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.
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
The course is assessed through a mix of project work, portfolios, essays and a final year project.
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
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?
The following entry points are available for this course:
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.
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
104-120 from a minimum of 2 A Levels
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)
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
104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 4 Scottish Highers
In combination with other qualifications
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
Or can be used in combination with other qualifications.
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
In combination with other qualifications
104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 2 Scottish Advanced Highers
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)
In combination with other qualifications
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
In combination with other qualifications
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.
| 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. |
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.
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.
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|
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.
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
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
Email:admissions@solent.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0) 23 8201 5066
Email:student.funding@solent.ac.uk
East Park Terrace
Southampton
SO14 0YN
At Southampton, Solent University
