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Graphic Design BA(Hons)

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    Overview

    Turn your creative visions and artistic talents into a fulfilling career with the help of this Graphic Design BA(Hons) course, which helps you gain the skills needed to thrive in a global creative industry that is always evolving.

    Why study Graphic Design BA(Hons)

    Graphic designers are in-demand – for user interfaces in apps, magazine layouts, product packaging. The film industry often also requires the expertise and creative touch of a professional graphic designer. An impressive 90% of graduates from this course are in work and/or further study 15 months after graduating (Unistats 20/21 data, UK domiciled graduates).

    You’ll study industry-standard professional design packages as well as various components of graphic design, including:

    • typography
    • layout
    • packaging
    • branding
    • advertising
    • user experience design

    This course will challenge you to experiment with ideas, take risks and consider how to apply your graphic design knowledge and skills to address the needs of the creative industries. You’ll have the opportunity to develop a deeper cultural and social awareness and your unique visual language.

    You’ll explore communication theories and diverse guest speakers will help you understand the factors shaping the future of graphic design. You can also participate in an optional supervised work placement in your area of interest in your third year. The placement utilises our broad industry links and allows you to put your knowledge and skills to the test.

    Throughout your studies you’ll be able to put your skills to the test in a variety of studio projects. This will help you hone your craft and build up your work portfolio.

    Entry requirements

    BBB-BCC at A Level or equivalent.

    120-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

    Merit in T Level .

    DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

    • Pass in Diploma Foundation Studies in Art and Design combined with A level or BTEC qualifications, to total an equivalent of 120-104 UCAS tariff points.
    • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
    • 120-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

    Offers will be subject to a digital portfolio review, after which you will be invited to attend an Applicant Visit Day, at which you will have the opportunity to discuss and be given feedback on your portfolio. Read more about the portfolio review process on our Interviews, auditions and portfolio pages.

    If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

    Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

    Course Detail

    Core modules:

    Design Process and Production 1

    The module will introduce you to the key principles of contemporary professional practice in terms of principles and process. It will focus on the fundamental techniques of production. It will develop your understanding of two- and three-dimensional space and the importance of physical and digital processes to generate and capture your work.

    Design Studio 1

    This module will introduce you to the creative thinking processes and tools to undertake good quality research in order to identify and fulfil the needs of the client using 2D and 3D Design and their application through project work. Design projects will enable you to explore and develop design proposals using a range of methods, practical skills and specialist knowledge. The module will introduce studio practice and provide experience and techniques in realising either complex or open briefs depending on context.

    Design Theory Fundamentals

    This module will introduce you to a range of relevant theories for and about design. It will introduce you to discourses and debates relating to the history, influences, production and critical reception of design. It will contextualise these aspects in terms of your discipline providing an overarching understanding of design in general as well as more focused elements pertinent to your design field.

    Core modules:

    Intermediate Studio Practice

    The intermediate studio requires you to produce works of increasing sophistication having successfully completed the foundation studio. The module encompasses diverse and interdependent areas of practice. It expands and elaborates upon the exploration and communication of ideas introduced in foundation studio toward producing an industry facing portfolio of work.

    Process and Production

    This module extends your knowledge of Graphic Design, Animation, and their convergence in Graphic Design and Animation with an emphasis on exploring more advanced processes and production techniques. The frameworks and methods introduced at Foundation level are refined and developed and will support you in establishing a more specialist approach and a professionally orientated practice. You’ll integrate an aesthetic language for the disciplines of either Graphic Design or Animation, as well as giving consideration to the impact of practices involving motion and interaction within these disciplines – and this convergence in hybrid practices as Graphic Design and Animation.

    Design Identities

    This module is divided into 2 parts, a theoretical component and a practical component. The practical component will present approaches that encourage personal development and reflection while developing an appreciation and understanding of strategies and methodologies related to employability and work placement. There will be guidance in the preparation of an individual Curriculum Vitae, letters of application and an understanding of the role and nature of self-promotion. There will be an emphasis on developing an enhanced ability to reflect upon your personal design engagement and own learning across the year. Theory is explored through the field of expansion of applicable design practices. It focuses on the theorisation of professional practices, cultural practices and histories relevant to the study of design. It encourages you to explore ideas and concepts through research of theory and practice.

    Arts and Humanities Placement

    The placement year is your chance to gain hands-on experience and build on the skills you’ve developed in your first two years of study. You’ll spend up to 48 weeks (minimum 36 weeks) in a graduate-level role, sharpening your professional skills, exploring career options, and boosting your future job prospects. During your placement, you'll reflect on your performance, develop real-world skills, and learn to approach your role with a critical eye. Your placement will be monitored, and you’ll be assessed on your achievements, setting you up for success in your final year and beyond.

