Course Overview

BA (Hons) Graphic Design and Illustration (Visual Communication), you will have the freedom to explore both graphic design and illustration without the stigma of working between or within subjects, allowing you to bridge between the two and go on to develop a practice that blurs the line between the two - a critical characteristic that has become more common in the industry.  

You will learn a great deal in a fun environment. You know, alongside fine art, photography, design and illustration students. So if you're not 100 per cent about your direction or can't choose between subjects (maybe you enjoy more than one), you can use it as a diagnostic year to help you decide. One of the significant benefits of all our foundation courses is you are free to switch direction should you change your mind.

As you progress, you will join students at the forefront of future-focused design. You will experiment and develop emerging technology such as AR/VR (XR), AI, game engines, electronics, sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and robotics. You will play a role in shaping the world around us with free-thinking ideas and opportunities.

You will be supported by the yearly employability initiative Detour Ahead: Roadmaps for the Art and Design Industry, week-long inter-disciplinary guest talks offering industry insights and guidance on subjects such as freelancing, copyright and tax.

You will be able to develop an original, individual approach to creating graphic design and illustration, coupled with a thorough understanding of the social, cultural and professional context occupied by these two disciplines. Having skills in both areas (feet in both camps) allows a more adaptable approach to taking on work and being successful, chiming with the requirements of Creative Industries 4.0, where discipline distinctions become increasingly irrelevant to professional life.  

General Eligibility

A LEVEL

Must include passes at A2 in at least two subjects.

BTEC

Extended Diploma or Diploma

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Diploma with 24 points, including a minimum of 15 points at a Higher Level

We usually expect you to have a Grade C in GCSE English and Maths. All applicants are required to attend an interview and submit a portfolio of their work

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• IELTS 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (or recognised equivalent).