BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Entry requirements

Although many of our students do come in with top grades and high UCAS points, these aren’t necessarily essential for entry. We typically ask for between 104 - 120 UCAS points, earned through an Art & Design Foundation Diploma, A-levels, BTEC Extended Diploma MMM grade, Access to HE Art & Design, T-Levels, Irish/Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers, the International Baccalaureate, or other international qualifications.

Applicants also need to submit a portfolio.

We understand that talented artists, designers and makers can have a wide range of relevant strengths and skills beyond formal qualifications. We’re just as interested in exploring your portfolio and discussing your creative experiences as we are in seeing your grades, and we welcome applications from students who have followed less traditional routes.

We also accept a range of international qualifications and will look at each application individually.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Get ready to thrive at the forefront of the Graphic Design Industry

Our BA (Hons) Graphic Design course invites you to join our award winning students from D&AD Best in Show, Creative Conscience, JDO Raw & more. Discover the universal language of graphic design, feel empowered to understand how to influence and activate public conscience. Join the cutting-edge graphic design program at Arts University Plymouth, where you’ll acquire the versatile skills to craft bold, impactful designs that break boundaries and drive global change. With a strong focus on innovation, experimentation & sustainability, you’ll learn to create and thrive in an industry that empowers you to design with purpose to shape a more responsible, impactful future.

Why choose this course at Arts University Plymouth?

• Explore a diverse range of graphic design contexts using creative and innovative design thinking alongside your application of traditional and digital design skills. Perfect for those interested in a graphic design course or studying graphic design.
• Identify what it takes to influence and activate public conscience through graphic design as you experience communication for the greater good. A valuable aspect of any graphic design degree or BA in graphic design.
• Gain first-hand experience of real-life work situations, from working with clients on live briefs through to communicating directly with the creative industries. Ideal for anyone pursuing graphic design courses in the UK or a degree in graphic design.
• Learn from our experienced team through to networking events, industry mentors, and visiting lecturers from companies such as Getty Images, JDO Raw, and Creative Conscience. An excellent opportunity provided by a graphic design university.

We had great opportunities and a great course leader. The team were extremely supportive especially when I started my first graphic design job whilst still studying in the final year. I met a lot of great friends and some amazing contacts. The course allowed me to get my first job as a graphic designer and I am still using skills today.

LAURA SCOTT

Explore State-of-the-Art Multimedia Studio Environment

Dive into a world of creativity within our cutting-edge multimedia studio environment. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, our studios provide the perfect setting for unleashing your creative potential.

Develop Comprehensive Skills through Storytelling and Collaboration

Grounded in a critical awareness of societal and cultural contexts, you'll adopt the mindset of a design professional. Through interdisciplinary experiments and collaborative projects, learn specialist and generalist approaches to graphic design, embracing advances in new technologies.

Join a new breed of professional designers, empowering brands and inspiring community action globally. With a critical awareness of commercial, cultural, and societal backgrounds, forge your professional journey in the evolving landscape of graphic design.

Gain Real-World Experience and Industry Exposure

With the support of our expert academics and industry-practising technicians, you will forge your own professional journey within an ever-evolving international landscape of motion, print, social, and interactive media design. Learn to respond to current design needs, from research and concept through to prototype and design, strategising packaging and campaigns that inform, entertain, and persuade. Your studies will also equip you with progressive problem-solving skills needed by future employers, including themes of ecological sustainability, emerging technologies, and user-centred design.

Check out the final major projects from our Class of 2022 cohort.

Access Cutting-Edge Facilities and Industry Partnerships

Unrivalled access to resources awaits our students, offering a blend of traditional and future-facing facilities. From screen-printing and letterpress workshops to cutting-edge 2D and 3D animation studios, you'll have access to state-of-the-art digital production equipment and creative software like Adobe Creative Cloud.

Dive into specialised areas including:

• Digital Graphics
• Motion Graphics and Emerging Technologies
• Graphic Design and Typography
• Brand Identity & Communications
• Social Media Campaigns

Industry partners & connections

Mother London, Pentagram, Anthony Burrill, Plymouth Design Forum, James Edgar Studios, Nick Dell’Anno, Out Of Town, Fly, Upshot, Brand Opus, G.F. Smith, Brand Biscuit, Studio Felt, Creative Conscience, Plymouth City Council, Buddy Creative, N9 Design, Callum Digital, Fiasco

Fees and funding