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Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Graphic Design with Foundation Year
University of Portsmouth
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Graphic Design with Foundation Year course at University of Portsmouth.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
32 tariff points at A level.
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: W211
Here's what University of Portsmouth says about its Graphic Design with Foundation Year course.
With this foundation year course, you'll gain all the credentials you need to begin your career in graphic design. It's ideal for you if you don't yet meet the entry requirements of our undergraduate degree, if you're returning to study after a break away, or you need a bit of extra support to get uni-ready.
You'll spend a year studying with us on campus, through ICP. You'll get the knowledge and academic skills needed to take on a bachelor's degree, learning how to analyse information, do research, and improve your academic writing.
The skills you'll learn will help you work in teams as well as on your own in culturally diverse workplaces. You'll develop your understanding of new workplaces and environments, and how to adapt to new environments.
After your foundation year, you'll be ready to move onto the first year of BA (Hons) Graphic Design.
A guaranteed place Once you’ve successfully completed your foundation year, you'll be ready to progress onto BA (Hons) Graphic Design with a guaranteed place.
Course highlights
-
ICP is based on the University of Portsmouth campus so you'll have access to all facilities, support and societies
-
When you finish your foundation year successfully, you get a guaranteed place on BA (Hons) Graphic Design
-
Get used to how lectures, seminars and tutorials work, so you can move onto your degree ready for success
-
Learn how to meet the demands of taking on a bachelor's at university
Careers and opportunities When you complete this foundation year, you'll be all set to continue on to our BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree. With the skills and knowledge you gain from this course, you can work across a variety of creative industries.
Areas you could work in include magazine design publishing, branding and design, advertising, web design, and TV and film. You could also set up your own business, work as a freelancer, or go on to postgraduate study.
Placement year You can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in many areas of graphic design. Previous students have landed roles including graphic designer and UX (user experience) designer for organisations such as Waitrose & Partners, TopCashBack and Waterline Media.
Source: University of Portsmouth
Course details
There are a few options in how you might study Graphic Design with Foundation Year at University of Portsmouth.
Check the
2 course options available.
Qualification
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Department
Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Location
Main Site | Portsmouth
Duration
5 Years
Study mode
Sandwich
Subjects
• Graphic design
Start date
21 September 2026
Application deadline
14 January 2026
The modules you will study
Foundation year In your foundation year, you'll gain the knowledge you need to move on to the first year of BA (Hons) Graphic Design. It will bridge the gap to uni, with the knowledge and academic skills you'll need to start.
Throughout the year, you'll learn to critically engage with information, undertake literature reviews, enhance your academic writing, and gain awareness of different types of research.
When you successfully complete this year, you'll get a guaranteed place on the first year of the BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree.
How you will be assessed
You'll be assessed in a number of ways on your foundation year, including:
- assignments
- oral presentations
- exams
- lab reports
- portfolio
- court reports
Typically, you can expect to have two assessments per module.
University of Portsmouth student reviews
Showing 123 reviews
1st year student
Good facilities, could be open more and advertise their role better
1 year ago
1st year student
The uni life is really good, good environment and lots to do
1 year ago
1st year student
It has significantly impacted me as I have find myself running out of money often
1 year ago
1st year student
The support is excellent, they are willing to do anything to help your studies
1 year ago
1st year student
Workload is super manageable, not many lectures so plenty of free time
1 year ago
1st year student
The facilities are top tier and help are studies. Teachers are approachable
1 year ago
National Student Survey (NSS) scores at University of Portsmouth
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from University of Portsmouth students who took the Graphic Design with Foundation Year course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
84%
low
Teaching on my course
84%
low
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
91%
med
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
89%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
80%
low
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
75%
low
Learning opportunities
84%
med
Learning opportunities
84%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
89%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
76%
low
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
82%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
90%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
82%
med
Assessment and feedback
85%
med
Assessment and feedback
85%
med
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
88%
med
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
83%
med
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
82%
med
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
91%
med
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
82%
med
Academic support
91%
med
Academic support
91%
med
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
88%
med
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
93%
high
Organisation and management
78%
med
Organisation and management
78%
med
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
78%
med
How well organised is your course?
77%
med
Learning resources
88%
med
Learning resources
88%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
84%
med
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
91%
med
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
89%
med
Student voice
76%
med
Student voice
76%
med
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
61%
low
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
85%
med
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
81%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
74%
med
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?
88%
med
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
77%
med
Student information
See who's studying at University of Portsmouth. These students are taking Graphic Design with Foundation Year or another course from the same subject area.
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Graphics | A | |||||
| Business Studies | D | |||||
| Photography | A | |||||
| Fine Art | B | |||||
| Media Studies | B | |||||
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
The Graphic Design with Foundation Year course includes content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below for information about University of Portsmouth graduates across each of those subject areas.
Graduate statistics
66%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
90%
In work, study or other activity
61%
Say it fits with future plans
50%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
23%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
14%
Web and Multimedia Design Professionals
8%
Sales occupations
7%
Elementary occupations
Graduate statistics
68%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
91%
In work, study or other activity
63%
Say it fits with future plans
51%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
24%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
16%
Web and Multimedia Design Professionals
9%
Sales occupations
7%
Elementary occupations
Graduate statistics
55%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
96%
In work, study or other activity
50%
Say it fits with future plans
40%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
14%
Web and Multimedia Design Professionals
12%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
10%
Administrative occupations
10%
Sales occupations
Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from University of Portsmouth graduates who took Graphic Design with Foundation Year - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£21.5k
First year after graduation
£23.7k
Third year after graduation
£26.3k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Graphic Design with Foundation Year.
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
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about University of Portsmouth on The Student Room.
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