BA (Hons) Graphic Design Bachelor's degree at the University of Brighton
BA (Hons) Graphic Design at University of Brighton. The course, founded in 1992, combines core theory and research methods with applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
Learn from professionals on this Graphic Design degree course BA(Hons) in areas including typography, letterpress printing, book design and animation. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Brighton, based in City Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £24,500. (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)
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
- Introduction to Graphic Design
Module details
This module provides an introduction to the key concepts and practices of graphic design. You will look at the history, cultural contexts, approaches, practices and techniques that inform graphic design and explore creativity and design approaches through experimentation. You will also critically reflect on your practice through guided and independent study.
- Cultural Contexts in Graphic Design
Module details
This module introduces the key historical and contemporary texts and debates that have shaped the field of graphic design. You will be introduced to analytical and research-based academic study skills so you can source, critically evaluate and communicate these research findings. You will also learn to develop connections between theoretical concepts and graphic design to underpin your design/studio practice.
- Graphic Design: Media and Messages
Module details
During this module you will respond to set project briefs which explore graphic design and its role in communicating messages and meaning. You will examine and analyse contemporary and historical design practices to help inform visual ideas and concepts. Through the design process, you'll apply these by experimenting with a range of media, techniques and technologies to produce final designed outcomes.
- Contemporary Contexts in Graphic Design
Module details
In this module you will explore the significant role that graphic design has in contemporary social and political contexts. Using focused analysis you will critically reflect on the ongoing social and political ideas and issues that are impacting the field of graphic design today. You will also develop academic research and writing skills to build your confidence in communicating ideas clearly.
Year 2 4 modules
- Graphic Design: Modes of Communication
Module details
This module encourages you to examine the relationship between graphic design and technology. You will develop a deeper understanding of conventions, tools and wider contexts around the evolving nature of graphic design practice. Focusing on experimentation and refining specialist graphic design skills, you will expand your knowledge of design theories and concepts.
- Global Challenges – Visual Communication
Module details
In this module, you will explore how visual communication can influence social, cultural, political and economic views and behaviours. You will consider how creative practice can be an impactful, change-making tool for communicating and highlighting challenges including equality and inclusivity, creative and sustainable economies, wellbeing and climate change.
- Graphic Design: Audiences and Contexts
Module details
During this module you will focus on designing for diverse and local/global audiences across evolving platforms. You will examine how audience and context shape meaning and the importance of tailoring strategies for varied groups. You'll refine your skills, deepen your contemporary graphic design knowledge and experiment with tools and media to develop a unified visual approach. You will also reflect critically on your practice in relation to wider contexts.
- Ethical and Personal Responsibilities in Graphic Design
Module details
This module asks you to consider professional practice within graphic design and your relationship to it. Whether your aspirations are entrepreneurial, vocational or academic, you will identify how your practice is framed by contemporary debates and issues that are informing graphic design practices today. You will consider your own personal and ethical views in relation to graphic design, developing the skills to be an informed and engaged global citizen.
Year 3 4 modules
- Independent Graphic Design Practice
Module details
This module will help you refine your graphic design skills through independent work on diverse briefs, including design for good, editorial and cultural design. You will focus on a systematic design process, tailored to specific audiences and professional goals, with an emphasis on research, conceptual strategies and advanced studio practice.
- Critical Graphic Design Research Project
Module details
You will work with increased independence during this module, expanding and refining your understanding of graphic design in relation to the current debates, theories and practices. You'll identify a subject area of interest that informs and/or influences your practice and develop and present a focused line of enquiry into that chosen topic. You will have a choice of assessment formats, each with its own set of requirements to complete.
- Graphic Design: Major Project
Module details
You will work independently to create a strategic plan for a major graphic design project, applying advanced design methods, research and critical decision-making. The project will focus on creativity, professional standards and ethical considerations. You will develop skills for industry or further study, with an emphasis on autonomy, personal responsiblity, audience awareness and professional practice for career readiness.
- Graphic Design: Professional Practice
Module details
This module will prepare you for working in the graphic design industry or for further study. You will put together a professional portfolio that highlights your unique strengths, specialisms and personal approaches to graphic design practice. You'll also develop autonomy, critical thinking and professional judgment by formulating a career plan aligned with industry trends, ethical considerations and contemporary graphic design practices.
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 degree emphasises learning from professionals in typography, letterpress printing, book design and animation. A course like this typically moves from visual foundations, colour, composition and form, in Year 1, alongside workshops in print, textiles and digital tools, and contextual studies in design history. Year 2 deepens studio practice through sustained project work, explores digital and emerging media, and introduces live client briefs with real deadlines. You'll usually specialise in Year 3, with in-depth focus in areas such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital design. Throughout, you'll develop a professional portfolio and culminate in a self-directed final project exhibited in the degree show.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in developing practical and conceptual skills in graphic design. Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; accepted students typically had UCAS tariffs between 96 and 111 points. The course is taught in English and delivered full-time over three years.
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 pursuing further study. National earnings data for Art & Design graduates shows starting salaries of £22,000–£27,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. These figures reflect national trends rather than individual outcomes.
University & format
BA (Hons) Graphic Design is studied full-time over 3 years at the University of Brighton's City Campus. Taught in English, the course leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. The university holds Silver in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching quality.
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.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
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 | 81% |
| Other | 9% |
| another higher-education qualification | 4% |
| a Baccalaureate | 3% |
| an Access course | 3% |
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 W210). 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 University of Brighton →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 | £24,500 | £22,000 – £27,000 | 6460 |
| 3 years after | £23,500 | £18,000 – £27,500 | 250 |
| 5 years after | £29,000 | £22,500 – £36,000 | 250 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,460. Cohort 2021-22.
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.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,460. Cohort 2021-22. 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.
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
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £24,500. 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 7.4 out of 10: NSS 62.4% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Brighton
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 City Campus
5,042 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 University of Brighton from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Brighton; 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
This course lists IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. 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 University of Brighton’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 University of Brighton and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Brighton
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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