BA (Hons) Graphic Design

UCAS code: W211

Start date: September

Course length: full time: three years, or four years with Year Zero (foundation year), part time: available by negotiation.

Campus: Markeaton Street site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

This course will support you in developing dynamic and individual responses to creative projects, ranging from corporate identity, branding, advertising and typography to packaging and screen based moving images.

We have strong links with national and local organisations, so you'll get the chance to work on professional briefs with external agencies such as Saatchi and Saatchi, OneDotZero, Spin, Rolls-Royce and Balfour Beatty, as well as many others. You will experience professional practice guidance throughout the course and be shown how to generate links with industry and produce effective media for self-promotion, helping to ensure a very successful transition to employment.  And as a final year student, you'll take part in London graduate shows such as New Designers, an exciting event showcasing new talent from the field of design.

We're also a member of the D&AD, so you can be sure that our course is in step with the industry's developments.

You could also further enhance your skills by going on to study our MA Visual Communication.

We also provide support for graduates starting out in the creative industries, through our incubation unit - Banks Mill.  It offers studio workspace and business development activities, in a vibrant and thriving community of artists, designers and makers.

You'll study a total of 120 credits per year. This will be made up of single or double modules.

Stage one

You'll study modules such as:

• Visual Exploration - covering observation and information gathering
• Visual Problem Solving - covering concept development and idea generation
• Digital Studio Practice - covering fundamental software skills
• Graphic Design Practice - covering fundamental skills in typography, software, layout and design practice
• Visual Culture: History - covering historical and critical frameworks for communications and media

Stage two

You'll study modules such as:

• Directed Projects in Graphic Design - incorporating live briefs
• Design Strategies - a specialist graphic design module with relevant software and advanced design practice
• Visual Culture: Theory - covering historical, theoretical and critical frameworks for communication and media
• Professional Practice - covering professional links with industry, visiting speakers, case studies, preparation for placement and developing a professional body of work.

Stage three

You'll study modules such as:

• Negotiated Study in Graphic Design - looking at advanced studio briefs
• Visual Culture: Extended Essay - incorporating current debate and critical analysis within the specialism of graphic design
• Destinations - looking at Degree Show briefs
• Specialist Practice in Graphic Design - your final self-initiated project.

Our entry requirements are usually 260 UCAS points, of which at least 220 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application, your portfolio, and how you've done in your interview. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

General undergraduate entry requirements

Fees for 2013/14

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

• Full time: £8,250 (each year)

We'll be announcing our part time and international fees for 2013/14 later in the year.

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

Teaching is delivered mainly through studio-based and experiential learning using project briefs. This is mixed with tutorials, lectures, seminars, visiting speakers and visits to galleries and exhibitions.

The course gives you an understanding of the relationship of your practice to historical, theoretical and contemporary contexts, encouraging you to gain awareness of the political and ethical responsibilities of the designer, along with a knowledge of current practice as well as inspiration from the past.

You'll work with clients from local and national industries on live briefs, which is an essential part of the course. These have recently included commissions from Rolls Royce, Derby City Council and East Midlands Airport. You'll also be encouraged to enter design competitions such as the Mercury Prize, Royal Society for the Arts and the Young Creatives Network. Our students have frequently been successful in these prestigious national competitions.

You'll develop a Personal Development Plan, developing yourself as a well-rounded individual through continuous reflection on your studies, progress and future career planning. Professional Practice modules at all stages of the course allow you to project forward with an awareness of the creative industries.

Assessment is based on coursework, relevant to each module. This may include portfolios of artwork, exhibitions, sketchbooks, research and background material, essays, reports and presentations.

During the course you'll be able to go on placements with high profile agencies such as Baseline, Forster Design and Brand Nation, and you'll also go on visits and to conferences, which have included lectures by visionary designers from London and New York such as Bob Gill, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd and many more.

Find out more about about placements.

You will also take part in well established national and global competitions such as Design and Art Direction Awards, the Royal Society for the Arts, Shine - Coley Porter Bell, Icograda and the Young Creatives Network.

Throughout the course you'll get regular support and advice on careers from specialist staff including recognised practitioners, researchers and educators, who are actively engaged in contemporary graphic design practice.

As a graduate you could work in a design studio, freelance, art direction, editorial design, typography, branding, advertising, corporate identity, interactive media, signage, design consultancy or web design. Graduate Karen Stevens now works as an Art Director for Orchestra, a marketing and advertising agency in London's Canary Wharf, and Victoria Fernau now works at Hurricane Design, where she helps bluechip companies with their branding and packaging design.

"This course suited my needs as a student and as a young designer, allowing me to have the independence to choose the way to pursue an idea whilst having the experience and guidance of my tutors."
Stuart Phillips