Select the year

Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

3 years full-time 4 years inc. placement year

UCAS Tariff

120-104

About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Develop 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, and user experience skills.
  • Optional placement opportunities to gain real-world industry experience.
  • Build a professional portfolio across digital, print, and moving image media.

Our Graphic Design with Animation BA(Hons) combines 2D and 3D design skills with creative storytelling, preparing you for a dynamic career in visual communication. You’ll explore motion graphics, branding, user experience, and visual language, while experimenting with both static and animated media.

The course mirrors real-world creative industry practices, encouraging collaboration and innovation. You’ll learn from experienced staff, guest speakers, and industry partners, gaining insight into the factors shaping contemporary design. Optional placements and project work provide practical experience to boost your employability.

You’ll develop a portfolio of work across digital, print, and moving image media, ready to showcase your creativity and technical skills to future employers. Our approach ensures you graduate confident in your abilities and equipped to pursue a wide range of roles in the creative industries.

Graduates have gone on to careers as graphic designers, animators, illustrators, art directors, and other creative professionals.

Career opportunities after the course *

Graphic Designer

UX Designer

UI Designer

Creative Designer

*Lightcast

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

BBB-BCC at A Level or equivalent.
DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Merit in UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Merit in RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma.
120-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.
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.
Merit at T Level.
120-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.


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.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Art, Design and Architecture Foundation Pathway Degree.

What will you learn?

Course Details

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you’ll study the award-winning Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* — so you’re ready for the career you want, whatever subject you choose.

Interested in a placement?

Placements

The course offers an optional one-year (36 weeks 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 with Animation have previously taken up placement opportunities with companies including: Fantastic Media; Territory Studio – London and Banter Media – Ashton under Lyne.

During my placement at Airbus Helicopters GmbH in Germany I created posters, infographics, social media material and edited videos.

- Maria Lynam
Graphic Design BA(Hons)

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

The course aims to help you develop the skills needed to work in design agencies and design consultancies, both in the UK and abroad, in roles such as graphic designer, graphic artist, digital designer, UX designer, typographer and design manager. You could also consider training as a teacher.

Companies who have employed our talented students from the suite of Graphic Design and Animation courses include SEA, Thompson Brand Partners, the BBC and Google. You'll be encouraged to take part in workshops, live briefs and international design competitions. It's all structured to get you ready for employment once you've graduated. Recent graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Adam & Eve (London), Google (USA), and Studio Tilt (Netherlands).

81%
Percent of graduates from this subject area were in work or further study 15 months after graduation

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 22/23, UK Domiciled

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£9,790 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£17,600 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Home

The tuition fee for a placement year is £1000. If you go on work experience or work placement, you will need to fund your own travel and/or accommodation costs to and from the placement.  Please be aware that if your placement is outside of the UK, you will still be responsible for your travel and living expenses and may need to consider issues like health care and insurance costs.

International

The tuition fee for a placement year is £3,300. If you go on work experience or work placement, you will need to fund your own travel and/or accommodation costs to and from the placement.  Please be aware that if your placement is outside of the UK, you will still be responsible for your travel and living expenses and may need to consider issues like health care and insurance costs.

Materials:
You will need to cover the cost of printing your work during the course. You’ll also need to supply your own materials, which may include sketchbooks, pens, specialist papers, sculpting materials and specialist tools. The approximate cost of these items in recent years has been £100 in the first year, £200 in the second year and £200 to £500 in the final year. We also recommend that you purchase a hard-drive in order to back up your work throughout the course.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible undergraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

Explore More

Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

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More Info

Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

Find out more about careers support

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

See our support services

Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Design and Architecture may teach you on this course.

Find out more about our staff

Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

Take a look at your options

Further Study

If you want to continue your learning beyond your undergraduate degree, there is a range of financial support available for postgraduate study, including discounts for Huddersfield graduates.

Discover postgraduate courses
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