BA in Graphic Design (Hons)

Learn from graphic designers who have worked for 20th Century Fox, Cartoon Network, and Universal Pictures. 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.

We’re ranked in the top 10 for value added in the Guardian University Guide 2017 (design & crafts subjects). We support our students to become exceptional designers.

With this degree, you’ll learn to express yourself through distinct, creative, commercially-astute and ambitious ideas. You’ll work on projects as part of creative campaigns in a professional studio environment, benefit from daily contact with staff. You will develop your understanding of graphic design and creative entrepreneurship to ensure you are prepared to move into the industry when you graduate.

We have an outstanding visiting lecturer programme with recent guests including internationally-leading designers Ken Garland, Mary Lewis, Morag Myerscough and Mark Bonner. You'll be inspired at UK design exhibitions and through international visits to design centers such as the iconic Bauhaus, Berlin, the birthplace of modern design.

From branding, print, and packaging to moving image, photography and typography, this degree covers a diverse range of design areas. You will be able to complete a Creative Awards module where you could follow in the footsteps of students who have won YCN Commendations, Yellow Pencils at the D&AD New Blood Student Awards and the Starpack Student Packaging Awards. In your final year, you’ll refine your creative voice as a graphic designer in line with industry needs; you will be ready to progress into your career in the creative industries.

Working in our unique graphic design studio, you will have access to Macs and the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software. The studio, at Francis Close Hall campus, is shared by Graphic Design students from all years which creates a strong design community.

From 2018, our advertising, graphic design and interior design courses will move to our stunning Park campus based in Cheltenham. Home to a cosmopolitan range of courses, students and professionals are brought together from a variety of specialisms. Find out more about Park and see where you could be taking the first steps towards your career in graphic design.

Study style

This is a practical and professional degree. You will experiment with different approaches to creativity using a range of media channels and marketing design strategies.

Careers

• Graphic designer
• Account manager
• Packaging and branding designer
• Moving image maker
• Brand manager
• UX designer

Industry links

Gaining industry contacts and experience through professional practice is a core part of the degree. Students are encouraged to 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. Our students network with big employers and gain insights from leading designers.