BA(Hons) Graphic Communication

We love to get our students working on live client-facing briefs, expose them to guest lecturers from industry, and take their work on the road; that’s part of what being a designer is all about.

We’ll help prepare you for a range of professional opportunities in advertising, branding, publishing, illustration and digital communication.

Studying with us you’ll gain skills across a range of contemporary design standards as well as to explore emerging technologies (augmented reality, UX design, web design, motion graphics). A key part of our pedagogy is supporting you to put those skills to work in real-world settings: in live commercial briefs, for example, or accredited internships where they’re available. You’ll have the opportunity to access fantastic networking opportunities and, wherever possible, additional support through our industry mentors scheme.

You will exhibit your work at the end of the course in a Degree Show and have the opportunity to showcase your work at national exhibitions, such as New Designers or D&AD New Blood in London. Annual in-house design consultancy awards are also offered through our employer sponsors.

As a team, we have produced a number of award-winning graduates who have not only achieved commendations from international design competitions but have secured exciting careers in this dynamic and prosperous sector.

Usual Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff: 96 points
A Level: CCC
Pearson BTEC
L3 National Ext. Diploma: MMM

See more information and exclusions here*

Please note, 120 credits must be achieved in order to progress to year two of your degree and a further 120 (totalling 240) credits must be achieved to progress to year three.


Typical Module Diet

  • Digital and Emerging Technologies (40 credits)

    Visual Communication

    Introduction to Typography

    History of Contemporary Graphic Design

    Work-based learning

  • Editorial and Publication Design

    Advanced Divergent Thinking Design

    Research methods

    Internship (40 credits)

    Negotiated projects

  • Commercial collaboration

    Undergraduate dissertations (40 credits)

    Integrated media and digital communications

    Signature project (40 credits)

  • Portfolios, Client Presentations, Quizzes, Essays, Interpretation of Client Brief, Proposals, Case Study, Journal, Outcomes, Exhibitions, Dissertation


Period of Study

Three Years Full-time

The University Studies at WSC Admissions Policy contains information on our English Language requirements.

Terms and Conditions can be found here.


Fees

£8,500 per year full-time
Click for information on securing student finance

Details of any incidental costs related on this course can be found on the course factsheet.

Study will be delivered at the University and Professional Development Centre.

Additional Potential Costs:

Students will need a spiral display portfolio costing around £40-£60. Material costs per module range between £50-£100, however, this may rise to between £100-£200 for practical modules in second and third year.

You may wish to invest in your own digital equipment to use outside of the studio and we are able to lease software such Adobe Creative Suite. If this is unaffordable you have full access to the suite of computers and software on site. It is advised that students invest in a portable hard drive which costs about £50.

Course trips can be run 2 or 3 times every year. Optional local trips to galleries and agencies usually cost roughly £45. The course sometimes runs an international trip that is also optional.

We encourage our students to attend creative industry conferences costing around £300-£400 each. Students are also urged to enter work for competitions which are normally £35 or lower to register.

There is an expectation that students fund their Degree Show, although they can take on fundraising activities throughout the year to help with this. A final year student should budget a maximum of £100 to contribute towards printing etc.


This degree programme is designed by University Studies and validated by the University of East Anglia, a top-25 UK University. The Degree is quality assured against national Quality Assurance Association benchmarks and regulated by the Office for Students.