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Graphic Communication

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Winchester School of Art
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Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Summary

Graphic communication shapes how ideas are seen, understood and shared. It connects creativity with purpose.
On this course, you will develop the skills to become a confident and versatile designer. You will explore areas such as graphic design, motion, interaction, illustration and photography, building both technical ability and creative thinking. This course develops your employability by preparing you for future design practice and emerging technologies in the creative industries.

Key features of the course:

• Work on exciting live, industry‑partnered projects with leading organisations such as Kew Gardens, the Houses of Parliament, De La Rue, and Museum of Youth Culture.
• Take part in an internship at our Winchester School of Arts design studio, Studio 3015, to graduate industry‑ready with real project experience.
• Enter prestigious national and international design competitions, including those run by D&AD, the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD), the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and the Silent Book Competition.
• Guest lecture series where industry professionals reveal insights into contemporary practice, where you can also build connections with designers, studios and creative agencies.
• Connect with the design community through studio visits, portfolio reviews and industry engagement events, exposing you to professional expectations and career pathways.
• Showcase your work publicly at exhibitions, including the Winchester School of Art Degree Show and key London graduate events.
• Study abroad with a partner university to enhance your degree through global academic and cultural experience.
• Gain employability through the Year in Employment (YIE) supported by our Career Advantage programme and dedicated careers advisers.

Student support

You will be part of a creative community, supported by tutors who are committed to helping you develop your ideas and your practice.

Working closely with your peers, you will collaborate, share inspiration and build confidence in a supportive studio environment.

Further information
The BA Graphic Communication is a three-year, full-time course at our vibrant Winchester School of Art campus. You can also apply to add a year abroad or year in industry, extending your degree to four years. For details, visit our course page.
See our fantastic graduating student work here: https://wsagraphiccomms.co.uk
Find out more on our course page.

Modules

Over the three years of this Graphic Communication course, you will explore a broad range of graphic design and build skills in areas like illustrations and photography.

Year 1: Introduction to Graphic Communication; Contemporary Practice and Critical Issues; Histories & Theories of Graphic Communication; Communities of Learning
Year 2: Explorations; Professional & Critical Contexts; Self-initiated Project; Collaborate
Year 3: Final Project; Promotion and Showcase; External Projects; Professional Planning

You will also have opportunities to tailor your learning through student-selected year in employment or year abroad.

For a full list of modules available please visit the course page.

Assessment method

The learning activities for this course include the following:

lectures
classes and tutorials
coursework
individual and group projects
independent learning (studying on your own)

This course is available in Clearing. If you have submitted an application, you can add this course. If you haven’t sent us an application yet, you can do this until 24th September 2026.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Winchester School of Art

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 14 September 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:
W211
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Winchester School of Art
Campus Code:
W
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Southampton 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:
W211
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Winchester School of Art
Campus Code:
W

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/international/your-country.page

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
BBC

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

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

Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC National Extended Diploma.

Access to HE Diploma

60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 of which 18 credits must be at Distinction and 27 credits at Merit.

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject).

Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4"

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

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

Distinction, Merit in the BTEC National Diploma plus B in an A level, or
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus C in an A level.

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

Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus BC in two A levels, or
Merit in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus BB in two A levels.

Scottish Advanced Higher

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact Admissions for more information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
28 points

Pass, with 28 points overall with 14 points at Higher Level.
Applications where Higher Level subjects have been studied without the full Diploma, will also be considered on a case by case basis.

International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP):
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.

Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

BBC from three A levels
or
BB from two A levels and C from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

In addition to those qualifications listed, we also accept a pass in an Art & Design foundation programme.

We welcome applicants with other qualifications eg. European Baccalaureate. You will be expected to attain an A level equivalent standard.

The University of Southampton requires all applicants to achieve at least a Grade 4 in English and Mathematics GCSEs (taken in England) or a Grade C in both subjects (where taken in Northern Ireland or Wales). Some degree subjects stipulate specific additional GCSE minimum grades, which will be specified as part of the individual degree programme entry requirements.

For more details on the suitability of your qualifications or foundation programme please contact the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Admissions Team at AdmissionsUG.AH@southampton.ac.uk

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
Applicants who are based outside the UK and whose academic qualifications meet (or are on track to meet) our entry requirements will be required to send us a portfolio of their work. Portfolios will be requested by email after an application has been reviewed. Portfolio guidance sheets can be found at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/wsa/undergraduate/apply.page

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5with no component below 6.0
All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirementshttps://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

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.

A proportion of students who enrolled on this course in previous years exceeded their offer conditions securing their place on their chosen course with grades higher than our published entry criteria.

We encourage all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, to apply to study with us. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data

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.

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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

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

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

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