Graphic Design
Entry requirements
A level
Pass Access to HE Diploma
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pass Foundation Diploma
UCAS Tariff
UCAS tariff points can be made up of a mixture of Level 3 qualifications.
You may also need to…
Attend an interview
Present a portfolio
About this course
This graphic design degree encourages you to develop the practical, technical and professional skills needed to produce graphics for experimental and commercial print-based media as well as screen based, digital animation and motion graphics.
As well as offering a conceptual approach to design through mixed media, analogue and digital technology, we offer areas of speciality such as:
- Typography
- Print making
- Letterpress
- Risograph & screen printing
- Motion graphics & animation
- Editorial design & layout
- Branding
- Advertising & communication
- Packaging
- Image making & illustration
- Social media & website design
This programme emphasises mixed media and experimental work as well as real-world creative problem-solving through live briefs - you will develop industry relevant digital and analogue skills.
Throughout this course, you will have access to a wide range of industry standard equipment and software including a dedicated print studio and Mac suite and you will also be based in a professional working graphic design studio from the moment you arrive.
During the programme you will be encouraged to submit to national and international competition briefs, working with sponsored clients such as Nike, Teen Vogue, Giffgaff and Google.
Regular live projects and guest speakers from industry will enhance your portfolio and learning, for example, we recently completed a large-scale mural for the BBC 1’s Big Weekend with graphic artist, Jimmy Turrell.
Modules
In your first year (Level Four) you will explore: Graphic design and narrative • Graphic design processes • Creative processes and visualisation • Visual culture
In your second year (Level Five) you will develop: Advanced graphic design production • Graphic design and visual identity • Graphic design specialism • Visual culture theory
In your third year (Level Six) you will explore: Project research and preparation • Dissertation/Report • Exhibition • Portfolios which showcase your readiness for industry • Final Major Project
Assessment methods
In course assessment. Each module is assessed upon completion and given a percentage mark.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
The Northern School of Art
Higher Education
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Design studies
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
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After graduation
We don't have more detailed stats to show you in relation to this subject area at this university but read about typical employment outcomes and prospects for graduates of this subject below.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Creative arts and design
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£13k
£16k
£18k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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