Head of Art & Design
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
level:UG;top_up:false;international:true;foundation:true;clearing:false;full_time:true;part_time:false;start_month:September;location:Waterside
Graphic Design BA (Hons)
Key Facts
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UCAS Code
BA: W210
BA with Foundation: W211 -
Level
UndergraduateUG BA (Hons)
-
Duration
Full Time: 3 years
Full Time Foundation: 4 years -
Starting
September
-
BCC at A-Level or,
DMM at BTEC -
Full Time: £9,535
Integrated Foundation Year: £9,535 -
Full Time: £15,700
Integrated Foundation Year: £15,700 -
Waterside
Updated 14/04/2025
Updated 14/04/2025
Get in touch
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
This course is subject to validation for September 2025.
The University of Northampton’s Graphic Design BA explores the communication of ideas and messages to diverse and evolving audiences through a dynamic range of media that highlights the potential of what design can achieve.
Studio culture is at the heart of the Graphic Design degree, naturally fostering the creativity, collaboration and debate that inspire personal perspectives on design. Students experiment with a range of traditional processes and emerging technologies to challenge established conventions of image-making and meaning.
Through engaging with real-world problems, social issues and commercial scenarios students develop critical, reflective and professional skills that will prepare them for the ever-changing creative industries.
The course covers everything from digital media software to traditional craft skills, such as print making, 3D and photography, ensuring you are well-prepared to enter the creative industries as a versatile and competent designer.
Highlights
- On the Graphic Design BA, you will have access to specialist resources, regular guest lecturers and industry contacts
- There will be valuable opportunities to work with live commercial briefs, as well as taking part in international competitions, and social impact initiatives.
- Several of our Graphic Design students have either been shortlisted or have gone on to win international design competitions, such as Penguin Cover Design Award, and D&AD New Blood awards.
- You will have a dedicated Graphic Design studio for course members with access to MacBooks, creative software, cameras and lighting kits, sound and print facilities.
- There is high-quality teaching from experienced practising designers and educators.
- You participate in social design projects., and work-based learning through live commercial projects with a real focus on your future career, with employability modules in all years of the course.
- Work based learning through live commercial projects with a real focus on your future career, with employability modules in all years of the course.
- You can access an exciting programme of study trips and cultural visits.
- There are technical support and specialist workshop demonstrations.
- As course members you will receive regular feedback and insights from industry professionals.
- There is a guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.
- HP Laptop and software included with this course, see Eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions.
Image shows a blue and yellow graphic design for a marketing campaign for a wellbeing service including images and text
Image shows a hardback copy of The Night Manager placed face down to show the blue and white cover in full.
Image shows a hand holding a smartphone over a magazine spread of photos and text
Image shows a two page spread in an open book of two metallic circles and white text on a black background
Photo shows a book cover for 'Girl, Woman, Other' designed by Karla Ayree, which was the Penguin Cover Design winner in 2022. The cover is an image of a black female interwoven into various multi coloured African culture patterns and textures with adinkra symbols embedded throughout the book's design to symbolise each character’s story. Pairing the adinkra symbols with a vibrant dashiki pattern creates an impactful, vivid, and contrasting design.
Image shows four magazine covers on an orange background. The magazine is named The Unknown and features one large image with text
Photo shows 'Girl, Woman, Other' book cover designed by Evy Diepenbroek, which was shortlisted for Penguin Cover Design Award in 2022. The cover is fawn and blue in colour and depicts 7 illustrated hands interconnected by string to symbolise their entwined lives and narratives. The back has a female holding a piece pf paper and shouting - the paper contains the books back copy text and quotes.
Images shows a series of four Instagram posts on smartphone screens
Entry Requirements
For A-Level students, we typically offer places to those who achieve BCC. For those studying BTEC or Cambridge Technicals, a DMM is generally required. T-Level students should have achieved a Pass with grades C and above.
We welcome applications from those with a mix of A-Level and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications, as well as those holding a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
Course Content
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Explore your creative capabilities with the University of Northampton’s Graphic Design programme. Here, every visual concept you develop has a clear purpose, whether it’s to market, entertain, solve business problems, raise awareness of important issues, or influence public perception.
Our BA Graphic Design blends carefully developed design solutions with the latest technologies to create messages that are clear, impactful, and engaging. We focus on the role of effective design in communicating ideas powerfully and memorably.
The course covers four main areas:
Commercial Enhance your technical skills and apply design principles to real-world commercial projects. You’ll gain insights into audience behaviour and learn how to produce compelling and persuasive designs.
Experimental Explore the limits of traditional design. We encourage you to adopt new perspectives and use your creativity to tackle complex messages and themes innovatively.
Social Impact Channel your design skills towards making a positive difference. This stream emphasises social, ethical, and environmental challenges, motivating you to design with compassion and purpose.
Professional and Critical Gain an in-depth understanding of the creative industries and what it takes to succeed in them. You’ll explore the business aspects of design, boost your research capabilities, and refine your analytical thinking regarding visual culture.
After graduation, our students enter a variety of creative roles, including positions in top agencies, freelance work, and starting their own businesses in areas such as branding, advertising, illustration, film, and interactive design. Others choose to enhance their skills through postgraduate study.
Penguin Cover Design and the D&AD The New Blood Awards
Explore the exciting world of the creative industries with two respected competitions: the Penguin Cover Design and D&AD New Blood Awards. These platforms offer a fantastic opportunity for you to present your work to leading figures in the design world. Students from the University of Northampton’s Graphic Communication Design BA (Hons) programme have a history of performing well, reflecting our commitment to excellence in design education.
Student Success Stories
Our students regularly achieve recognition at the Penguin Cover Design Award, consistently reaching the shortlist.
This year was no exception, with Evy Diepenbroek and Karla Ayree both nominated in the Adult Fiction category. Karla was delighted to win the national prize with her cover for Bernardine Evaristo’s ‘Girl, Woman, Other’, demonstrating the high standards our students strive to meet.
Evy Diepenbroek was also honoured with a nomination for her thoughtful design for the same book.
In addition, our participation in the D&AD New Blood competition has been fruitful, with our 2022 graduate Laura Tucker winning a coveted pencil for her environmentally focused animation for Giff Gaff Recycling. These achievements are a testament to the supportive and inspiring environment that Northampton offers to budding designers.
Employability Gold Award
Complete key modules across your first, second, and third years in the Graphic Design program, and you’ll earn the Northampton Employability Gold Award.
This award showcases your developed employability skills, a significant milestone in your professional journey. Plus, it qualifies you for the Northampton Promise: if you find yourself unemployed twelve months after graduation, the University guarantees you a paid internship lasting between three and six months. This is our commitment to your future success.
Course Schedule
Your academic schedule will blend 15 hours per week of lectures, seminars, workshops, and technical demonstrations tailored to your study level. To complement your classes, we suggest dedicating about 10 hours weekly to independent study. