BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Harness your passion and produce exciting designs across a range of traditional and digital media through our graphic design degree course.

Course Overview

This graphic design course will give you hands-on experience, providing the expertise, experience, confidence and creative skills you need to launch your career in graphic design.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK, EU / EEA / International
• Course Location: Carlisle - Brampton Road
• Institute: Institute of Education, Arts and Society
• UCAS Code: W210
• Delivery Style: In-person
• Course Duration: Full-time: 3 Years
• Study Options: Integrated Foundation Year
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: BA (Hons)

Minimum Entry Requirements

• 104-112 UCAS Tariff points

Tuition Fees

• £9,535 - UK (per year)
• £14,900 - International (per year)

What Our Graduates Say

• "The Graphic Design course at The University of Cumbria moulded me into the creative I am today."
• "By attending the UoC I got the skills, I got the network and I got the inspiration to become a graphic designer and creative who leads by passion, not by fear of failing or mistaking."
• "I looked at many different creative courses at universities across the country. Ultimately, I found myself continuously returning to the university's course page for Graphics and Illustration."

Course Structure

Year One

• Introducing Visual Communication: Develop effective working practices and habits.
• Cultural Contexts: An introduction to the cultural, historical, and social contexts in which creative work from a range of disciplines.
• Multi-Dimensional Graphic Design: Explore multiple forms and formats, from traditional print to the latest digital platforms, simple symbols to complex information and ideas, ephemeral to iconic.
• Collaborative Practice: Work with other students to explore and practice the skills involved in creative collaboration.

Year Two

• The Designer's Toolkit: Explore the structural elements that are essential when creating any piece of graphic design - alignment, hierarchy, contrast, repetition, proximity, balance, colour, and space.
• Type & Typography: Explore letterforms and how they can be manipulated and arranged to inform, entice, and communicate lies.
• Graphic Design Projects: Develop conceptual skills and an individual approach to graphic design problem-solving, providing the springboard to your final year of study.
• The Critical Designer: Explore key contextual debates which impact production and the reading of graphic design texts. Consider design as a form of social practice.

Year Three

• Advanced Design Projects: An opportunity to work within a design brief and explore a particular area of interest.
• Independent Research Paper: Develop specialised and focused knowledge and understanding of a subject of your own choice.
• Graphic Design Showcase: An opportunity to show-off the skills, knowledge, and professionalism developed throughout the course to potential employers and the wider world.

Teaching & Assessment

How You Will Learn

• At level 4, you will get the opportunity to work alongside students studying Illustration.
• Learning as a creative community, you will experience the methods and techniques used by other visual artists.
• As the year continues, you will begin to develop specialist skills, knowledge, and understanding that helps you focus your identity as a graphic designer.

How You Will Be Assessed

• Throughout your course, you will engage in a range of assessment methods, including group projects, portfolio creation, and work placement.
• You will receive regular advice and guidance through formative feedback, exploring how you approach and contribute knowledge in one-to-one and group tutorials.
• Summative assessments will take place throughout the year and aim to assess how you apply your knowledge through essays, portfolios, and projects.

Entry Requirements

• A-levels: BCC-BBC
• T-levels: P (C+) – M
• Access to HE: 15 Credits at Distinction & 30 at Merit
• CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: C-B
• OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: MMM - DMM
• Scottish Highers: BBBC - BBBA
• Irish LC Highers: B1, B2x3 – B1x3, B2

Fair Admissions

• When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application.
• We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Selection Criteria

• As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to Graphic Design.
• In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any experience you have gained.

Contextual Admissions

• Going to higher education can transform a person’s life.
• We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed.
• Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

• £9,535 - UK (per year)
• £14,900 - International (per year)

International Finance

• At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses.

More Information

• We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us.
• This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Additional Costs

• There will be some additional costs.
• For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books.
• Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books and Journals

• Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course.
• This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

• Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use.
• This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field.
• Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework.
• Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The BA (Hons) Graphic Design program aims to prepare students for a successful transition from design students to professional designers. It provides students with the necessary expertise, experience, confidence, and creative skills to launch a career in graphic design. The program emphasizes practical, hands-on experience and focuses on developing a strong portfolio of work. Graduates are equipped to work for a range of employers, including national and international design and advertising consultancies, multi-media agencies, TV companies, publishing houses, magazines, and many have gone on to establish their own design studios.

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Outline:

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Year One (Level 4):

• Introducing Visual Communication: Develop effective working practices and habits.
• Cultural Contexts: An introduction to the cultural, historical, and social contexts in which creative work from a range of disciplines.
• Multi-Dimensional Graphic Design: Explore multiple forms and formats, from traditional print to the latest digital platforms, simple symbols to complex information and ideas, ephemeral to iconic.
• Collaborative Practice: Work with other students to explore and practice the skills involved in creative collaboration.

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Year Two (Level 5):

• The Designer's Toolkit: Explore the structural elements that are essential when creating any piece of graphic design - alignment, hierarchy, contrast, repetition, proximity, balance, colour, and space.
• Type & Typography: Explore letterforms and how they can be manipulated and arranged to inform, entice, and communicate lies.
• Graphic Design Projects: Develop conceptual skills and an individual approach to graphic design problem-solving, providing the springboard to your final year of study.
• The Critical Designer: Explore key contextual debates which impact production and the reading of graphic design texts.
Consider design as a form of social practice.

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Year Three (Level 6):

• Advanced Design Projects: An opportunity to work within a design brief and explore a particular area of interest.
• Independent Research Paper: Develop specialised and focused knowledge and understanding of a subject of your own choice.
• Graphic Design Showcase: An opportunity to show-off the skills, knowledge, and professionalism developed throughout the course to potential employers and the wider world.

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Assessment:

• Formative Assessment: Regular advice and guidance through formative feedback, exploring how you approach and contribute knowledge in one-to-one and group tutorials.
• Summative Assessment: Takes place throughout the year and aims to assess how you apply your knowledge through essays, portfolios, and projects.
• Assessment Methods: Group projects, portfolio creation, and work placement.

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Teaching:

• Learning as a creative community: Students work alongside students studying Illustration, experiencing the methods and techniques used by other visual artists.
• Focus on practical skills: Projects aim to develop visual skills, alongside methods of research, critical and analytical abilities, and time management.
• Emphasis on self-assessment and peer assessments: Encourages critical thinking and interpersonal skills that are vital as a professional creative.

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Careers:

• Potential employers: National and international design and advertising consultancies, multi-media agencies, TV companies, publishing houses, magazines.
• Career outcomes: Many graduates have established their own design studios.

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Other:

• Distinctive feature of the graphic design course: Students initially work closely with Level 4 illustrators exploring the fundamental principles of visual communication, as many of the core principles and considerations are shared between the two disciplines.
• Emphasis on knowledge, passion, and enjoyment: Tutors bring a wide range of design experience to the course with particular expertise and interests in typography, editorial/publishing, corporate identity, and branding work.
• Portfolio development: The program provides students with the opportunity to build a robust portfolio of work for exhibits, showcasing their graphic design training and talent to potential employers.
• Industry connections: Students benefit from practical demonstrations, visits, and feedback from professional designers.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

• Tuition Fees
2024 - 2025 £9,250 - UK £13,575 - International
• The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.
• Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year.
The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.