    Core modules:

    Advanced Studio Practice

    In this module you will create a major final year portfolio  that will help you turn your ideas into reality in a personal and technically sound way.  You will develop, prototype, and produce responses to various assignments from tutors and industry, showcasing creative and technically innovative work.  You are expected to use technical skills and critical thinking from previous modules, interconnecting your areas of interest, using language, time, visuals, space, and physical materials in your work.  This module will help to enhance your technical independence and create a comprehensive and unique body of work that balances concepts, aesthetics, context, and usability, establishing an appropriate level of preparedness in advance of your journey into industry. 

    Contextual Design Research

    In this module you will learn how to create and show original ideas that are diverse and dynamic in scope and will fuel your creative endeavours in the final year of your course. Specialist tutors will support and guide you in researching important topics like ethics, society, sustainability, culture, and creativity, and how they relate to design. From this research, you'll gain insights to create innovative designs. The module builds on what you've learned in earlier studio classes, pushing you to develop various skills relevant to your field. Assignments emphasise the importance of context in the design process, and you’ll need to show evidence of your creative exploration and reflective practice in a visually rich research document. This course is closely connected to other studio-based courses in your degree program. 

    Theory as Practice 3

    The module is specifically designed to unfold throughout the final year, reflecting theoretical, technical and professional issues appropriate to your practice. The module is intended to be a critical and diagnostic tool with which to examine and extend your work. It can be made up of a series of outputs and will help you to determine and contextualise the direction of your practice-based modules. It concludes the undergraduate Theory as Practice programme.

    On average, 20.6%* of the study time on this course is spent in lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops etc.

    *based on 23/24 programme specifications.

    You will have the opportunity to experience studio-based design projects, workshop demonstrations and practical sessions supported and informed by lectures and seminars. Your assessment will include portfolio exhibitions and presentations of studio production, research and development work, as well as written assignments.

    Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

    Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results.Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

    Inspirational field trips to destinations of educational and cultural significance are a component of the course and will be funded by the University. Study trips may include visits to galleries, museums, and exhibitions.

    Further information

    The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

    Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

    If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

    1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

    2. Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    3. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

    4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

    Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

    *full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

    Placements

    The course offers an optional one-year (36 week minimum) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

    Students within the area of Graphic Design have previously taken up placement opportunities with companies including: Media21 - Leeds; Nestlé PTC Singen – Germany; Creative Spark – Manchester.

    You can find out more information on placements here.

    During my placement year at Airbus Helicopters GmbH in Donauwörth, Germany I created posters, infographics, social media material, assisted other colleagues in creating graphic elements and edited videos. My team were a great mix of people and helped me to develop my skills.

    Profile photo of Maria Lynam

    Maria Lynam, Graphic Design BA(Hons) final year student

    A gallery of work by our students and graduates from Graphic Design. Click on each image to find out more.

    Graphic Design Studio
    Students using the Mac facilities
    Create Lab
    Photography studios in Barbara Hepworth Building
    Canalside view of the Barbara Hepworth Building
    Print room

    Discover more about the course

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    Student Support

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    Further Study

    Learn about pursuing a Master’s or PhD at Huddersfield.

    Research Excellence

    See how our innovative research shapes what you'll learn.

    Important information

    We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

    Changes to a course you have applied for

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

    Cancellation of a course you have applied for

    Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

    Changes to option modules

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes

    We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

    For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    Termination of course

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

    Equal opportunities

    The University of Huddersfield is an equal opportunities institution. We aim to create conditions where staff and students are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, age, race, caste, class, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief, or age. Please visit our website to see our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

    Data protection

    The University holds personal data on all enquirers, applicants and enrolled students. All such data is kept and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Legislation. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices are available on the University website.

    Students’ Union membership

    Under the 1994 Education Act, students at all UK universities have the right to join, or not to join, the Students’ Union. There is no membership fee. If you choose not to join you have the right not to be disadvantaged; however, you are not entitled to vote, take part in elections, or hold any office. The following arrangements apply in order that non-Union members are not disadvantaged: Non-members are welcome to take part in the activities of Affiliated Clubs and Societies on payment of the appropriate subscription. However, they may not vote or hold office in the society or club. Union members may be offered a discounted subscription. Non-members are free to use Union facilities on the same basis as members. Welfare, catering and shops are available to non-members as well as members. Union members may be offered a discounted price.

    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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