Graphic Design Communication

Course summary
BA Graphic Design Communication at Chelsea College of Arts will train you to create narratives and physical or digital design experiences within the wider context of culture and society.
This is an innovative course that centres on people’s experiences to drive the design of communication. We’ll explore branding, digital products and platforms - user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), moving image, editorial design and art direction. Our curriculum combines graphic design, communication and interactive experiences – both physical and digital. This is designed to engage, educate and entertain audiences for cultural, emotional and social purposes.
We’re a diverse and active community of critical thinkers and creators who shape innovative design narratives across print, screen and interactive platforms. You’ll learn the necessary tools to help create immersive experiences. These experiences will push traditional boundaries and take communication design to new levels and will equip you with the skills to secure your ideal job opportunity.
What to expect
• An interdisciplinary approach: Develop skills in visual and written narratives, print and digital design, brand identity design, moving image and analogue or digital experience design.
• A focus on industry and wider sectors: Learn how to create professional proposals that directly respond to contemporary issues and gain required knowledge for the professional world.
• Learn through making: Experiment with different materials and learn how to build human-centred, environmentally conscious design solutions.
• Networking: Attend guest lectures and network with industry creatives from a wide variety of design disciplines and backgrounds.
• An ethical focus: Understand climate, social and racial justice and learn how to embed these principles into your creative practice.
Work experience and opportunities
The course has strong links with the creative industries. As a BA Graphic Design Communication student, you’ll have opportunities to gain commercial experience through exclusive commissions, award schemes and live projects. This will give you vital industry insight and prepare you for your professional career.
About Chelsea College of Arts
Chelsea College of Arts has a reputation for producing some of today’s leading artists and designers. Our students are encouraged to radically engage with contemporary fine art and design practice. The College offers courses in curating and collections, fine art, graphic design, textile design, product and furniture design and interior design.
At Chelsea College of Arts, we look at art and design in a social, cultural and political context. We are particularly interested in the effects of globalisation. This could either be on creative practice itself or a response to it. As an international hub of creative practices, we have a range of partnerships, projects and exchanges that broaden student and staff perspectives and knowledge.
Located in central London, the College's Grade ll listed Pimlico site overlooks Tate Britain and the River Thames. It has excellent workshops, extensive library facilities, a canteen and an onsite gallery, Chelsea Space. The College is home to UAL’s Transnational Art, Identity and Nation (TrAIN) research centre, the Decolonising Arts Institute and Iniva.
The College’s alumni include Mariko Mori, Rose Finn-Kelcey, Haroon Mirza, Steve McQueen, Rana Begum, Chris Ofili, Margaret Calvert, Mark Wallinger, Thomas J Price, James Richards and Helen Chadwick.
How to apply
Apply by
14 January
Application codes
- Course code:
- W216
- Institution code:
- U65
- Campus name:
- Chelsea College of Arts
- Campus Code:
- H
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
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Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff
A level
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Access to HE Diploma
Additional entry requirements
- Interview
- You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application
- Portfolio
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.
- Data from:
- This course and 41 other design studies courses
- Date range:
- 2022-2024
Grades held by accepted students
- A*A*A
- Highest grades
- CCD
- Lowest grades
Offer rate for UK school & college leavers
Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.
How do you compare?
See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| EU | £30890 | Year 1 |
| International | £30890 | Year 1 |
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 note that the Home tuition fee for entry in September 2026 is subject to the passing of UK government legislation to approve the increase in fees. If this is not passed, the tuition fee for 2026/27 would be £9,535. Please check the fees and funding section of your course page on our website for more information: www.arts.ac.uk/courses. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.
The International fee is correct for entry in September 2026 and is subject to change for entry in September 2027. Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.
