The aim of the BA (Hons) Graphic Design is to develop graduates that are both employable in todays’ diverse job market as well as being ethically and environmentally aware of their operating environment.

The premise of this programme is to ensure that you are questioning your understanding of the world around you and applying creative problem solving skills. You will not only do this in terms of design but also its impact it can have on society and the environment.
The curriculum has been designed so that you experience a wide range of subject areas, developing your skill sets at the different stages and at each level of study. The overall pedological aim of the programme is to develop you throughout the programme in terms of knowledge, creativity, skill-sets and your work place understanding.

The programme will enable you to develop and take ownership of your own creative skill base and transfer it towards a viable professional direction. There are excellent links with industry specialists and facilities that will help you to realise and pursue a creative pathway. Throughout the programme, there is a focus on employability, enabling you to develop the practical, theoretical and business skills that match the requirements of those needed by the graphics industry. This will culminate in your third year through the setting up of an in-house design agency where you will have the opportunity to develop your business acumen and professional standard through the use of live briefs and industry networking connections.

The modules for this programme have been designed to allow you to fully explore your own skill set as well to put into practice the theory behind design in a sustainable and social conscious way. The modules for this programme are:

Year 1

• Creative Industries
• Culture and Meaning: past, present and future
• Image making
• Introduction to design, Design: Creation and Production
• Design materials and processes

Year 2

• Design Collaboration
• Working with Industry
• Research in Context
• Sustainable design
• Design for Social Impact

Year 3 

• Future career planning
• Contemporary Issues in Design
• Industry project

This course is taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, studio workshops, presentations, skills practice and project work. When not in scheduled lecturers and seminars, students are expected to continue learning through independent self-study. This involves reading relevant literature, working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework.

This course has an average of 12 hours of scheduled teaching per week.

Assessment is via a combination of practical exams and coursework, with a breakdown of 45% practical exams and 55% coursework. There are no written exams on this course.

• Students who pass this course will be eligible to apply to Master’s programmes in graphic design and related areas, such as the MA in Visual Communication at Bath Spa University.
• Graduates from this course are now working in design roles at fantastic companies including Aardman Animations, Amazon, Dyson, Snapchat and Twitter, to name just a few.
• Other possible graduate destinations include specialist graphic design positions at a range of businesses and organisations, and design roles in sectors including advertising, marketing and PR.

Industry insight

More than half of graphic design graduates in employment in the UK are working as graphic designers six months after graduation (Prospects).

Qualification requirements

• A level - CDD
  • A Level - minimum grades CDD, preferably in related subjects.
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMP
  • Extended Diploma grades Merit, Merit, Pass (MMP), preferably in related subjects.
• Access to HE Diploma - M: 30 credits
  • Typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, including 30 at merit or higher) in addition to evidence of further experience in Art & Design.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 27 points
  • A minimum of 27 points will be required in addition to a HL Art subject at grade 6 and evidence of further experience in Art & Design.
• T Level - M
  • Grade Merit is preferred.
• Applicants are also required to submit a creative portfolio of work and attend an interview.
• Applicants with a level 5 qualification such as HND, Foundation Degree, or equivalent can be considered for 3rd year entry. Please contact admissions@ucw.ac.uk to discuss your application further.

We try to ensure that all as many costs for the programme you will study will be included within your tuition fees. We will endeavour to keep any additional costs you may have to pay to a minimum and some of the extra costs may be considered optional where it is deemed extra to your programme. 

To be clear, your tuition fees pay for the following: 

• All teaching and lectures  

• Use of specialist facilities at UCW 

• Specialist Guest Lectures at UCW 

• Annual photocopying budget of £10 

• Use of computer equipment at any UCW campus  

• Access to Microsoft 365 whilst enrolled at UCW. 

• Access to careers advice during and after completion of your programme of study. 

• Use of Libraries and access to Journal databases, e-books and physical books. 

Additional Costs that will need to be incurred to study your programme you will incur: 

Approx. £100 in materials including printing/photocopying cost over the course of the programme. 

Additional costs that you may incur should you wish to: 

• Visits/Exhibitions that are seen as optional. Total costs are usually £80
• Cost of travel to any extra-curricular events such as exhibition or performances in Bristol or London. Total costs are usually around £120
• Cost of consumables. Variable, all taught workshop materials will be provided but students are encouraged to purchase materials for own specialist making.  Cost of printing, specialist paper, exhibition materials etc approx. £100

Residentials that are seen as programme enhancement and are thus optional.

• Costs in 2023/24 were approximately £350-£400 including travel to-and within European destination (train/ Eurostar)/ hotel with breakfast/ planned itinerary.
• New Designers: For third year students, there will be an opportunity to exhibit work at *New Designers, UKs leading Graduate Design event. Cost of New Designers (travel and stay) approx. £500

*Students are encouraged to fundraise for this event

Course Handbook

Bath Spa Terms and Conditions

UCW Terms and Conditions

Programme Specification