BA (Hons) Graphic Design Bachelor's degree at Edge Hill University
BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Edge Hill University was founded in 2006 and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. Teaching quality has been rated Silver by the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
About this course
BA (Hons) Graphic Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Edge Hill University, based in Ormskirk. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Creative arts and design graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 30% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £22,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 10 modules
- Design ContextCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Design Context delves into art and design history, focusing on modernism to the present day. Designers use interpretation theories and research methodologies from the social sciences to conduct research and practice. You will have the opportunity to explore these theories, including design ethnography, design anthropology, linguistic theories, semiotic theories, psychological theories and gender theories. This module supports you to make sense of the visual world by developing a design vocabular
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Digital DesignCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Digital Design introduces you to the Adobe Creative suite, with a focus on vector and raster image creation using Illustrator and Photoshop. Through the use of InDesign you will be enabled to bring together elements of visual design in visual outcomes. The module provides you with a solid foundation for further digital applications. You will have the opportunity to testbed other software programmes used for games design, web and social, and animation. We will encourage you to draw on skills such
Assessment: 100% Practical
- Design ProcessCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Design Process is an opportunity to learn different ways in which designers generate ideas, and work through projects from concept to final outcome, often referred to as 'design thinking'. Explore strategies and theories for stimulating creativity through creating your own working model of the creative process and evaluating how you approach design. Prototyping, testing and group working will be a key area of focus. By the end of the module, you will have produced a series of design prototypes a
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practical
- Design CraftCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Design Craft covers various forms of visual design such as laser etching, foil blocking, design production for print, storyboarding and other experimental approaches. By the end of this module, you will produce a physical annotated sketchbook and/or a digital Pinterest or Instagram-style look book. This will give you the opportunity to explore the various hand-rendered approaches from within and outside the graphic design area, influencing you to produce interesting, experimental and authentic i
Assessment: 100% Practical
- Working in Creative IndustriesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Working in Creative Industries is designed to enhance your employability and skill set by introducing you to the various sub-sectors of the constantly changing and evolving media and creative industries. The module will develop your knowledge and understanding of economic and policy concepts as well as issues within the context of the media and creative industries. The aim is to develop your understanding of contemporary media settings, from industrial to political, scholarly and practical. You
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Motion GraphicsOptional20 credits
Module details
Motion Graphics runs alongside the Digital Design module, utilising the knowledge and skills that you develop using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Your skills will be developed further through using Adobe After Effects. This module is ideal if you have an identified preference for technical and digital graphic design. You will explore the basics of animation and movement principles which will then be put into practice through a series of incremental practical workshops to produce a short
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- PhotographyOptional20 credits
Module details
Photography covers the basics in digital camera use and post-production, semiotic and photography theory. As practical knowledge of camera equipment and composition are required to fully exploit the creative possibilities of visual media, this module is designed to develop your camera skills, technical competence, and understanding of composition and photography. It concentrates on the principles of stills photography and develops your understanding of the photographic image that will be fundame
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Language 1Optional20 credits
Module details
Language 1 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. The module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also
Assessment: 85% Coursework 15% Practical
- New Venture CreationOptional20 credits
Module details
New Venture Creation introduces you to business planning and the development stages in business start-up. You will organise and evaluate theoretical perspectives in a practical setting, informing your future learning processes and outcomes. A key element of the module is a review of entrepreneurial skills and small business development through theoretical concepts of enterprise, self-employment and small business management. This module creates an awareness of emergent business types and their m
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practical
- Global Popular CultureOptional20 credits
Module details
Global Popular Culture introduces you to a range of popular culture products and processes and encourages you to reflect on the relationship between national and global consumption and reception. As such, the module will examine elements of pop-culture from a variety of nations and facilitate discussions of culture, popular culture and global and national markets and trends. You will be encouraged to explore areas around convergence, the diversity of experience and the reception of popular cultu
Assessment: 100% Practical
Year 2 5 modules
- Design EdgeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Design Edge is an industry-focused module aimed at improving your employability upon completion of your studies. You will work on a series of design projects, developing your ability to negotiate and resolve live design briefs and projects, with opportunities to work individually and in collaborative groups.
Assessment: 100% Practical
- Design FuturesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Design Futures provides you with the opportunity to review previous activities and approaches, and to focus on an area of special interest for research, written and practical work. You will be expected to work thematically with a particular line of enquiry emerging from your practice, moving you forward to the final year of study. We will support you in negotiating a project and producing this to a commercial standard of finish, which will be showcased in an external exhibition organised by the
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Design CommunicationCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Design Communication will develop your understanding of the techniques of conveying messages through persuasion and establishing appeal to promote a brand, an idea or a cause. It covers advertising principles and branding strategies, including approaches to marketing and user experience design. You'll be enabled to appreciate the requirements to generate interest, loyalty and engagement with and for services, products, ideas and beyond. Collaborative working will be encouraged. You'll explore ma
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Co-DesignOptional20 credits
Module details
Co-Design provides you with the opportunity to work on internal and external research and design projects. There will be an emphasis on community engagement and participatory design approaches. This module would be well suited to you if you have an interest in community and socio-cultural work. You will develop strategies for effective creative facilitation, and take on the role of co-producers through community engagement workshops and focus groups. Learn how to work alongside and facilitate st
Assessment: 80% Coursework 20% Practical
- Creative BusinessOptional20 credits
Module details
Creative Business explores the possibilities for the future landscape of design and emergent technologies, philosophies and ways of working. Building on the Working in the Creative Industries module, you will refine an online or physical portfolio of work. Create your design identity and associated kitemark, logo or brand mark, along with self-promotional artefacts for your proposed freelance business, design agency or design collective. A designed CV and working blog or website will also be dev
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
A typical graphic design degree progresses from visual foundations to specialist practice and a final project. You'll usually begin with visual studies and design principles, colour, composition and form across media, alongside materials and processes workshops covering print, textiles and digital fabrication. Contextual studies in art and design history inform your developing practice. In Year 2, you move into sustained studio work, developing a personal direction, and engage with digital and emerging media such as creative software, motion, 3D or interaction design. Live briefs and real client projects give you experience of professional deadlines. By Year 3, you specialise in depth, pursuing graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital, whilst building professional practice skills and a portfolio. Your studies culminate in a self-directed major project, publicly exhibited in a degree show.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-level qualifications or equivalent. Recent entrants typically held a UCAS tariff between 112 and 127 points. You'll benefit from structured study combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on design work across multiple specialisations.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £22,000 to £27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. These figures reflect the broader graduate population, not a guarantee for individual outcomes.
University & format
This BA (Hons) in Graphic Design is delivered full-time over 3 years at Edge Hill University, a public university in Ormskirk. Teaching and learning have been assessed as Silver for quality by the Office for Students' TEF 2023. The course is taught in English and is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W212). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Edge Hill University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £22,000 | £16,000 – £25,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £17,000 | £12,500 – £21,000 | 105 |
| 5 years after | £22,500 | £18,000 – £29,500 | 105 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 130; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £22,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.6 out of 10: NSS 87.6% · in work or study 90% · continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Edge Hill University
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Ormskirk
220 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Edge Hill University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Edge Hill University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Edge Hill University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Edge Hill University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Edge Hill University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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