An exhibition space with artwork on the walls and books displayed on shelves and in display cases.

BA(Hons) Graphic Design

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
W211
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Arts
Tariff points
112
Campus
City Campus
Duration
Three years
Delivery
Part-time; full-time
Programme leader
Colum Leith

This course is open for applications

Page last updated 18 March 2024

Introduction

Study in a studio environment with professional-standard facilities and the focus on the real-world skills you need to succeed in your career.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study graphic design?

Graphic design makes a powerful contribution to the cultural and economic life of contemporary society.

It exists in the public domain, acts as an indicator of current cultural thinking and is a catalyst for social, cultural and political change.

The role of the graphic designer in society and the professional world is multifaceted; designer as curator, author, craftsperson, editor, educator, collaborator and agitator.

Studying graphic design is excellent preparation for a creative career in the UK and abroad.

Why UWE Bristol?

BA(Hons) Graphic Design is based at the Arnolfini, at the heart of Bristol's creative and cultural community. You'll learn from practising graphic designers in a professional studio environment.

Past students have won awards in prestigious national competitions such as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Student Design Awards and the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD).

In recent years, graduates' work has been exhibited at D&AD New Blood, London, with several being identified as 'Ones to Watch' and commendations received for several collaborative projects.

Our students are also regularly shortlisted for the Best British Book Design and Production Awards.

Our City Campus is a powerhouse of inspiration and collaboration, and home to our many City Creatives. It spans Bristol and is made up of Bower Ashton and renowned contemporary arts centres Spike Island, Arnolfini and Watershed.

Our strong industry links with the thriving city of Bristol ensure ongoing input from professional designers.

You won't be working on hypothetical designs. Projects are socially and culturally relevant, whether undertaken inside or outside the university.

Go on work placements and internships, or volunteer, to gain valuable workplace experience.

Attend talks from studios like OK/RM, Pentagram, Moving Brands, Mother London, Muf, APFEL and Book Works.

Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at the final year Degree Show.

Focus on the avenues that most interest you, and graduate with an impressive portfolio of work, ready to make your mark in the industry.

Where can it take me?

This course prepares you for an idea-driven, sustainable and flexible freelance practice, or studio career in graphic design.

Many of our graduates find work with highly respected design studios in the UK and worldwide.

Others go on to further study, such as a master's in graphic design or graphic arts, or pursue a career in research or education.

Watch: The learning and teaching experience

Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year one

You will study:

  • Introduction to Words and Images
  • Communicating with Words and Images
  • Visual Culture 1
  • Professional Practice and Work Experience 1.

Year two

You will study:

  • Exploring Graphic Design Process
  • Visual Culture 2.

Plus, two optional modules from:

  • Developing Practice in Graphic Design or International Exchange
  • Professional Practice and Work Experience 2 or Collaborate.

Final year

You will study:

  • Preparation for Extended Study in Graphic Design or *Introduction to Level 3 Graphic Design
  • Extended Study in Graphic Design
  • Visual Culture 3
  • Professional Practice and Work Experience 3.

*For Level 3 entry students only.

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Learn through a mix of projects, lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials.

Engage with industry and explore different career options through professional practice modules.

Craft your skills as a researcher, and work with academics and partners helping to shape new thinking in graphic design. The tutors on this course are active in their field, and are involved with the Centre for Fine Print Research, and the Pervasive Media Studio and Bristol VR Lab.

Build critical questioning and persuasion skills, and expand your ideas about what design can be and do, working on projects with a social purpose, as well as commercial briefs.

Experience and experiment with a range of media, processes, technologies and concepts. Discover how to communicate through image-making, typography, print and screen graphics.

Present your work at the final year Degree Show. Develop your network at our alumni and industry events.

Develop enterprise skills, to open the door to different careers. About 50% of graphic designers work on a freelance basis, so we'll cover areas such as how to find clients, promote yourself and run your own business.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities, each year: 

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study
154%46%0%
245%55%0%
320%80%0%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.

Student successes

Visit Typenowhere, a website set up to support graphic design students' learning and act as an online platform to exhibit UWE Bristol students' work and successes. See City Edition Studio to explore work of our alumni.

Watch James's YouTube film about how he combines studying with co-running a club night.

