ECAL Master Type Design is a two-year master's programme in Lausanne, Switzerland, for graduates who hold a Bachelor in graphic design. It has run since 2016, and the school is also home to ECAL Typefaces, a type foundry operating within the university. For 2027 entry, online registration opens at the end of November 2026 and closes on 22 March 2027, with a non-refundable registration fee of CHF 150. Interviews take place at ECAL between 28 April and 4 May 2027, and results follow in the first half of May. Tuition fees are published on the ECAL website.

Two features stand out. The first is length: at two years, the programme gives more time to develop a body of type design work than a one-year master's. The second is the in-house foundry. Studying at a school that also publishes typefaces means students are close to the practical realities of releasing fonts, from finishing a family to presenting it to the people who will use it.

What You Will Learn

The official programme page focuses on the structure and admissions rather than a detailed syllabus, so check it for the current course content. As a two-year type design master's for graphic designers, you can expect the work to centre on:

Designing original typefaces, from early sketches to finished families
Developing a critical eye for letterforms, spacing and rhythm
Understanding how type is used in graphic design and how that shapes a typeface
Taking fonts towards a publishable standard
Building a portfolio of type design work over two years
Learning from the context of a school with its own foundry

Who Is ECAL Master Type Design For?

ECAL Master Type Design is aimed specifically at people with a Bachelor in graphic design. It suits graphic designers who have discovered that the letters themselves interest them more than the layouts around them, and who want two full years to turn that interest into a professional practice.

It is not designed for complete beginners or for people without a graphic design degree. If you are still deciding whether type design is for you, an online workshop is a sensible way to try it first. Good Stuff Weekly lists Type@Cooper's online workshops, which run over a few weeks in the evenings.

Admissions Calendar

The admissions process for 2027 follows a clear sequence, set out on the ECAL admissions calendar:

End of November 2026: online registration opens
22 March 2027: registration closes; the portfolio and administrative dossier are submitted with the registration
28 April to 4 May 2027: interviews at ECAL in Lausanne
First half of May 2027: results are announced

The registration fee is CHF 150 and is not refundable. For the start date of the programme and the teaching calendar, consult the official ECAL pages.

How to Apply

You apply by registering online and submitting a portfolio together with an administrative dossier. Shortlisted candidates are then interviewed at ECAL. As general guidance for a type design master's portfolio:

Lead with letters: put lettering, type experiments and any fonts you have started at the front
Show graphic design context: include a few projects where your typographic choices carry the work
Show process: sketches and iterations tell the panel how you think
Be selective: a small set of strong, well-explained projects reads better than everything you have made
Prepare for the interview: be ready to talk about why you want to design type and which typefaces or designers influence you

Plan your travel to Lausanne for the interview period in advance, as interviews are held at the school.

Price and Access

The only fee stated in our source is the CHF 150 registration fee, which is non-refundable. Tuition fees are published on the ECAL website, so check the current figures there. Remember that living costs in Lausanne over two years are a significant part of the total budget.

Things to Consider

Eligibility: you need a Bachelor in graphic design, so confirm that your degree qualifies.
Timeline: registration closes on 22 March 2027, and interviews follow from 28 April; keep those weeks free.
Length: two years is a bigger commitment than a one-year master's, but it gives more time for a substantial project.
Alternatives: compare ECAL Master Type Design with the KABK Master Type and Media and the University of Reading MA Typeface Design.
Language and admin: check the language requirements and the documents needed for the administrative dossier.
Fees: look up tuition on the ECAL website before you register.

Apply to the Programme

Interested in studying with ECAL?

Apply to Master Type Design

For admissions, fees and the full programme, visit the official ECAL website.

Looking for more ways to learn? Browse all courses and learning resources on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: November 12, 2026

Master Type Design at ECAL