Graphic design shapes how we navigate, communicate and understand the world around us. Graphic Design BA (Hons) at Swansea College of Art, UWTSD is a three-year, studio-based degree that combines traditional craft with contemporary digital practice, giving you the freedom to explore typography, branding, visual communication, sustainable packaging and print through live industry briefs, collaborative projects and professional placements.
We embrace the new while celebrating the old, where digital technology sits comfortably alongside inky fingers and tactile making. With access to specialist facilities including Risograph printing, letterpress, printmaking and professional digital design studios, you’ll be encouraged to experiment with different processes, develop your own creative voice and discover the approach that works for you.
Smaller studio groups create a supportive, collaborative environment where our passionate team of design professionals will help you build both creative confidence and a professional portfolio. Alongside developing strong visual communication skills, you’ll learn to present ideas, solve complex design challenges and prepare for a career in the creative industries. Our graduates have gone on to work for leading organisations including Apple, Google, Nike, LEGO, Sky and Saatchi & Saatchi.
UWTSD is ranked 5th in the UK for Art & Design (UniFreshers 2027).
Our Graphic Design course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the dynamic and ever-evolving design industry. Through a combination of practical experience, theoretical understanding, and industry engagement, you will develop a comprehensive portfolio and become an industry-ready professional.
Year One
In your first year, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of graphic design. You will learn about design principles, typography, imagery, and print. This year focuses on building creative skills and practical experience through hands-on projects. You will also start developing your portfolio, which is essential for showcasing your work.
Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits)
Visual Studies 1 (10 credits)
Ways of Thinking (10 credits)
Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference (20 credits)
Visual Studies 2 (10 credits)
Ways of Perceiving (10 credits)
Typography (20 credits)
Design for Publication (20 credits)
Year Two
The second year enhances your understanding of graphic design, with an emphasis on branding, user experience for web design, and the social impact of visual communication. The second year also aims to strengthen your problem-solving abilities through analytical and practical skills. Collaboration becomes a crucial component as you engage with challenging briefs, providing you with valuable real-world insights.
Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation (20 credits)
Research in Context (10 credits)
Visual Enquiry 1 (10 credits)
Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment (20 credits)
Research in Practice (10 credits)
Visual Enquiry 2 (10 credits)
Corporate Identity and Creative Branding (20 credits)
Design for User Experience (20 credits)
Optional
International Mobility Opportunity (60 credits)
Year Three
In your final year, you will refine your design abilities and focus on producing a professional portfolio. This year emphasises professional practice and preparing you for the industry with advanced projects incorporating cultural and ethical awareness. You will engage with Graduate Portfolio projects and have opportunities to showcase your work to potential employers, ensuring you graduate as an industry-ready professional.
Advanced Creative Enquiry (20 credits)
Independent Project (40 credits)
Graduate Portfolio (60 credits)
Assessment is carried out through coursework. There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module with summative assessment taking place at the end of a module. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used throughout the course which includes amongst others:
Informal tutorials, formal tutorials, group critiques, one-to-one meetings, exhibitions and presentations. All these assessments are supported by staff, and students are guided through each learning process.
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:
The following entry points are available for this course:
This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.
Course optionsIf you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. For full information read our visa application and guides. Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
Acceptable Evidence of Englishhttps://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/apply/international-applications/english-language-requirements
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements.
Learn more on the University of Wales Trinity Saint David website
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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.
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.
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
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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.
Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.
However, art and design students will likely incur additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining optional study trips, and printing.
Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment when they commence the course. We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.
A basic art and design kit will cost approximately £100, but you may well already have much of the equipment required, so check with us first. Although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework, you may wish to bring your own digital devices. Again, please check with us first before making a purchase.
Email:admissions@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone:0300 500 5054
Email:admissions@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone:0300 500 5054
College Road
Carmarthen
SA31 3EP
At University of Wales Trinity Saint David