See some of our students' exhibits by visiting Level 2 Vimeo and Level 3 Vimeo, and our flickr and Tumblr.

Get involved

All students have the opportunity to continue the Graphic Design Society. The society has run social events, workshops and cross-year critiques of students' work.

There are mentoring opportunities with industry professionals through our Alumni Evening while D&AD also runs a Graduate Academy, and many of our students have won places to secure this additional industry support.

Assessment

You can expect to be assessed through projects, essays, group presentations and visual presentations. There are no exams.

You'll write critical evaluations and analyse your own work through the course, relating it to the broader context and history of graphic design practice.

See our full glossary of assessment terms.

Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment
10%100%0%
20%100%0%
30%100%0%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.

Features

Professional accreditation

This course is an institutional member of the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD).

Over the past few years, our students have been extremely successful in the ISTD scheme, receiving commendations, merits and pass certificates.

Placements

Students who get work experience tend to graduate with more skills, industry knowledge and a professional network, making them sought-after graduates.

We have extensive links with industry, commerce and the cultural and voluntary sectors. You'll explore and engage with industry as an emerging practitioner.

Undertake work placements, internships and volunteering opportunities with studios across the region. You'll typically spend 36 to 40 hours per year engaging with industry-related projects.

Study exchanges with European colleges of Art and Design are available as part of the EU-funded Socrates programme.

Get help to find your placement and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.

Study exchange

Grow your personal and professional network, and develop specialist subject knowledge by spending a semester at one of our fantastic partner universities abroad.

Increase your confidence, intercultural communication skills and boost your employability.

Explore our study abroad pages to find out more.

Fieldwork

European and international visits and field studies are an integral part of the course, depending on take-up.

Recent trips have included New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Istanbul and Krakow. Students are expected to pay for these but we keep prices within strict limits.

You'll go on regular visits to design studios, publishers, paper merchants and printers, including GF Smith Paper Merchant, Burleigh-Portishead Press, Fedrigoni Papers and Ripe Digital Printers.

Study facilities

The City Campus at Arnolfini occupies the top three floors of the Arnolfini building on Bristol's harbourside and offers studio and teaching spaces for Graphic Design students.

Computing facilities and student support services are available. Visual culture modules and a range of guest lectures are delivered here as well as other sites within the City Campus.

Bower Ashton houses the main library supporting the creative and cultural industries as well as student support services.

A mix of traditional and hands-on learning environments helps you quickly take on essential knowledge and skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.

Take a virtual tour of the Design facilities and see what's on offer here for you.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

Tailoring what and how you study, you can shape the course towards your chosen career path.

As this is an industry that's constantly evolving, we'll also prepare you for where the market is heading. You'll have the flexibility and breadth of skills to take your talents in different directions. 

Our students go on to successful careers as graphic designers, art directors, digital designers, creatives, studio managers and account managers for a range of high-profile studios and companies.

Recent graduates have found work at:

  • Eye Magazine
  • JWT Advertising
  • McCann Erickson
  • The Guardian
  • Two Times Elliot
  • The Times and Sunday Times
  • Undercurrent Brands
  • Esterson Associates
  • Studio Makgill
  • DRAFTFCB
  • Play Nicely.

Plus, Redhouse Lane Communications, Hello Charlie, Peloton, BDH, Dirty Design, Pentagram, NB:Studio, City ID, Think Public, Domain Associates, Telegram, dn&co, Oakwood, nerv interactive, YCN, Collision Films, Mind Design, Aardman Animations, and Plastic Horse.

Others become researchers, educators or go onto further study.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.

Fees

Supplementary fee information

Additional costs

This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

  • Tariff points: 112
  • Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Grade C/4 in English, or equivalent.
  • English Language Requirement:

    International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.

  • A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
  • EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.

    For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.

  • Access: No specific subjects required.
  • Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BA(Hons) Graphic Design (with Foundation Year).

International applicants

For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the Country Information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing one of our Art and Design foundation programmes.

If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.

Selection process

Applicants will be required to submit a digital portfolio for review within 21 days of their application being received.

For more details on the process, please visit our selection page.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

Read more about undergraduate applications.

Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.

For further information

Unistats

UWE Main Campus