Program Overview

Graphic Design BA (Hons)

Be inspired to apply innovative and creative solutions to branding, packaging, and promotional design for commercial markets.

Key Information

• Course duration: 3 or 4 year options
• Course options: Integrated Foundation Year, Diploma Year
• Typical offer: 104-120 UCAS Tariff Points
• Annual fees:
  • Home (full-time): £9,535
  • Overseas (full-time): £18,500
• UCAS code: W210 (3 Year), W216 (4 Year)
• Institution code: N39
• Course start: September 2025

Course Overview

This course is highly respected in the industry for its contemporary and ideas-led approach, with a focus on branding, identity design, and sustainable planet-friendly packaging. You’ll have the opportunity to work on a wide range of design problems, including brand promotion, editorial design, and digital design, with an emphasis on creating multi-channel brand worlds for a range of businesses.

Why Study with Us

• Share your first year with other graphics students, and continue to work alongside each other, allowing for a unique cross-fertilization of knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Develop skills in typography, printing, layout, photography, design research, idea generation, visual narrative, and storytelling.
• Learn technical skills in design-related digital software like InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, while exploring print, paper, materials, formats, and handcraft/making skills.
• Become adept at understanding and deciphering a brief, researching and generating ideas, problem-solving, developing the most successful concept, and executing and presenting the final work.
• Work with expert staff, all talented designers and educators, many of whom are practicing designers working with clients week in, week out.
• Participate in workshops and classes run by external professionals, undertake project briefs initiated and taught by designers from industry, and enter national and international design competitions judged by the design industry.

Course Details

Integrated Foundation Year (optional)

Our Integrated Foundation Year is designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in their chosen degree subject. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to various disciplines, blending critical thinking and creative problem-solving with practical hands-on experience.

Year 1

• Core Units:
  • Creative Learning (40 credits)
  • Explore and Experiment (80 credits)
• Core Projects:
  • Wayfinding Week
  • Make it Manifest(o)
  • Interchange Week

Year 2

• Core Units:
  • Global Contexts (80 credits)
  • Collaboration (40 credits)
• Core Projects:
  • Wayfinding Week
  • Make it Manifest(o)
  • Interchange Week

Diploma Year (optional)

• Level 5 Diploma (120 credits)
• Students have the opportunity to spend a year after the second of their degree (or the third year if studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year) enhancing their employability options through a Level 5 Diploma.

Final Year

• Core Units:
  • Research and Preparation (40 credits)
  • Resolution and Career Development (80 credits)
• Core Projects:
  • Wayfinding Week
  • Make it Manifest(o)
  • Interchange Week

Learning and Teaching

This course is taught through a mixture of learning and teaching methods, including:

• Group briefings
• Academic tutorials
• Group tutorials
• Workshops
• Critiques (crits)
• Seminars
• Lectures

Assessment

Assessment for this course is entirely coursework-based, meaning there are no exams. Your progress will be evaluated through the projects and assignments you complete for each unit. Throughout the year, you’ll receive ongoing feedback to help you refine your work and develop your skills.

Entry Requirements

• Home:
  • A/AS Levels (GCE): 3 A-level qualifications at grades BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF): Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design, or media-related subject
• International:
  • A/AS Levels (GCE): 2 A-level qualifications at grades CC (64 UCAS Tariff points) or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF): Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design, or media-related subject
• English language qualifications:
  • Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section.

Fees and Funding

• Tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year:
  • Home: £9,535 per year
  • Overseas: £18,500 per year
• Fees for subsequent years:
  • Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations.

How to Apply

All applications for undergraduate courses will need to be made via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). You’ll need our university UCAS code (N39) as well as your course code, which you’ll find on your course page.

Related Courses

• Graphic Communication BA (Hons)
• Design for Publishing BA (Hons)
• User Experience Design BSc (Hons)
• Illustration BA (Hons)