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Graphic Design
- BA (Hons)
- 3 Years
- Full-time
- 15/09/2025
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
- Awarded by:
- Solent University
Course summary
Are you hoping to work and study at the point where art meets communication? This challenging course explores a range of techniques including web design, UX design and motion graphics and delivers all the skills you’ll need to start a career as a graphic designer.
Graphic design at Solent University encourages you to explore a range of professional techniques and develop your own unique visual style. Throughout the course you will create visual products for a range of printed and digital mediums, and explore academic theories and visual culture in the context of contemporary graphic design.
Your professional development is supported by a wide range of high-end printing and design facilities. These include two Vandercook letterpresses, three screen print beds and three Intaglio/etching presses for calligraphy and etching work. Students also have access to photographic studios and darkrooms; a fully equipped workshop for metal and wood-working, and Apple Macs with the latest Adobe Creative Suite software.
The course’s teaching team come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, and many are still active in the industry. The team’s close links with practising professionals have enabled past students to take part in a variety of work-based opportunities, live briefs and placements.
Graphic design students are also encouraged to submit their best work to design competitions, securing valuable exposure. Past students have found success at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Student Design Awards, the Design and Art Direction (D&AD) Awards, and the Young Creative Network (YCN) Awards.
Solent is a forward thinking creative university, and yet can trace its art school back to 1855. The course delivers a broad range of transferable skills applicable to an equally broad range of industry pathways.
What does this course lead to?
Recent graduates work in a variety of areas including graphic design, illustration, multimedia design, web/UX design and motion graphics – in organisations including;
Adjust Your Set
Imagine Publishing
David Newman Design
Tweaq Media
Gary Frost
Manchester City Football Club
House of Fisher
Esquire
Halldale Group
The Graphic Design House
Who is this course for?
This graphic design programme is ideally suited to students from a fine art, design or illustration background who want to improve their communication skills while developing a professional portfolio.
Modules
YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Orientation
Reading Visual Culture
Typography
Image Design
Graphic Design History
Page Architecture
YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Interactive Experience
Solution Process
Graphic Structure
Experiential Narrative
Independent Project
Commercial Practice
YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Professional Context
Visual Research & Proposal
Professional Practice
Final Major Project
YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Identity
Interruption
Assessment method
The course is assessed through a mix of project work, portfolios, essays and a final year project.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Main Site
Study options
- BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years
Start dates
- 15/09/2025
Apply by
29 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:
- GD01
- Institution code:
- S30
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1, 2, 3
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Southampton, Solent University 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
29 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:
- GD01
- Institution code:
- S30
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
Direct entry to years 2 (Level 5) or 3 (Level 6)
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses.
International applicants
For information about applying to Solent as an International applicant, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/help-for-international-students
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
A level
104-120 from a minimum of 2 A Levels
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)
Access to HE Diploma
Pass in Access course with 60 credits overall including 45 Level 3 credits passed with a minimum of Merit, or 102-118 UCAS Tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit or Pass Grades
Scottish Higher
104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 4 Scottish Highers
AS
In combination with other qualifications
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - DMM
Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF) - D*D*
Or can be used in combination with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
Pearson BTEC Certificate (QCF)
In combination with other qualifications
Scottish Advanced Higher
104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 2 Scottish Advanced Highers
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 28 - 31 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
Extended Project
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
HNC (BTEC) - P
HND (BTEC) - P
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma - D*D
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)
OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
In combination with other qualifications
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
In combination with other qualifications
T Level - M
Merit (120 UCAS Tariff Points)
• Direct entry to years 2 (Level 5) or 3 (Level 6)
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses.
• Level 5 (year 2) entry
To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.
• Level 6 (year 3) entry
To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.
Additional entry requirements
- Interview
- E-Portfolio viewing required
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | with 5.5 in each individual component. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 | with a minimum of 20 in each individual compoenent. |
Solent University can also accept the following English Language Test:
Duolingo English Language Test
115 overall with a minimum of 95 in each component.
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.
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.
We understand that each student is unique. At Solent we encourage individuality and have adopted a balanced approach to Admissions, by considering exam results alongside portfolios / interviews or auditions.
Our contextual offer scheme allows offers below our standard academic entry criteria to those who have faced challenges which has impacted their performance and predicted higher grades, by taking into account additional selection criteria such as a strong portfolio, interview or audition.
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.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £17750 | Year 1 |
| International | £17750 | 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
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Sponsorship information
Solent University offers a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/bursaries
Southampton, Solent University
East Park Terrace
Southampton
SO14 0YN
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Course contact details
Main Contact - Admissions and Enrolment Team
Email:admissions@solent.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0) 23 8201 5066
Student Funding Team
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