BA (Hons) Graphic Design Bachelor's degree at Middlesex University
BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Middlesex University. You'll engage with core theory, research methods, and applied practice, along with specialist options, an independent project and professional skills training, building a portfolio and the conceptual grounding to sustain a design career.
About this course
Unleash your creativity with our Graphic Design (BA) degree at Middlesex University. Develop your unique style in London From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Middlesex University, based in Hendon Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (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 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (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 4 modules
- Communication SkillsCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module develops your abilities in industry-relevant communication tasks or assets related to illustration or graphic design or fashion communication and styling or advertising, public relations and branding or digital media. It will equip you with a range of digital and/or analogue practices, analytical approaches and tools by which to create, curate, direct and produce content required to deliver impactful communications achieving the required objectives. The module also encourages the exp
- Creative WorkshopsCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module introduces you to design disciplines, such as design thinking, life drawing, digital design, moving image, video editing, photography, design for print, and styling. Through hands-on exploration, you will develop a diverse set of practical and technical skills applicable across different design fields, focusing on process, production, and presentation. You will engage with the latest tools, technologies and processes enabling you to develop adaptability and technological agility. You
- Innovative ProjectsCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module encourages innovation through the exploration of design methods and cultivate conceptual thinking and creative confidence. It will enable you to generate creative ideas adept at addressing diverse communication challenges. Emphasis on visual communication ensures that you will understand the principles of design across various formats. Through hands-on exploration, you will learn to respond imaginatively and effectively to given design briefs by sourcing reference material, applying
- Creative Media and CulturesCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module introduces you to the position of illustration, design, brands, and media in contemporary society and issues of equality and responsible production and consumption. It fosters critical understanding of images, texts, and objects in various contexts. This module extends and deepens your understanding of the relationship between your developing practice and the practices that have developed at other times and at other places. Additionally, it equips you with transferable skills for aut
Year 2 4 modules
- Design PrinciplesCompulsory30 credits
Module details
The module teaches graphic design principles and practical skills through engaging briefs, preparing you for real-world challenges. Provide opportunities for you to apply design skills through design briefs, ensuring a hands-on and practical learning experience. Foster a creative mindset essential for success in contemporary design practice. Enhance your proficiency in design fundamentals, including branding, typography, layout, and conceptual thinking, emphasising their relevance in design prac
- Exploring Graphic Design DisciplinesCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Through practical projects and guided workshops this module provides a platform for you to experiment with different disciplines, fostering your growth and development as you navigate towards their individual specialisations. Cultivate individual approaches to visual communication and exploration of diverse graphic design disciplines. Encourage the identification of broad areas of interest for potential specialisation within the field. Develop specialist skills necessary for effective work in va
- Socially Responsible and Future-oriented DesignCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Instilling social responsibility and forward-thinking design concepts in, this module emphasises design's role in shaping positive societal and environmental impacts and empowers you to become agents of change in the industry. Foster social responsibility and forward-thinking design approaches. Investigate the positive impact of design on society and promote ethical design practices that contribute to social and environmental well-being. Encourage exploration of various design futures, encompass
- Professional Practice and EmployabilityCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module focuses on fostering professional skills and enhancing employability. Integrate you into the design industry, fostering professional practice, and emphasising employability skills. Provide you with opportunities to engage with real-world design projects and industry professionals. Equip you with effective communication, collaboration, and project management skills essential for successful professional practice. Introduce you to diverse career paths within the graphic design industry,
Year 3 4 modules
- Critical Thinking as Graphic DesignCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module fosters critical thinking, creativity, and theoretical engagement in graphic design through practical activities, to refine your skills, translate concepts into designs, develop proposals, and gain autonomy and confidence in navigating the field. Empower you to deepen your understanding and refine skills within specific areas of interest in graphic design whether physical, digital or both. Emphasise critical thinking, creativity, and theoretical engagement in exploring subject-specif
- Graphic Design SpecialisationCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module provides an opportunity to deepen expertise and specialisation within specific areas of graphic design, such as branding, moving image, UI/UX and emerging technologies. Support the extension of your complement of specialist skills in graphic design and visual communication to pursue creative problem-solving projects. Foster advanced technical proficiency and creative innovation. Nurture the development of individual graphic design styles to meet industry and postgraduate study standa
- Graphic Design Professional PracticeCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module will equip you with the practical skills, industry knowledge, and professional mindset necessary for success in the fast-paced and competitive world of graphic design. Prepare you for the demands of professional practice in the field of graphic design. Develop professional skills through practical activities and real-world projects. Enhance your ability to communicate effectively with clients, manage project timelines, and deliver high-quality design solutions that respond to client
- Graphic Design Major ProjectCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module focuses on guiding you through your major project, encouraging reflection and critical evaluation to extract insights, develop strong design skills, and prepare you for success in the graphic design industry. Enable you to reflect on your learning journey and demonstrate your skills and creativity through a final major project. Encourage critical evaluation of your final major project to identify key lessons learned and insights gained. Guide you in conceiving, planning, and executin
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
This course emphasises developing your unique creative style in graphic design. You'll usually start with visual fundamentals, colour, composition and form, alongside materials and processes across print, textiles and digital tools, grounded in design history and contemporary practice. As you progress into Year 2, you'll undertake sustained studio projects to establish your personal direction, explore digital and emerging media, and work on live briefs with real clients and deadlines. In Year 3, a course like this normally moves towards specialist focus, such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital, where you'll deepen your discipline, develop professional practice and portfolio skills, and culminate in a major self-directed project displayed at a degree show.
Who it's for
You thrive when solving visual problems and enjoy experimenting across media. You're interested in how design shapes communication and culture, and you want structured time to develop a distinctive style alongside peers and mentors. The course suits those seeking both conceptual depth and practical craft, and who are ready to build a professional practice over three years of intensive creative work.
Careers & job market
National graduate data for Art & Design shows 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree; 55% of those in work are in highly skilled roles or further study. Starting salaries across the field range from £22,000 to £27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. These are national benchmarks, not university-specific guarantees. The university holds a Silver TEF award for teaching quality and is recognised by the Office for Students.
University & format
The BA (Hons) Graphic Design is delivered full-time over 3 years at Middlesex University, a university located on the Hendon Campus in London. Taught in English, the course leads to a nationally recognised bachelor's degree. The university holds Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
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.
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 | 60% |
| another higher-education qualification | 35% |
| an Access course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
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 B400). 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
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Middlesex 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 | £24,000 | £20,000 – £26,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £21,500 | £15,500 – £26,000 | 275 |
| 5 years after | £25,500 | £19,500 – £31,500 | 280 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
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: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. 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.
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 35% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
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: 20; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BA (Hons) Graphic Design worth it?
Weigh it carefully. On these figures graduates of BA (Hons) Graphic Design earn close to non-graduate pay, so on cost alone the course is slow to pay off.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 3 years of wages given up while studying. The model remains below break even after 30 years. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 3 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
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
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. 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
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. 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 8.8 out of 10: NSS 84.9% · in work or study 95% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Middlesex 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 Hendon Campus
1,980 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 Middlesex University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £17,200 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 Middlesex 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 Middlesex University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Middlesex 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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