Undergraduate

BA Graphic Design

Our Graphic Design programme is specifically structured to parallel professional advancement within the graphic design industry.

Key information

Study mode

Full-time

Course length

3 years

Typical offer

112 points

A Level grades: BBC

UCAS code

W210

Choose an option

Standard course option

Start date

Sept 2021

Course overview

You'll learn about visual design, creative thinking, typography, the use of colour and composition and design history – and how to apply this knowledge through 2D and 3D design, web applications, animation and other evolving media. As well as a focus on your technical skills, you will also develop vital knowledge in leadership and professional practice – working as professionals do in a studio environment, while continually refining your own individual portfolio of work.

In the Graphic Design, Art Direction and Creative Direction modules, you will learn how to create visual solutions for specific audiences for specific purposes. This is the very heart of graphic design — to first understand an audience, then present effective messages using text and imagery suitable for that audience.

Taught by lecturers with a diverse range of industry experience – including digital media and graphic design, advertising, game design and web development – you will concentrate on constructing conceptual graphic design solutions that stimulate desired responses. Only then are your ideas practically applied using hardware and software. The ability to first conceptualise (and also implement) graphic design solutions are valuable skills, and this degree programme is designed to give our graduates an advantage over those with only technical abilities.

Creativity lives and breathes at the University of Hull. Always has done, always will. It’s central to what universities do. But at Hull, we’re building something that goes far beyond our four walls. Find out more about Creative Industries, our brand-new degrees for career-driven creatives.

Final validation pending

We regularly review our courses to make sure they continue to meet our academic standards. Any changes to courses go through a re-validation process. 'Final validation pending' means that we intend to offer this programme, but it hasn't received final University approval yet. Please call our Admissions Service on 01482 466100 for confirmation that the course is approved and will be running.

More to explore

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Six reasons to study Graphic Design at Hull

Experienced lecturers with industry know-how
Focus on creative problem-solving and conceptual design
Structure prepares you for career advancement
Gain real-world design experience
Develop a wide variety of vital technical skills
Access to the latest industry-standard hardware and software

What you'll study

The course consists of 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits, meaning you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more (e.g. 40 credits). In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120.

First year Second year Final year

First year modules

You will learn industry entry level tools and techniques, while gaining confidence in the basics of visual design- typography, colour, composition and concept development. You will meet your new colleagues on the course, and begin to feel at ease within the supportive studio environment. In the second semester of your first year, you will move beyond the basic principles of visual design, and practice them through 2D and 3D applications. Through a process of continuous, constructive feedback, you will create the beginnings of what will eventually become a professional portfolio of work.

Module details will be available soon

Second year modules

In the second year of your programme, you will learn to conceive and implement larger projects using professional art direction skills. You will realise that your intuitive design decisions are actually supported by established design theory. In the first half of your second year, your work will begin to gain a greater depth through the ongoing study of design history throughout the first and second year. You will continue to learn additional software skills. In the second half of your second year, you will continue to refine the process of documenting and explaining your research and design decision-making. This knowledge will assist you when you experience the professional practice of leading others in comprehensive, wide-ranging design projects including multi-faceted web applications, animation or other evolving digital media.

Module details will be available soon

Final year modules

Your final year of study is the crowning achievement of your University career. After being exposed to a variety of graphic design disciplines in the first two years, you will now have decided upon an area of specialism. You will explore this specialism to great depth in your final year as you gain the creative direction skills necessary to propose, plan and implement a major project. As your major project comes to completion, so will the final refinement of your professional portfolio. You will now have attained a clear idea of the kind of job that you hope to get, and a portfolio that demonstrates what you can do, and how well you can do it.

Module details will be available soon

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

How you'll study

Throughout your degree, you’re expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That’s based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours and independent study. How this time’s divided among each of these varies each year and depends on the course and modules you study.

First year Second year Final year

Overall workload

400 hours

Scheduled study

800 hours

Independent study

Indicative assessment proportions

40%

60%

Practical

Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.
Coursework

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

400 hours

Scheduled study

800 hours

Independent study

Indicative assessment proportions

40%

60%

Practical

Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.
Coursework

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

400 hours

Scheduled study

800 hours

Independent study

Indicative assessment proportions

100%

Coursework

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Develop an individual portfolio

You'll work towards a major project in your final year, developing a professional portfolio to showcase your capabilities and specialisms.

Developing your creative and career skills

The industry expertise of your lecturers will challenge and support you in building your knowledge and experience in a range of technical and practical areas.

Foundation year

A foundation year is available to boost your confidence and skills if you don't quite meet our academic entry requirements.

Entry requirements

UK Residents International students

Typical offer

A level grades BBC
BTEC grades DMM
Points required 112

Work out your estimated points

Points can be from any qualifications on the UCAS tariff, but must include at least 80 points from

A levels
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
CACHE Diploma or Extended Diploma
Irish Leaving Certificate
Scottish Highers
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma
or a combination of appropriate Level 3 qualifications

Alternative qualifications

IB Diploma: 28 points.
Access to HE Diploma: pass with minimum of 45 credits at merit.

Worried you don’t quite meet our entry requirements?

We consider experience and qualifications from the UK and worldwide which may not exactly match the combinations above.

But it’s not just about the grades – we’ll look at your whole application. We want to know what makes you tick, and about your previous experience, so make sure that you complete your personal statement.

If you have any questions, our admissions team will be happy to help.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Our teaching staff

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Take a 360-degree look at our campus, where you'll gain a thorough grounding in Graphic Design.

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Fees and funding

Student Fees Additional costs

£9,250 per year*

EU/International

£14,500 per year

*The amount you pay may increase each year, in line with inflation - but capped to the Retail Price Index (RPI).

UK students can take out a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course and a maintenance loan of up to £9,488 to cover living costs.

Substantial discounts are available for International students.

More information on fees can be found in the Money section of our website.

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme (including registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examination).

There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary.

Books (you’ll have access to books from your module reading lists in the library, but you may want to buy your own copies
Optional field trips
Study abroad (including travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (including travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want to buy your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few.

Your future prospects

Graphic Designer
2D/ 3D Digital Designer
Web Content Developer
Art Director
Creative Director

You'll be equipped to enter a variety of graphic design-related positions. Depending on your chosen specialism, you may get a job in a graphic design studio or in a starting role within an advertising agency. You will be able to captalise upon your knowledge of 2D and 3D design, web-related design or animation to begin your chosen career path. You may enter the related fields of information design or web content developer, or you might combine your specialisms in search of a hybrid position.

Ready to apply?

You can apply for this course through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

APPLY NOW VIA UCAS HOW TO APPLY

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¹ Percentage of students from this subject area in work or further study within six months of graduating: UK domicile full-time first degree leavers. Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey for the academic year 2016/17, published by HESA 2018.