Introduction
For most people, when they think of becoming a web designer, they think about the graphical side of web design – the images, presentation and write-up language. However, important as these aspects of web design are, there are other aspects which are as, if not more, important. These include thinking about the user of the website, what they need to use the web for, usability requirements (such as for those with disabilities), human-computer interaction, database management, content management, and more. This course brings together the aesthetics of web design, such as the different types of media technologies which you can apply, together with the underlying technical knowledge required and the importance of a sound systems approach which strongly considers the needs of the user.
This course focuses on the methods, skills and knowledge required for designing information for the web. It provides a balanced approach between information design and application of technology and software. Alongside the central Web Design theme are strands in media technologies and authoring, programming, web development tools and protocols, information architecture and services, and information systems applications and practice. This provides you with a strong set of complementary themes which anchors web design in its technological and organisational contexts. A group project and a choice between an individual development project or a dissertation are included in the final year to prepare you for your future career or for further study in this field.
Content
Modules in this programme include:
Year 1
Informing and Communicating in Practice; Introduction to the Web; Systems Development; Introduction to Program Development; Media Technologies; Systems Development.
Year 2
Information Systems Practice; Information Architecture; Web Design Principles; Data, Schemas and Applications; MVC Programming; Human Computer Interaction.
Year 3
Core modules are: Software Technologies for the Web; Internet Application Development, Advanced Topics in Human Computer Interactive; Comsultancy Project; Digital Stories plus two option modules.
Programme structure diagram for the Web Design programme.
The programme structures change from year to year, so you might find some variation between that shown here and the final version of your course.
You can find out more about our Digital Media programmes on our website.
Placements
We encourage all students on our degree courses to do a placement year in an industrial, commercial or public sector organisation, doing work of value to the company. There are many companies who provide placements to university students. Bristol Institute of Technology students have been placed with Airbus, HP, Rolls-Royce, IBM, Lloyds TSB, Intel and BT, to name but a few. We also work with a number of smaller companies in and around the region. The Bristol Institute of Technology Placements Team has close links with the business community and advertise hundreds of work placements every year. We will show you how to prepare your CV correctly, advise you on how to write letters of application and help you learn successful interview techniques.
Study facilities
Bristol Institute of Technology hosts its own servers to provide Windows, Linux and Unix based operating systems. There are over 500 available workstations in our teaching laboratories, as well as a large open-access laboratory, providing PC and Unix based machines.The Bristol Institute of Technology has its own IT Helpdesk, staffed by students from within the Bristol Institute of Technology, and available for both students and staff to use. There are also 24 hour computer labs on campus available for student use.
The Faculty operates an extensive pastoral care system that includes induction programmes and access to academic staff and student advisers for guidance and support throughout your time here as a student.
Assessment
You will be stimulated and encouraged to become proactive, autonomous learners through a variety of means. The most common way for a module to be assessed is by an examination and two pieces of coursework.
Careers/further study
We would expect graduates from this degree to progress their careers in web design and development, e-business development, systems analysis, web architecture and even graphic design for the web. There are far too many potential employment sectors to list here, suffice to say that there are very few businesses of any size today that do not either promote themselves, provide information or conduct business via the web. We would also expect that some graduates may even want to start their own businesses.
Where are they now? Have a look to see what some of our graduates are up to.
How to apply
Please see the general information about
applications.
Advice on typical offers
No other specific subjects are required and you do not need to be familiar with programming to be accepted onto this course.
Entry requirements
In addition to the 'typical offer' given here, please read the general information about
entry requirements.
Typical offers
- GCSE: Maths and English (or equivalent) required.
- A-level subjects: No specific A-level subjects are required
- Tariff points range: 260-300
- Relevant subjects: Any Science or Technology subject
- Access: The award of the Access to HE Diploma, which must include credits at level 2 Maths and English.
- Baccalaureate EB %: 68-70
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