BDes (Hons) Graphic Design

This course emphasises the importance of ideas and originality of content as key elements and the fundamental cornerstone of the graphic design process. It encourages creativity, integrity, social and ethical responsibility and a sense of challenge in the work undertaken.

Sharing its first year with the Product Design and Interior & Spatial Design courses, this course will expose you to design in its broadest sense, including media, motion and spatial applications, and you'll study and create work that transcends the 2D format.

You'll gain the skills you need to successfully operate as a professional graphic designer. You'll work on conceptual thinking, design sketching techniques, illustration and the use of digital media. In addition, you'll learn verbal and visual communication techniques, effective client liaison, team working skills and business and marketing principles.

You'll attend master-classes given by notable international industry practitioners, and work on live briefs from studios and external clients from around the world, which will provide the opportunity not only to engage with current graphic design practice but also to build a network of contacts. The University Employer Mentoring Programme also offers the valuable opportunity to link you with an industry mentor.

This is a full-time course studied over four years and is accredited by Creative Skillset. You'll learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and independent study.

Popular modules

Year 1

• Foundation Digital Media 1
• Foundation Digital Media 2
• Foundation Graphic Design 1
• Foundation Graphic Design 2
• Visual Research Methods
• Debating Design 1

 

Year 2

• Design for Screen Based Communication
• Graphic Design Studio 1
• Debating Design 2
• Graphic Design Studio 2
• Illustration Text & Image
• Design & Business

 

Year 3

• Art Direction 1;
• Art Direction 2
• Graphic Design Studio 3
• Graphic Design Studio 4
• Design Research Methods

 

Year 4

• Design Major Project
• Minor Project 
• Design Research Portfolio
• Professional Practice Media Production
• Also in year 4:
• Enter work into competitions
• Optional supervised work placement or overseas study module

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught degrees 

IELTS (Academic)
6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5

TOEFL Internet Based Test
80 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

Pearson’s Test of Academic English
56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each component

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge B2 First (formerly Cambridge English First (FCE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English Advanced (CAE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Trinity Integrated Skills Test (ISE)
ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV with a pass in each component

LanguageCert English language qualification
B2 Communicator Test with overall 39 or above, and 25 or above in all skills

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study. Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by mainland EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2022 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here. For EU students who commenced their studies prior to 1 August 2022 or hold pre or settled status in the UK, fees will remain the same as Scottish Students. 

 

If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.                    

 

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2022 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.                   

As our society becomes more and more visually-oriented, the need for excellent graphic designers increases. There is wide scope for employment including:

• Packaging design
• Branding
• Advertising
• Design management
• Exhibition design
• Web design
• Editorial design
• Merchandising

 

With further study, a career in design teaching could also be possible.