University College Birmingham
UCAS Code: W211 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
T Level
Pass (C and above)
UCAS Tariff
About this course
**OVERVIEW**
**Developed with industry, this exciting graphic design degree equips students with a whole range of skills they will need to succeed, including typography, photography, web development, digital design and visual communication, simultaneously preparing students to embrace AI technologies and meet the future demands of the industry across the sectors. Learners engage in industry-relevant software such as Creative Cloud and other key tools to explore the principles of design, branding and colour theory to create compelling visuals.**
Through collaboration, the curriculum is focused on giving students plenty of real-world experience to enable you to confidently translate concepts into impactful designs and meet client needs. Graduates have a strong foundation in design and are fully prepared to embark on the range of diverse careers available in graphic design.
**WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE THIS COURSE**
- **NO EXAMS** – If you are not keen on exams, this course is for you. Unlike many degrees in this field, you will have no written exams during or at the end of the course and will be assessed through practical assessments and coursework only
- **VERSATILE SKILL SET** – The degree programme will equip learners with a diverse practical skill set, including the ability to use Creative Cloud and other industry-standard software
- **DIVERSE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES** – Studying this degree will open doors to a wide range of graduate careers, including those within traditional and digital graphic design sectors
- **STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES** - The University has a diverse range of specialist facilities dedicated to enhancing the learning experience - including our Digital Hub and Editorial Suite
- **INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT** – Guest speakers and other industry-related opportunities support the delivery of this course to give graphic design students a thorough insight into the broad career opportunities available across every sector
- **STRONG PORTFOLIO** – Assessment is focused on collaboration and project-based learning so students can build a robust portfolio - an essential tool when seeking opportunities within the design industry
**FACILITIES**
On our graphic design course, you will be taught in our **Digital Creative Studio**, where you will get the very best hands-on experience and undertake photography and videography tasks for assignment and portfolio development. Within our creative facilities, you will also have access to the most up-to-date and relevant industry software, including the gold standard Creative Cloud and ZBrush software for you to develop your digital design skills.
**CAREERS AND PROGRESSION**
Examples of careers you could pursue following this course:
- Graphic Designer
- Senior Graphic Designer
- Web Designer
- Digital designer
- Social media manager
- Multimedia specialist
*- Please refer to our website www.ucb.ac.uk for the latest updates to this course *
Modules
YEAR 1 - Learners are introduced to the key theoretical concepts associated with graphic design, including visual communication and the impact of design on consumer behavior. Using industry-relevant software, techniques in image manipulation are explored, while students also develop technical skills in photography, editing and the application of artificial intelligence.
YEAR 2 - The second year involves a deeper exploration of graphic design principles, all while keeping the industry at the forefront of their learning. Learners engage in digital and hand-drawn techniques for illustrative design purposes, as well as develop an understanding of brand identity and strategy. Focus will be on digital storytelling, web design, logo design, 3D technologies and collaboration to fully prepare students for employment.
YEAR 3 - BA (Hons) students have the opportunity to undertake a 48-week paid placement during the third year. This real-world experience further prepare students for future employment by enabling them to apply their skills in a professional setting.
YEAR 3/4 - The final year is centered around topics such as business, innovation, project and client management, enabling learners to advance their understanding of the industry and progress into a career in graphic design. Learners engage in a large-scale project to produce a portfolio tailored towards a chosen area of specialism, presenting a range of technical and transferrable skills.
Assessment methods
**Note**: Indicative information only – actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction. **Teaching**: The degree programme is delivered through a variety of methods, including theory lectures, demonstrations, practical activities and reflective learning. You will have the opportunity to interact with guest speakers and industry professionals to develop knowledge and enhance your technical skill set. Independent study and research will ensure you have an interactive and personalised learning experience. You will be assessed by a range of methods to encourage the development of a portfolio of work showcasing technical and transferrable skills. These will include, but will not be limited to, reflective journals, reports, essays, presentations, practical skills exhibitions, collaborative projects, 3D digital designs and case studies. Example of a typical teaching week (up to 16 contact hours):
Small group teaching – 8–10 hours, Large group teaching – 3-4 hours, Tutorials – 1–2 hours. You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time.
**Assessment**: Estimated breakdown of assessment for this course: Coursework – 90%, Practical assessment – 10%. Demonstration of practical ability will be assessed through a range of coursework and practical assessment methods. Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University College Birmingham
Creative Services - BA/BSc
What students say
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Design studies
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Design studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Graphic design
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£15k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...
Higher entry requirements
Lower entry requirements
Nearby University
Same UniversityThis is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
