detail, upload the required documents, and download and complete the relevant forms.
The faculty will review the applicant’s materials and promptly announce the list of candidates eligible for re-examination, including the re-examination schedule and format. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria, submit the application as required, upload the necessary materials, and have been recognized as “Outstanding Camp Participants” at the SFD’s National Summer Camp for Outstanding University Students in the current year are directly eligible for the re-examination.
The faculty will determine the list of pre-admitted candidates based on merit from those who have passed the re-examination. Notifications of pre-admission will be sent to the successful candidates, and the list of recommended candidates to be accepted will be published on the Beijing Normal University Graduate Admissions website. Under equal conditions, applicants who have been recognized as "Outstanding Camp Participants" in the current year at the SFD’s National Summer Camp for Outstanding University Students will be given priority for pre-admission.
Re-examination candidates who have been recognized as "Outstanding Camp Participants" at the SFD’s National Summer Camp for Outstanding University Students will undergo online remote re-examination, while those who have not received such recognition will attend in-person re-examinations. Both online remote and in-person re-examinations adhere to the same evaluation standards and are included in the overall score rankings.
The 2025 postgraduate recommendation and exemption process concluded on 29 September, receiving a total of 190 valid applications over three days. Ultimately, eight candidates from institutions such as Tsinghua University and Wuhan University were admitted.

Admission through Examination
The examination is divided into two stages: the preliminary examination and the reexamination. The preliminary examination is required to take the national unified examination for graduate students, and the preliminary examination will be held in December. Candidates who reach the university’s independent reexamination score line are eligible for the review.
The subjects of the preliminary examination include the national examination subjects and specialized subjects. The national unified examination includes ideological and political theory and foreign language, with 100 points each; the specialized subjects include “art principles” and “art design planning and creativity”, with 150 points each, and the specialized subjects do not include on-site creation and painting content. Please refer to the latest syllabus in the school's admissions brochure.
The reexamination will include an interview and a professional examination, which will further test the students’ professional foundation, comprehensive analysis ability and ability to solve practical problems. The reexamination is scheduled for mid to late March in upcoming year, and the specific time will be announced on the university’s graduate admission website.
The admission list will be determined based on the candidates’ scores in the preliminary and reexamination, combined with application materials, ideological and political performance, and other factors.

Duration of studies and Degree Award
Upon admission, students start the program in September. The duration of study is 3 years.The teaching for full-time program is in-term lectures.
Upon graduation, students who meet the graduation requirements within the duration of study can be awarded with a Master of Fine Arts degree (professional degree) and a certificate of graduation.

Fees & funding
The tuition fee for MFA Program (full-time) is RMB 55,000 yuan, which shall be paid equally in three years.
The School of Future Design offers various scholarships covering 50% of total students for overseas exchange and incentives for students to visit and exchange with overseas partner schools.
Accommodation
On-campus accommodation is arranged for full-time students.