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Undergraduate courses/Creative Design courses/Graphic Design

Key facts

Entry requirements

104 UCAS points or DMM

Additional entry requirements apply to this course. Full entry requirements

UCAS code

W219

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

3 years full-time, 4 years with placement

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,750

Additional costs

See all the key facts

Entry requirements

104 UCAS points or DMM

Additional entry requirements apply to this course. Full entry requirements

UCAS code

W219

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

3 years full-time, 4 years with placement

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,750

Additional costs

See all the key facts

Teaching staff are practising designers with a range of experience and close industry links

Graphic design opens the door to an extensive variety of creative jobs, from positions in agencies, freelance consultancy, in-house or even opportunities to set up your own studio. Advertising, animation, visual effects or stylist, there are many careers a graphic design degree can lead you to.

Gain the essential experience required to become a successful graphic designer and graduate with an impressive portfolio that demonstrates your skills and talents, showcasing your capabilities to future employers.

Not only do you learn how to apply your creativity, you’ll also be able to develop other areas such as research, analytical and entrepreneurial skills. Teaching staff are practising designers with a range of experience and close industry links, allowing you to spend time working with professional clients.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments – rather than lots of exams at the end of the year – and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging. Read more about block teaching.

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What you will study

You'll cultivate ideation skills for inventive design solutions, focusing on problem-solving, design principles, practical abilities, and effective communication. This year sparks creative curiosity and introspection, while delving into semiotics and visual communication for meaningful design outcomes.

Block 1: Exploration and Ideation for Graphic Design

The module aims to support the development of ideation skills to create innovative solutions to design briefs through meaningful problem solving, here students will gain an appreciation and understanding of fundamental design principles. Practical and technical skills will be taught in this module, that will offer students the tools to explore and present concepts through effective communication. The module intends to encourage creative curiosity, with students able to utilise reflective insight within their design solutions.

Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours 

Block 2: Applied Idea Development for Graphic Design  

Explores the application and evaluation of ideations skills, where students experiment with creative themes to produce effective solutions for appropriate design briefs. Here students apply an understanding of design principles, in partnership with the acquisition of practical and technical skills, allowing students to apply and refine the ideation process through effective communication. The module encourages students to explore and apply theoretical understanding of the subject, allowing for creative curiosity and lateral thinking, encouraging students to be boundary pushing and take risks through playful exploration.

Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 3: Visual Communication for Graphic Design  

Introduces the fundamental principles to understand and apply semiotics in a graphic design context, designed to enhance students’ visual communication skills. Students will explore the relationships between product, service, client and audience to ensure their creative outcomes successfully resonate with all stakeholders. Practical and technical skills are also taught in this module to support the communication of final propositions and design concepts. Creative briefs will encourage investigation to give insight to design solutions aimed at creating meaningful relationships with audience through critical judgement and problem solving.

Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 4: Creative Resolution for Graphic Design 

This module explores the principles of successful visual communication to an audience, developing students’ understanding of refinement and finesse within a client-designer context, exploring the resolution of the design process and reflecting on the requirements of the brief. Students will analyse design solutions in a professional practice context and evaluate strategic decision making and the success of projects. Through analysis and reflection, students will be able to evaluate necessary design development and refinement.

Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Continuing from the first year, you'll further refine your design process for innovative solutions. This includes honing problem-solving, design principles, practical skills, and communication effectiveness. Additionally, you'll delve deeper into semiotics and design communication. This year also guides you to define your personal design practice and identity through research and portfolio development.

Block 1: Design Process for Graphic Design

The module aims to develop a design process to create innovative solutions to design briefs, through meaningful problem solving. Students will develop an appreciation and understanding of design principles. Practical and technical skills will be taught in this module that will give students the tools to deliver their concepts through effective communication. The module intends to encourage creative curiosity, with students able to develop and utilise reflective insight within their solutions.

Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 2: Design Process Progression for Graphic Design

Aims to develop a design process to create innovative solutions to design briefs, through meaningful problem solving. Students will develop an appreciation and understanding of design principles. Practical and technical skills will be taught in this module that will give students the tools to deliver their concepts through effective communication. The module intends to encourage creative curiosity, with students able to develop and utilise reflective insight within their solutions.

Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 3: Design Communication for Graphic Design

This module develops a students’ understanding of semiotics and design communication skills, here students will expand and further develop their design communication skills and explore relationships between product, service, client and audience to successfully resonate with all stakeholders. Practical and technical skills are taught in this module to support the communication of their designs.

Lecture: 6 hours
Tutorial: 42 hours
Studio/lab: 42 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 4: Personal Practice for Graphic Design

In this module students will define their practice and as professional graphic designer, or for design entrepreneurial activity. Students will research and understand relevant areas of creative practice. Students will also evaluate and question their creative strengths and direction. To do this, students will design and present a portfolio of their project work along which defines their practice and expresses their creative position.

Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Building on your skills, you'll elevate ideation abilities for more refined design solutions. The focus shifts to exploring personal creativity and individual creative paths through hands-on projects. You'll progress to advanced professional practice, working on live briefs, establishing client relationships, and crafting a comprehensive portfolio that reflects your journey. As you prepare for the professional world, you'll consolidate your strengths and create self-promotional materials to showcase your capabilities.

Block 1: Independent Practice

The module aims to refine ideation skills to create innovative solutions to design briefs, through meaningful problem solving. This project-based module is the principle means for students to test, apply and articulate the concepts and theories learned at levels 4 and 5 and to develop their personal creativity to a mature level. Essentially studio-based with minimal formal taught content, it provides the opportunity to explore and develop individual creative pathways under close tutor supervision. This module allows students to undertake projects following a graphic design or illustration pathway, working on a diverse range of briefs.

Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 2: Independent Practice 2

The module utilises students' ideations skills to experiment with themes and creative solutions developed in the first block. This project-based module is the principle means for students to test, apply and articulate the concepts and theories learned at levels 1 and 2 and to develop their personal creativity to a mature level. Essentially studio-based with minimal formal taught content, it provides the opportunity to explore and develop individual creative pathways under close tutor supervision.

This module allows students to undertake individual projects following a graphic design or illustration pathway, working on a diverse range of briefs.

Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 3: Professional Practice

This module introduces students to the advanced knowledge and skills needed to understand graphic design and illustration professional practice including knowledge of the commercial aspects of design practice. Students will work on live and external briefs, which will involve research directly linked to generating appropriate ideas for the practical design work and the preparation of the final portfolio with support materials, to be assessed at the end of the module. The process of managing the client/designer relationship is introduced, where transferable skills relevant to the entire programme of study are developed through effective self-management of learning the projects. The module presents an opportunity for students to develop a better understanding of the relevance of visual communication (graphic design and illustration) to industry and in society.

Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Block 4: Professional Practice 2

This module aims to prepare students for the process of obtaining their first job as a professional graphic designer or illustrator, or for design entrepreneurial activity. To achieve this, the student will need to assess and consolidate their creative strengths and direction, as well as research and understand the creative marketplace. Students will design and produce a range of materials aimed at representing their creative abilities and supporting a job application. These will be presented within the final portfolio of work, forming a complete self-promotional package.

Tutorial: 45 hours
Studio/lab: 45 hours
Self-directed study: 110 hours
Assessment: 100 hours

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Structure

Teaching, learning and assessment on BA (Hons) Graphic Design will take place through modules with well-established strategies and patterns of delivery. Here, students are provided with an opportunity to develop an intellectual and visual awareness of historical and contemporary practices, integrating, practices across a range of media. Learning and teaching strategies also encourage students to collaborate with one another and to work across creative disciplines (interactive design, illustration, photography, printmaking etc.).

