BA (Hons) Graphic Design with foundation year
Award
BA (Hons)
Start Date
To be confirmed
Duration
4 years
Mode
Full-time
Location
University of Greater Manchester
UCAS Code
W211
Marketing materials created by graphic design professionals influence our choices every day. The University of Greater Manchester’s BA (Hons) Graphic Design with foundation will prepare you for a career in this exciting and ever-changing field of visual communication. We'll support you in developing the skills to create media for screen and print, using typography, photography and illustrative skills to grab attention and communicate ideas, values and emotions in a matter of seconds.
Block Teaching
Course Overview
Every day, we read adverts, engage with websites and spend money based on choices influenced by marketing messages delivered through graphic design. We digest information on health, wellbeing, sustainability and thousands of other topics because graphic design professionals produce content for digital and traditional media. By studying for your BA (Hons) Graphic Design with foundation undergraduate degree course at the University of Greater Manchester, you can develop essential knowledge and understanding of graphic design principles and practices, ready to start your career in this exciting profession.Our expert team will guide you as you learn to creatively combine ideation, photography, illustration, typography, and copywriting to communicate messages for clients ranging from big brands to small businesses and political parties to health providers. You'll learn how to grab your audience's attention and inform and persuade them of new information or trends.
The foundation year allows you to discover and strengthen research, design, practical and communication skills that are essential for success as you study Graphic Design. You'll explore an array of core techniques relating to the creative arts industries, including drawing, painting, sculpting, and finishing techniques, investigating both traditional and digital technologies. The foundation year also aims to build your confidence in academic skills such as literature searching, academic referencing and written and oral communication techniques.
Following the foundation level, your studies will focus on graphic design. The course is designed to help you understand the creative and technical possibilities of contemporary graphic image-making, coupled with great typography and driven by original thinking. We'll encourage you to explore the theoretical and historical elements that influence design and think critically about your own work and that of others.
Your studies will focus on graphic design. The course is designed to help you understand the creative and technical possibilities of contemporary graphic image-making, coupled with great typography and driven by original thinking. We'll encourage you to explore the theoretical and historical elements that influence design and think critically about your own work and that of others.
We'll also focus on helping you develop career-relevant skills. Creativity, technical knowledge, problem-solving, teamwork, independence, time management, and communication skills are all essential for success as a professional graphic designer.
This industry has seen massive changes in working methods, practices and media in recent years. However, the creative thought process that designers employ remains the same. Designers use words and images to communicate messages and meanings. These new developments continually add to the creative possibilities and excitement of a career in this sector, so we'll support you in developing the lifelong learning skills you'll need to adapt and thrive. You'll learn to take ownership of your professional development, maximising your potential for success and enjoyment of the creative process, all while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.
Highlights
- You'll have the opportunity to work on real-world client-led briefs. We'll also encourage you to engage in additional live briefs during your spare time so that you can gain industry-relevant professional experience to enhance your CV.
- We'll encourage you to apply for placements, internships, awards, competitions, masterclasses and other external development opportunities, such as the D&AD (Design and Art Directors) Creative Conscience, 2+2, School of Thought and the Manchester Publicity Awards.
- You'll have the opportunity to work with industry clientele from the charitable and commercial sectors. These collaborators will offer feedback and encouragement on your creative practice and may potentially use your work publicly.
- We'll offer you the opportunity to present your work to the public and impress potential employers during the Bolton School of the Arts Creative Showcase in your final year.
Key Features
- Our £10 million purpose-built facilities include extensive computer suites featuring the latest design and graphics software, professional standard traditional and digital photographic studios, and fully equipped fine art workshops and studios.
- You can learn to use the latest design software while being encouraged to generate ideas and problem-solve using traditional media and techniques.
- You'll have opportunities to use traditional graphic design media, including woodblock printing, screen printing and lino cutting.
- You'll have access to a rich visiting speaker programme, which will provide insight into industry experts' professional practices and up-to-the-minute developments in the sector.
- Our specialist tutors and technical support staff have professional experience and industry connections.
- We offer opportunities for you to participate in foreign study trips and visit current exhibitions and events at galleries and arts centres around the UK. We also encourage you to attend design-related professional development lectures and conferences.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Creative subjects are strongly preferred.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English.
- You'll be required to attend an interview and provide a portfolio of appropriate work. Your portfolio should demonstrate your skills in a range of relevant creative media and styles.
