BA (Hons) in Graphic Design
Carlisle, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 13,575 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international | UK: £9,250 per academic year
Key Summary
About: The BA (Hons) in Graphic Design at The University of Cumbria gives you hands-on experience and skills to launch your career. The programme emphasizes personality, passion and portfolio development through varied projects and live briefs. You'll get extensive feedback, support and access to state-of-the-art studios, equipment, helping you develop skills in visual communication, typography, branding, print and digital design.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue roles as graphic designer, art director, brand designer, UX/UI designer, packaging designer, motion graphics artist, illustrator, freelance creative, agency roles, working across agencies, in-house teams, studios, publishing, advertising and digital platforms, with strong portfolios and experience.
This graphic design course will give you hands-on experience, providing the expertise, experience, confidence, and creative skills you need to launch your career in graphic design.
We realize that, as a university graduate, what makes you stand out from the crowd is your personality, passion, and the quality of the work in your portfolio. That's why we've designed this graphic design degree to provide you with a wide variety of projects, including many ‘live briefs’, to help you discover what suits you best, allowing you to focus on developing your specialties. You will receive extensive feedback, support, and advice throughout your studies and have access to our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.
We’re very proud of what our students achieve. Why not read their success stories: STUDY@ UoC - GRAPHIC DESIGN. You can also see what happens on our course through our social channels.
The BA (Hons) in Graphic Design aims to help you successfully transition from being a design student to a professional designer. Our graduates work for national and international design and advertising consultancies, multi-media agencies, TV companies, publishing houses, magazines and many now run their own design studios.
Year One
In Level 4 you’ll gain fundamental knowledge and practical experience of visual communication, the building blocks of visual language, and professional attitudes and practices. When you join us you become part of a creative community and from the outset, you will be encouraged to share your ideas, and experiences and work through discussion with tutors and fellow students.
A distinctive feature of the graphic design course is that, initially, you will work closely with Level 4 illustrators exploring the fundamental principles of visual communication as many of the core principles and considerations are shared between the two disciplines, for instance; color theory and application, traditional and digital media, development processes, presentation skills, etc.
Introducing Visual Communication
Develop effective working practices and habits.
Cultural Contexts
An introduction to the cultural, historical, and social contexts in which creative work from a range of disciplines.
Multi-Dimensional Graphic Design
Explore multiple forms and formats, from traditional print to the latest digital platforms, simple symbols to complex information and ideas, ephemeral to iconic.
Collaborative Practice
Work with other students to explore and practice the skills involved in creative collaboration.
Year Two
The second year is focused on applying the knowledge and skills you’ve gained to a series of design challenges. Testing and refining your design and personal management skills in a number of scenarios will give you confidence in your ability to tackle unfamiliar challenges. As your confidence grows through experience you’ll begin to develop personal strands of interest or specialism.
Your tutors bring a wide range of design experience to the course with particular expertise and interests in typography, editorial/publishing, corporate identity, and branding work. There is an emphasis on knowledge, passion, and enjoyment, showing you how they can be utilized to make memorable, meaningful designs.
The Designer's Toolkit
Explore the structural elements that are essential when creating any piece of graphic design - alignment, hierarchy, contrast, repetition, proximity, balance, color, and space.
Type & Typography
Explore letterforms and how they can be manipulated and arranged to inform, entice, and communicate lies.
Graphic Design Projects
Develop conceptual skills and an individual approach to graphic design problem-solving, providing the springboard to your final year of study.
The Critical Designer
Explore key contextual debates that impact production and the reading of graphic design texts. Consider design as a form of social practice.
Year Three
As you enter your final year, flexibility increases where all of the skills, knowledge, and confidence you have developed so far are brought together to produce a portfolio of design work that showcases your talents.
By this time you’ll be preparing for progression – life after you finish your degree-seeking work or preparing for Master's or Postgraduate study. Much of your professional practice will be focused on that exciting step.
Advanced Design Projects
An opportunity to work within a design brief and explore a particular area of interest.
Independent Research Paper
Develop specialized and focused knowledge and understanding of a subject of your own choice.
Graphic Design Showcase
An opportunity to show off the skills, knowledge, and professionalism developed throughout the course to potential employers and the wider world.
How You Will Be Assessed
Throughout your course, you will engage in a range of assessment methods, including group projects, portfolio creation, and work placement. You will receive regular advice and guidance through formative feedback, exploring how you approach and contribute knowledge in one-to-one and group tutorials. Summative assessments will take place throughout the year and aim to assess how you apply your knowledge through essays, portfolios, and projects.
Assessments aim to develop your professional confidence, equipping you with the skills you need to excel as an adaptable and reliable graphic designer.
On This Course You Will...
- Learn graphic design, magazine design, illustration, and typography from experts in each of these specialisms, and use industry-standard software, equipment, and facilities.
- Do real graphic design work. 80% of your studies will be practical, so you won't just be learning theory.
- Build a robust portfolio of work for exhibits to showcase your graphic design training and display your talent to potential employers.
- Benefit from practical demonstrations, visits, and feedback from professional designers.