The multidisciplinary approach requires a range of deliveries, such as: workshop demonstrations, studio work, lectures, seminars, tutorials, group project work, screenings, external visits, visiting professionals, independent learning, research and self-directed studies all inform practical areas of study. Lectures and seminars, research and self-directed study deliver the contextual and historical information students need to inform their thinking around theoretical issues, and their analytical writing skills.

Assessment

Formative reviews of work take place on a continuous weekly tutorial basis preceding formative assessments each semester and summative assessments in May. Assessment strategies adhere to subject benchmarks and applicable professional requirements.

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Student work

Alessandro Cardello - Image 1
Agata Tomaszek - Image 1
Chris Edwards - Image 1
Chris Edwards - Image 2
Alessandro Cardello - Image 2
Harley Turner
Max Szyrmulewicz - Image 1
Max Szyrmulewicz - Image 2
Agata Tomaszek - Image 2

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Graphic Design in the spotlight

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Our facilities

Graphic design studios

Specialised resources tailored to the needs of graphic design and illustration students.

Explore the studios

Traditional printmaking workshops

The letterpress facilities focus on typography and relief printing, giving a historical understanding of print communication.

Explore the workshops

Risograph printing and foiling

These facilities catering to distinct artistic applications, risograph printing allows students to produce unique prints with a distinctive texture and aesthetic, while foiling equipment enhances projects with bold or subtle metallic features.

Risograph and foiling facilities

The Digital Fun Factory

Dedicated to exploring emerging creative technology, developing new technical skills, and experimenting with ways of pushing the boundaries of digital design and illustration

The fun starts here

What makes us special

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Block Learning

With Education 2030, you’ll learn in a focused ‘block’ teaching format, where you study one subject at a time instead of several at once. As a result, you will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, have a more simplified timetable, and have a better study-life balance. That means more time to engage with your ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ community and other rewarding aspects of university life.

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global is the award-winning international experience programme for our students, aiming to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons. Take a look at Graphic Design student Holly’s ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global trip to Amsterdam.

Where we could take you

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Placements

Work placements are offered as part of this course through ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Careers Team, and can boost your skills and experience while studying, as well as improving your chances of gaining a graduate level job.

We have links with organisations both in the UK and internationally, and the placements team will help you find a placement to suit your interests and aspirations.

Graphic Design students have taken on placements with companies such as Next, Marks & Spencer and Joules, as well as various communications and graphic design agencies.

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Graduate careers

Graphic Design graduates have gone on to work for a range of companies such as Net-a-Porter, Warner Music, Bauer Media, Morse Studio, Mammal, Commercial Art, 19 Grams, Groove Bulb, Six, New English, Tudor Rose and Bulb Studio.

Graduates have also progressed into the graphic communication sector as staff designers, consultants or freelancers, in areas such as advertising, promotional design, and interactive and multimedia design.

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Find out how to apply

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Course specifications

Course title

Graphic Design

Award

BA (Hons)

UCAS code

W219

Institution code

D26

Study level

Undergraduate

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September

Duration

3 years full-time, 4 years with placement

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,750

*subject to the government, as is expected, passing legislation to formalise the increase.

Additional costs

Entry requirements

  • A typical offer is a normally 104 UCAS points from at least two A-levels with Art and Design at grade C or above, or
  • Art and Design BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM

Plus five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English or equivalent.

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass Access in the QAA accredited Access to HE Art and Design course with at least 15 credits in Art and Design at merit. English GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

  • International Baccalaureate: 24+ points including Art and Design at higher level grade 5
  • T Levels Merit
  • Art and Design Foundation Diploma: Pass

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Contextual offer

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

Interview and Portfolio

Portfolio required: Yes

Interview required: No

You will need a good portfolio according to the course guidelines as part of your application. Portfolio guidance for Graphic Design.

Additional costs

Graphic Design materials: You will need to purchase sketchbooks, USB flashdrives, drawing and art equipment. You will also have costs for printing. A basic kit list will be provided to indicate the minimum materials required.