Graphic Design BA (Hons)

Explore and establish your creativity through a series of projects and workshops to build your portfolio, focusing on graphic communication, creativity and graphic literacy.

Entry Criteria
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
Take your next steps
Contact us

Overview

Subject Group Leader Dan Morley discusses the unique qualities of studying Graphic Design at DMU.

Graphic design opens the door to an extensive variety of creative roles, from positions in agencies, freelance consultancy, in-house or even opportunities to set up your own studio. Advertising, animation, visual effects or stylist, there are many directions a graphic design degree can take you.

Gain the essential experience required to become a successful graphic designer and graduate with an impressive portfolio that demonstrates your skills and talents, showcasing your capabilities to prospective employers.

Not only do you learn how to apply your creativity, you’ll also be able to develop other areas such as research, analytical and entrepreneurial skills. Teaching staff are practising designers with a range of experience and close industry links, allowing you to spend time working with professional clients.

Graphic Design student work

Maksymilian Szyrmulewicz – Graphic Design

Key features

Newly developed and multi-purpose facilities feature multiple iMac-equipped studios, specialist digital printing facilities, green screen studios, video and photography suites, drawing and craft studios, letterpress and traditional printmaking workshops.
Study a range of topics including visual communication, creative resolution and design processes for graphic design.
Gain valuable international experience as part of your studies with our DMU Global programme. Previous trips have taken Graphic Design students to Berlin, which provided a valuable introduction to the Bauhaus art movement.
Undertake live briefs set by industry professionals and participate in high-profile competitions such as D&AD, International Society of Typographic Designers, Starpack and RSA.
Our graduates have gone on to work at some of the world’s biggest design agencies and businesses, including Barclaycard, Google, Sony PlayStation, Penguin Books, Disney Studios, Burberry and Warner Music.

Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Having the opportunity to work in a friendly studio environment every day is the best thing about Graphic Design. The tutors are so genuinely passionate. I’ve learned so much and it’s set me up so well for the next stage of my life.

Matthew Evans

Find out what makes a great portfolio

Graphic Design portfolio advice

More courses like this:

Graphic Design (Illustration) BA (Hons)

Graphic Design and e-Media Foundation Degree (FdA)

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UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W219

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2023/24 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Graphic Design materials: You will need to purchase sketchbooks, USB flashdrives, drawing and art equipment. You will also have costs for printing. A basic kit list will be provided to indicate the minimum materials required.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W219

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2023/24 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

Find out more about available funding for international students.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

A typical offer is a normally 104 UCAS points from at least two A-levels with Art and Design at grade C or above, or
Art and Design BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM

Plus five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English or equivalent.

Alternative qualifications include:

Pass Access in the QAA accredited Access to HE Art and Design course with at least 15 credits in Art and Design at merit. English GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

International Baccalaureate: 24+ points including Art and Design at higher level grade 5
T Levels Merit
Art and Design Foundation Diploma: Pass

Portfolio Required: Yes. You will need a good portfolio according to the course guidelines as part of your application. Portfolio guidance for Graphic Design.

Interview Required: No

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language

If English is not your first language then an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent) is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

Structure and assessment

We want to ensure you have the best learning experience possible and a supportive and nurturing learning community. That’s why we’re introducing a new block model for delivering the majority of our courses, known as Education 2030. This means a more simplified timetable where you will study one subject at a time instead of several at once. You will have more time to engage with your learning and get to know the teaching team and course mates. You will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, and have a better study-life balance to enjoy other important aspects of university life.

Year one

Block 1: Exploration and Ideation for Graphic Design

Block 2: Applied Idea Development for Graphic Design

Block 3: Visual Communication for Graphic Design

Block 4: Creative Resolution for Graphic Design

Year two

Block 1: Design Process for Graphic Design

Block 2: Design Process Progression for Graphic Design

Block 3: Design Communication for Graphic Design

Block 4: Year 2 Personal Practice for Graphic Design

Year three

Block 1: Independent Practice

Block 2: Independent Practice 2

Block 3: Professional Practice

Block 4: Professional Practice 2

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

See detailed module information

See pre-Education 2030 version of this course

Teaching

Teaching, learning and assessment on BA (Hons) Graphic Design will take place through modules with well-established strategies and patterns of delivery. Here, students are provided with an opportunity to develop an intellectual and visual awareness of historical and contemporary practices, integrating, practices across a range of media. Learning and teaching strategies also encourage students to collaborate with one another and to work across creative disciplines (interactive design, illustration, photography, printmaking etc.).

The multidisciplinary approach requires a range of deliveries, such as: workshop demonstrations, studio work, lectures, seminars, tutorials, group project work, screenings, external visits, visiting professionals, independent learning, research and self-directed studies all inform practical areas of study. Lectures and seminars, research and self-directed study deliver the contextual and historical information students need to inform their thinking around theoretical issues, and their analytical writing skills.

Assessment

Formative reviews of work take place on a continuous weekly tutorial basis preceding formative assessments each semester and summative assessments in May. Assessment strategies adhere to subject benchmarks and applicable professional requirements.

Facilities and features

Graphic Design studios

We have specialist facilities for graphic design students, including iMac suites, open-access multi-purpose studios with excellent natural light and digital imaging equipment.

We also have dedicated drawing and visualisation studios and large photography and printmaking workshops for students to use during their studies.

You will also have the opportunity to receive support from the Leicester Media School Drawing Centre, which provides extra-curricular support for developing artists and designers to have a creative forum and discourse.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Graduate Careers

Graphic Design graduates have gone on to work for a range of companies such as Net-a-Porter, Warner Music, Bauer Media, Morse Studio, Mammal, Commercial Art, 19 Grams, Groove Bulb, Six, New English, Tudor Rose and Bulb Studio.

Graduates have also progressed into the graphic communication sector as staff designers, consultants or freelancers, in areas such as advertising, promotional design, and interactive and multimedia design.

DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers.

Through DMU Global, we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.

Graphic Design students have visited the Centraal Museum in Utrecht which houses the Dick Bruna Studio and been on a guided tour of the world-renowned Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, an international museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art and design.

Placements

Work placements are offered as part of this course through DMU Works, and can boost your skills and experience while studying, as well as improving your chances of gaining a graduate level job.

We have links with organisations both in the UK and internationally, and the placements team will help you find a placement to suit your interests and aspirations.

Graphic Design students have taken on placements with companies such as Next, Marks & Spencer and Joules, as well as various communications and graphic design agencies.

Take your next steps

Nine halls of residence and around 2,300 rooms, all of which are within easy walking distance of the campus.

Run by students for students, DSU offers more than 150 societies and almost 40 different sports clubs for you to get involved in.