Service Design Strategies and Innovations

Service Design Strategies and Innovations (SDSI)

The Service Design Strategies and Innovations (SDSI) is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Northern Europe, focusing on service design, management, leadership, and innovation. The programme combines interdisciplinary studies across design, management, business, and social sciences to prepare students to become versatile service innovators and future leaders in service design.

The programme is intended for candidates who are passionate about service design and want to develop the skills needed to lead service design initiatives. Students are expected to be open-minded, creative, and comfortable working with diverse perspectives. The programme values problem-solving abilities, strategic and critical thinking, and an interest in creating positive societal impact through knowledge and innovation. Previous professional experience can provide a competitive advantage, but it is not a prerequisite for admission.

Academic Eligibility

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 180 ECTS credits or a second-level professional higher education diploma at LQF/EQF level 6–7. The qualifying educational background should be in one of the following areas:

• Arts and Humanities
• Social Sciences, Journalism and Information
• Business, Administration and Law
• Information and Communication Technologies

The programme welcomes applicants from diverse geographical locations, nationalities, and educational backgrounds.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to provide educational documents, including their diploma and official transcript of records, together with official English translations. The application also requires proof of English proficiency, a copy of the biodata page of a valid passport, a Resume/CV, a video letter of motivation, and an admission assignment. Applicants also participate in an interview as part of the admission process.

Study Experience and International Environment

SDSI provides an intensive, multicultural, and practice-driven learning experience. The programme brings together an international cohort of students from diverse backgrounds, creating opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

Through industry partnerships, students work on real-life projects across Latvia, Finland, and Estonia, gaining practical experience with public-sector and organisational innovation challenges. The programme also highlights student participation in the annual Global Student Service Design Challenge, where SDSI students have regularly progressed to the top stages among international teams.

Study Locations

The study process includes study periods abroad in Kuldīga, Latvia, and Rovaniemi, Finland. The source also states that the 2021/2022 study year was organised mostly online, with four on-site weeks during the first study year. SDSI’s partner locations provide networks for student accommodation and public transport, with airports nearby.

Application Process

Applicants begin by selecting “Sign in / register” on the application platform and creating an account using an email address that they regularly check. They then complete the application, upload the required documents and admission assignment, and submit the application.

The source identifies the 2026/2028 cohort as the final planned intake within the current Erasmus Mundus funding cycle, with future continuation of SDSI as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme dependent on re-approval.

Admission Results and Appeals

Admission results are published on the SDSI website in April. Applicants can review their performance order and scores through the published results file using their assigned DreamApply account ID number.

Applicants who believe an error occurred during the evaluation or eligibility process may submit an appeal, provided they have carefully reviewed the selection criteria and complied with the required submission deadlines. Appeals are not automatic re-evaluations, and new information that should have been included in the original application is not considered. For the 2026 admission process, appeals had to be submitted before April 5, with appeal results scheduled to be emailed before April 19.