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Graphic Design with Foundation

  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including foundation year
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

This course is a four-year programme of study that includes an additional foundation year, enabling you to develop the required practical, technical, academic and creative skills for your undergraduate degree at the University of Plymouth.

Get hands-on with unique resources
Learn from experts and gain practical skills with regular access to the latest digital and analogue ‘CreaTech’ facilities.

Personalised, supportive, welcoming
With our tailored approach to teaching, enjoy enviable support in your journey through university.

Do graphic design for good
Inspired by the University’s Ocean City setting and world-leading research, learn to design sustainably for future generations.

This course is for you if...

  • you are passionate about visual communication and creative design

  • you want to be part of a creative community

  • you enjoy the freedom to explore your creativity, experiment and push boundaries

  • you want to level up your graphic design skills and expand your portfolio through practical experience.

Modules

Foundation year
The Foundation pathway provides students with non-standard entry points to progress onto the BA (Hons) course. The Foundation year allows you to develop skills across a range of media and introduces creative best practice in preparation for the first year of the undergraduate programme. During the Foundation year you will have the opportunity to explore creative processes relevant to visual design, animation, illustration, print-making, fine art, and photography. The course is designed to encourage visual exploration and creative discovery within an engaging and vibrant studio setting. Upon successful completion of the Foundation course, you will join the undergraduate BA (Hons) programme equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete an undergraduate degree.

Year 1
In the first year, you'll explore core principles of graphic communication through typography, image-making, and layout. Modules introduce editorial, identity, and digital design, encouraging creative problem-solving and critical reflection across a range of visual contexts.

Year 2
In your second year, you'll deepen your understanding of typographic practice and graphic communication through experimentation, collaboration, and critical analysis. Modules encourage creative risk-taking and the development of refined design outcomes across editorial, identity, and digital contexts. A faculty-wide collaborative project introduces real-world challenges, fostering teamwork and interdisciplinary thinking.

Final year
In the final year, you'll consolidate your design practice through self-directed projects, competition briefs, and portfolio development. A dissertation module supports critical reflection and research aligned with personal and professional goals. With a focus on typographic problem-solving and real-world challenges, you will produce a major body of work that showcases your creative identity and prepare you for employment or further study.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly

Assessment method

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time including foundation year • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
W21F
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Foundation

University of Plymouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W21F
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated Student Immigration Advice (SIA) service who will support you from the day you accept an offer at the University, right through to graduation. They will offer help and advice so you can get the most out of your studies, and your time in the UK, visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/international-students/international-student-advice for more information. Once you have applied through UCAS, your conditional offer letters will also be sent to you by email, so be sure to enter your current email address on your application and to check this email regularly. You'll need your unconditional letter, and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that we'll send you, when applying for your student visa to the UK. A tuition fee deposit will be required before we'll send you the CAS. We're a licenced Sponsor under the Points Based System. To comply with our duties as a Sponsor, we're required to check other aspects of your application in addition to your academic achievements, for example any previous studies, financial status and your immigration history in the UK. For course entry requirements (inc. English requirements) please refer to the specific page for the course you are interested in (www.plymouth.ac.uk/study). A recognised English language qualification (e.g. IELTS) would be required or successful completion of one of the University's pre-sessional English Language courses. Check our country pages to find out more about application from your specific home country www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/study/international-students-country-guides. International fees, please visit our fees and funding pages www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees. If you have any questions please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Open days

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Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 32 points

A level

32 points from a minimum of 2 A Levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - PPP

From any subject

Access to HE Diploma - P: 45 credits

Pass a named Access to Higher Education Diploma (preferably Art and Design or combined).

Scottish Higher

32 points

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - PP

From any subject

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered in combination

Scottish Advanced Higher

32 UCAS points from a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points

From any subjects

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Extended Project

Considered in combination

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

32 points from any subjects

T Level - Pass (D or E)

Pass overall with D or E on the core. Any subject may be considered.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6With 5.5 in all elements.
Full details of English Language requirements can be found on our website.

English Language Requirements https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

75 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

95 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For all information about tuition fees, please visit our fees and funding pages at www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees

  • Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.
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