Program Overview

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Course Overview

The BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Integrated Foundation Year is a four-year course that provides students with a comprehensive education in graphic design. The course is designed to develop students' skills and confidence in a supportive and dynamic environment.

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: W215
• Delivery Style: Blended Learning
• Course Duration: Full-time: 4 Years
• Study Options: Graphic Design
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: BA (Hons)

Minimum Entry Requirements

• 48 UCAS Tariff points

Tuition Fees

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

Related Courses

• BA (Hons) Graphic Design
• BA (Hons) User-Experience and User-Interface (UX/UI) Design

Course Structure

What You Will Learn

The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in graphic design. Students will learn about visual communication, the building blocks of visual language, and professional attitudes and practices.

Year One

• Making Images: An introduction to a wide range of conventional and unconventional image-making processes.
• Making Objects: Examine a wide range of 3D processes in relation to a specific project brief.
• Visual Enquiry: Develop your knowledge and understanding to enhance your research methods, contextual awareness, and an evaluative ability.
• Environment: Explore your local environment using a range of inter-disciplinary practices such as graphic processes, drawing, 3D, photography, moving image, and collage/montage.
• Portfolio and Progression: Produce a professional and substantial portfolio of work.

Year Two

• 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 Three

• 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 Four

• 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

The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in graphic design. Students will learn through a variety of approaches, including study skills, research methods, critical and analytical abilities, and the ability to manage time and plan work.

How You Will Be Assessed

The course uses a range of learning, teaching, and assessment methods to develop work-related skills. Students will be assessed through a combination of formative and summative assessments, including one-to-one, peer-to-peer, and group tutorials.

Overview

• 48 UCAS Tariff Points

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

• A-levels: A
• T-levels: P (D or E) All subjects are accepted however we recommend the T Level Digital Production, Design and Development for entry to this course.
• Access to HE: 45 Credits at Pass.
• CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: D
• OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: PPP
• Scottish Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.
• Irish LC Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.
• Other experience: Pearson Level 3 National Diploma MP.

Fair Admissions

The University of Cumbria uses contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed.

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

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here) and care leavers, offers will be made at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range.

Language Requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this programme.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

• 2025 - 2026: £9,535 (UK), £14,900 (International)
• 2024 - 2025: £9,250 (UK), £13,575 (International)

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.

Funding

Fees for integrated foundation year are as stated.

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 textbooks. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.