BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Manchester, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,040 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time International students; Home students £9,250 per year
Introduction
Graphic design has played a key part in the application of new tools and technologies which innovate how visual content is created, communicated, and consumed. Today, as digital software, platforms and environments continue to evolve and change and so has the role of design and the designer.
A Graphic Design degree at Salford will provide you with an exciting opportunity to learn about and engage with the professional world of design, and to develop an individual, highly skilled practice that matches your ambitions for life after graduation.
In year one you will be introduced to the essential principles of Graphic Design and through live and collaborative projects in year two you will have the opportunity to develop a whole range of practical, conceptual, collaborative, and technical skills. These are fundamental to ensure we prepare you for a career in the creative industry. In the final year of this Graphic Design degree course, you’ll complete a personal project to showcase your individual interests, where you’ll also have the opportunity to explore digital and traditional approaches to design and produce a range of outcomes that could include branding guidelines; prototypes for apps and websites; printed publications; social media materials; illustrations; typefaces; animations; and to build a unique portfolio of work that highlights your approach and abilities as a designer and an innovator.
You will be working with a diverse and experienced course team whose own work includes projects with Disney, Bloomberg, BBC, Guardian News and Microsoft. In addition, our staff team have worked with major international magazine and publishing companies. Working also with well-known figures from the music industry including New Order and The Doves; members of our team have also undertaken important funded projects exploring the role of identity within the music.
Studying in our state-of-the-art New Adelphi building and based in Greater Manchester you will benefit from a wide range of research and networking opportunities. You’ll be surrounded by Design Studios, independent galleries, Museums and leading online brands and Social Media creatives. You’ll engage with a mix of industry-related and externally partnered projects undertaking assignments that investigate the social impact and potential of design as a driver of change.
Our students have won awards from prestigious competitions, recent wins include a D&AD (Design &. Art Direction) pencil winner, ISTD (International Society of Typographic Designers) and two student successes at the YCN (You Can Now) awards. Many of our students have also won bids for incubation start-up grants to create and generate their own businesses via support from the University of Salford business grants scheme.
You will:
- Learn about the broad applications of graphic design, with the opportunity to focus and personalise your studies
- Overcome visual communication challenges using your research skills and ability to develop ideas
- Learn about both digital and traditional design processes to equip you for a wide range of roles in your career
- Graduate with a portfolio of work that you can share with potential employers or clients as you progress into your career
Ideal Students
This is for you if...
- You already engage in graphic design but want to learn the skills you need to turn it into a career.
- You’re eager to develop your practical and technical design work.
- You want a rounded understanding of graphic design that includes digital and traditional methods, as well as an insight into the future of the graphic design sector.
Curriculum
Studying graphic design at university will prepare you for success in an industry that is constantly moving. With digital media taking centre stage in today’s world, there’s never been a better time to study for a graphic design degree in the UK.
In your first year, you will develop a broad understanding of the fundamentals of design practice, exploring a wide range of digital and traditional processes. There will be plenty of opportunities to put your learning into action in your own creative work. Our graphic design course is centred around practical projects with a strong ‘learn-by-doing’ approach.
In your second year, you will delve into advanced aspects of design, developing your knowledge further. You will work on projects looking at the role design plays in society and have the opportunity to engage in live, externally partnered briefs to develop your awareness of the professional practice and build insight into the possibilities of working in the creative industries.
Your final year on our graphic design course will require you to develop your portfolio and work on more self-directed major projects. Your final project will be negotiated with your tutor and you’ll have the freedom to take it in a direction that reflects your interests. It is an excellent opportunity to really show what you can do and put all of your hard work into practice.
You’ll be taught by experienced professionals who regularly contribute to international conferences, exhibitions, books and papers. You’ll cover a wide range of areas including typography, branding, art direction, user experience (UX), printmaking, illustration and much more.
Year one
- Form and Content
- Critical and Professional Contexts 1
- Process and Application
- Critical and Professional Contexts 1 (continued)
Year two
- Graphic Design for...
- Critical and Professional Contexts 2
- Live Projects
- Graphic Design and…
- Critical and Professional Contexts 2 (continued)
- Creative Collaboration
Year three
- Design Practice
- Critical and Professional Contexts 3
- Negotiated Major Project
- Critical and Professional Contexts 3 (continued)
Career Opportunities
After graduating, you will be well-equipped to go into a number of areas of graphic design, including branding, design for print, editorial design, illustration, web design, and many more. In addition, you will gain the skills you need to move into related careers within the ever-evolving creative industries in marketing, project management, social media and account handling. You may choose to work for an established business or secure your own work as a freelance professional.
Students from our graphic design undergraduate degree have gone on to work both nationally and internationally at companies such as Absolute, Aire Global, Allotment Productions, The BBC, BGN Agency, Cafeteria, Code Computer Love, Cube3, Dept, Dootrix, Factory Create, Havas Lynx, magneticNorth, Mighty Giant, Monterossa, Refinery, Social Chain, The Hut Group (THG) and Umlaut.