BA (Hons) Graphic Design Bachelor's degree at Open College of the Arts
BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Open College of the Arts. Online graphic design study offers a direct path into design, illustration, web design and related creative fields.
About this course
Studying a graphic design bachelor’s degree online is a fantastic way to jump start a career in design, illustration, web design, and much more! From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Open College of the Arts. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £27,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Art & Design degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Visual Studies & Design Principles Colour, composition and form across media, building your visual language. |
| Year 1 | Materials, Processes & Making Workshops from print and textiles to digital fabrication. |
| Year 1 | Contextual Studies Art and design history that informs contemporary practice. |
| Year 2 | Studio Practice Sustained project work developing a personal direction. |
| Year 2 | Digital & Emerging Media Creative software, motion, 3D or interaction, course-dependent. |
| Year 2 | Live briefs & collaboration Client projects and competitions with real deadlines. |
| Year 3 | Specialist studio pathway Deep focus in your discipline, graphics, illustration, fashion, fine art… |
| Year 3 | Professional Practice & Portfolio Positioning your work for industry or self-employment. |
| Year 3 | Final major project & degree show A self-directed body of work, publicly exhibited. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This online graphic design degree integrates design, illustration, web design and more into a structured creative pathway. A course like this normally moves from visual foundations, colour, composition and form across media, alongside practical workshops in materials and processes, supported by design history and contextual studies. By mid-course, you'll usually develop sustained studio practice and explore digital media such as motion, 3D or interaction design. You'll work on live briefs alongside personal project development. In your final year, you'll typically focus on a specialist pathway in graphic design, illustration, fashion, fine art, or UX & digital, supported by professional practice guidance. This culminates in a self-directed major project and degree show.
Who it's for
You're drawn to visual problem-solving and want to develop your design practice without leaving employment or other commitments. You work well independently and can manage self-directed study over sustained periods. You're keen to build a portfolio and professional foundation whilst learning on your own schedule. Previous study at A-level or equivalent is common among students on this course, though a genuine interest in design matters more than grades alone. Expect focused, disciplined learning rather than a classroom experience.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after leaving. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. Graduate earnings at the 15-month mark typically fall between £22,000 and £27,000 annually; after five years, this range stands at £20,825 to £29,400. These figures come from national surveys and reflect outcomes across the broader field, not this university alone. Your own career path depends on the specialisms you choose, your portfolio development and the roles you pursue.
University & format
The BA (Hons) Graphic Design is delivered online by Open College of the Arts, a university in the UK. The course is studied part-time in English. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, this degree is nationally recognised.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 39% |
| Other | 25% |
| another higher-education qualification | 15% |
| a previous degree | 10% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 10% |
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.
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. 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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. The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Open College of the Arts →Check the finance route that applies to you
Support depends on ordinary residence, assessed fee status, course and provider nation. The provider nation is unresolved here, so no national cap or loan amount is being guessed.
Find your official student-finance route →Paying for it
- Tuition fee loan: applied for through the student-finance body for the UK nation you live in.
- Living-cost support: means-tested on household income, from your nation's student-finance body.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold set by your nation's student-finance system.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Each UK nation runs its own student-finance system; check gov.uk for the rates that apply to you.
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 | £27,000 | £23,000 – £31,000 | 115 |
| 3 years after | £27,000 | £18,000 – £41,500 | 90 |
| 5 years after | £29,500 | £18,000 – £43,500 | 80 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 115. Cohort 2021-22.
- 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.
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.
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
Home tuition is regulated and the cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Eligible students can apply for a tuition fee loan and living-cost support from the student-finance body for the UK nation they live in. Repayment thresholds differ by nation.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £27,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Open College of the Arts from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £21,438 / 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 Open College of the Arts’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 Open College of the Arts and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Open College of the Arts
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.