- The quality of the portfolio/interview is the primary basis on which applicants are selected; therefore, special consideration will be given to applicants without the above qualifications who have a strong portfolio. Relevant work or voluntary experience will also be considered. In these cases, we may ask applicants to undertake additional assessments to determine their suitability for the course.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
As a graphic design graduate, you’ll possess a good mix of subject-specific and technical skills that include ideation, communication, creativity, project management, art direction, concept development, presenting ideas, networking and liaising with clients, and the abilities to work independently, manage your time and meet deadlines. You’ll also be able to use a range of software packages to create images that convey a product or message.
Graphic design offers a stimulating and sought after working environment. You'll be able to work with a wide variety of clientele and an ever-changing portfolio of briefs and projects. An experienced graphic design professional may never encounter two projects that are exactly the same.
What can I do with this qualification?
In the public sector, employers include museums, local authorities, schools, colleges and hospitals. Some graduates set up their own studios and work as freelance designers and art directors.
Some graphic design professionals might also work as logo designers, advertisement designers, web designers, photograph editors, book layout artists, magazine layout artists, illustrators, art directors and printmakers.
A broad range of postgraduate opportunities are available to graduates of this degree, including the possibility of professionally-accredited qualifications in areas such as marketing and teaching.
Alternative career options
Graduates can use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. They include:
- Account executive
- Advertising specialist
- Art director
- Commercial and industrial design
- Copywriter
- Exhibition design
- Graphic designer
- Marketing
- Moving image designer
- Multimedia specialist
- Teaching
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
Home Undergraduate Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The tuition fee set is based on the regulations and guidance in force at the time of offer but remains subject to adjustment in accordance with any government-approved inflationary increase. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for all years of study, including the first year, by no more than the maximum increase permitted under legislation and regulatory guidance issued by the UK Government and the Office for Students.
Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
This approach ensures that tuition fees remain compliant with applicable legislation, proportionate to inflationary changes, and consistent with government policy linking permitted fee uplifts to the maintenance of high-quality education and outcomes. For more information, please refer to the government guidance at: gov.uk – Universities to deliver better outcomes in return for full fees.
Postgraduate and International Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for subsequent years of study in accordance with its Course Fees Policy. Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Teaching & Assessment
We use a blended approach to teaching and learning. You’ll have face-to-face sessions and take part in online learning. You can expect a mix of seminars, lectures and tutorials, practical workshop demonstrations, our visiting speaker programme, critiques, study visits, self-directed study, IT sessions, library and guided study. The University’s e-learning portal Moodle will support your online learning. We’ll also encourage you to use the internet for research and to set up digital portfolios.
Module-based design briefs help to give you an insight into the professional environment. These involve simulated design briefs, client-led live briefs and competition briefs. Group tutorials and critiques, one-to-one tutor feedback, and regular feedback from clients and collaborators combine to support your learning. You’ll also be able to seek further advice and feedback at the published drop-in sessions, via email and online discussions, and at scheduled tutorials.
Formal assessment is through coursework. This may involve you presenting your portfolio of artwork along with a supporting sketchbook of developmental ideas and a written research journal. It can also take the form of assignments, projects and written work.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Creative Foundations
- Professional and Academic Skills
- Creative Explorations
- Project Design, Academic Integrity and Ethics
- Collaborative Project
- Creative Project
- Introduction to Design Practice
- Typography within Applied Visual Thinking
- Creative Industries Contexts
- Introduction to Studio Practice in Graphic Design 1
- Introduction to Studio Practice in Graphic Design 2
- Creative Industries Project
- Production for Screen
- Production for Print
- Applied Graphic Design 1
- Applied Graphic Design 2
- Creative Careers: Applying Your Practice
- Creative Careers: Action and Engagement
- Commercial Practice in Graphic Design 1
- Commercial Practice in Graphic Design 2
- Innovate
- Major Project
- Professional Practice and Self-Promotion
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 1 | Coursework 67% Practical exams 33% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Guided independent study 60% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 40% |
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
Postgraduate Options
Programme Contacts
Disclaimer: The “Greater Manchester Way” represents our preferred teaching and learning approach; however, not all courses follow a block-teaching model. While course structures and delivery patterns may vary to meet Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, all courses benefit from the GM Way approach to curriculum design and assessment. Applicants and students should refer to individual course specifications for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
