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Undergraduate

Graphic Design BA (Hons)

What is Graphic Design BA (Hons)?

During your time on our course, you’ll become a professional graphic designer learning from industry experienced lecturers. We will support you in gaining work experience with local and national design agencies, as well as giving you the opportunity to work with professional designers and live clients.

Our teaching staff are all industry experienced Graphic designers, we are able to impart our real-world knowledge, ensuring that you are taught to the standard that our industry will look for in a graduate. We will encourage you to express yourself through distinctive, creative, commercially-astute and ambitious ideas, working on projects individually and collaboratively in a professional studio environment.

From branding, packaging, typography, print, digital and moving image, this degree covers a diverse range of design areas. This gives each of our students the opportunity to find the area of design they want to pursue, and individually tailor their projects to complete a portfolio that will stand out to industry.

This year (2022) 40% of our students had secured graduate employment before completing their course.

Join our award-winning students

You will have the opportunity to enter national and global design awards. So far in 2022 our students have won 28 awards including first place at the Penguin Cover Design Awards, JKR Global Student Design Award and are on the longlist for the 2022 World Illustration Awards.

Study style

This is a practical and professional degree. You’ll experiment with different approaches to creativity using a range of strategic design strategies. You’ll work from our unique graphic design studios and have access to Macs, the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software as well as our print rooms.

The studios at Park campus is shared by Graphic Design students from all years creating a strong design community. This is also located within our new Design Centre, encouraging collaboration with all design students.

 

Get Graphic Design BA (Hons) course updates and hear more about studying with us.

Entry requirements

    • 96 – 120 UCAS tariff points, CCC – BBB at A levels, MMM – DDM at BTEC, or a Merit in your T-Level.

      Entry to this course is by interview. Check out our Interview Guide to learn what to expect and help you prepare.

    • We welcome applicants with a pass in a relevant Foundation or Extended Diploma (Level 3 or 4).

    • English Language or Literature and Maths Grade 4/C in GCSE (or equivalent) are normally required.

    • This course is available with an integrated foundation year to help you prepare. A degree with an integrated foundation year starts your studies with a year spent learning the skills required to progress onto a full honours degree. You will develop valuable study skills, communication, team work and problem-solving techniques which help to build your confidence and prepare you for the rest of your course.

      Typical offers
      48 UCAS tariff points, DD at A levels, PPP at BTEC or a Pass in your T Level.

      GCSEs
      Grade C/4 in English Language/Literature and Mathematics, or equivalent (e.g. Level 2 Functional Skills).

    • We welcome applications from mature students (aged 21 and over) and do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants, although some entry requirements may still apply for Professionally Accredited Courses. We accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas and make offers on an individual basis.

Course modules

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Fees and costs

See the further details of fees and potential extra costs when studying a course at the University of Gloucestershire.
Start date Location UCAS code Fee (UK)
per year
Fee (international)
per year
Sep 2023 Park, Cheltenham W210 £9,250 £15,450
Sep 2024 Park, Cheltenham W210 TBC TBC

Possible careers

Graduates from this course can go on to work as:

  • Graphic Designer
  • Digital Designer
  • UX Designer
  • Freelance Designer
  • Account Manager
  • Design Strategist.

Industry links

You’ll gain industry contacts and experience through professional practice and work with prestigious studios and agencies including Channel 5, 1HQ London, Jones Knowles Ritchie, Williams Murray Hamm, Bulletproof and Taxi Design and SLG in Cheltenham.

We support the internationally-known Cheltenham Design Festival that partners with UCAS, Superdry and Mira. Recent guests have included creative director Eric Kessels, New York-based designer Stefan Sagmeister and British design gurus, Ken Garland and Sir Kenneth Grange.

Explore national and international design exhibitions

You’ll gain inspiration from leading-edge exhibitions such as D&AD New Blood and the London Design Festival. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore global centres for creative commerce including Berlin.

Learn from experts

We support our students to move from good to great through excellence in teaching and exposure to everything the industry has to offer. You will graduate fully-equipped to move into a role in the creative industries.

Meet top designers at Cheltenham Design Festival

Strong links with the internationally-renowned Cheltenham Design Festival mean our students receive complimentary tickets. Prestigious figures from the world of design share their insights and creative inspiration.

Placements

You’ll gain essential industry experience through work placements and live briefs. Students have recently worked with Channel 5, 1HQ London, Jones Knowles Ritchie, Bulletproof and Taxi Design winning awards with their work and moving into successful design careers.

As part of your course you can gain valuable experience on an optional placement year.

  • Duration  – 12 months, full-time (minimum 35 hours a week)
  • Location  – popular destinations include the UK, USA, China and Europe
  • Visa – you may need a visa if you’re on placement abroad
  • Finance – your tuition fee is reduced for your placement year – and you can still apply for a maintenance loan and get money advice
  • Placement support  – we’ll help you find a great placement and get the most out of the experience

"After studying on this course and working within industry, I'm now back here teaching and inspiring students."

“Deciding to relocate from Yorkshire to Cheltenham to study on this very graphic design course back in 2008 was a simple choice for me. Cheltenham is a beautiful, interesting and creative place, and it is surrounded by other beautiful, interesting and creative places.

After I graduated from the course in 2011, I worked in some of those other beautiful, interesting, creative places. I’ve worked for some amazing clients and won quite a few design awards on the way. My most recent roles in industry are as a Senior Designer and a Freelance Designer.

I’m now back in Cheltenham, teaching on the graphic design course and bringing my industry experience and connections directly into the studios.”

Cat Mogford, Graphic Design Lecturer

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