Graphic design at Solent University harnesses the power of visual communication and encourages you to explore a range of professional techniques to develop your own unique visual style. Throughout the course you will learn industry standard manual and digital technical skills to 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 - in 2024, students contributed to a Solent Mind campaign which advocates for better mental health.
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 Creative Conscience Awards. Recent successes include two final year students - Alfie Agostinelli and Oscar Trangmar - who won a coveted pencil at the 2023 D&AD New Blood advertising and design awards.
This course is also available as a one-year top-up, please contact our admissions team for further information.
If you’re looking to study our graphic design degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the art and design foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the art and design foundation year.
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.
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 and are working for companies such as:
Wake Media
Stagestruck LTD
Aviva
KPMG
Gotta Be! Marketing
Photon Energy
Mitchell and Stones
Red Funnel Group
NTT Data Europe
Twinkl Educational Publishing
Aurum Solutions
Silverback
Capital Hair and Beauty
Ordnance Survey
Dulema Studio
SCAS Education
Indigo Graphics
Hendy Group
Octopus Energy
Select Car Leasing
YEAR ONE
CORE MODULES
Intro to Graphic Design
Type, Layout, Image
Creative Thinking
Making Type Move
YEAR TWO
CORE MODULES
Design Innovations
Design Narratives
Brand, Strategy, Commercial
Design for Purpose
FINAL YEAR
CORE MODULES
Identity and Industry Toolkit
Design Challenges
Final Major Project: Research and Development
Final Major Project: Making
You may be assessed at the end of each block by:
Creative design projects
Final major project
Design based portfolios
Essays
As part of this course, you will study one module at a time, giving you the chance to build a deeper understanding and see the results of your hard work more quickly. With regular assessments and feedback, rather than exams all at once, you’ll also benefit from improved focus, and a more manageable workload.
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:
104-120 from a minimum of 2 A Levels
Merit (120 UCAS Tariff Points)
104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 4 Scottish Highers
Or can be used in combination with other qualifications.
In combination with other qualifications
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
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)
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)
This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)
In combination with other qualifications
In combination with other qualifications
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)
• 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.
Entry requirements for students joining after Year 1: 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.
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | with a minimum of 5.5 in each component |
TOEFL IBT tests taken from 21 January 2026 Minimum overall score of 4.5 with a minimum of 4 in each individual component. TOEFL IBT tests taken prior to 21 January 2026 Minimum overall score of 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component. Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland & Channel Islands | £10050* | |
| EU | £10500 | |
| International | £18508 |
* 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.
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
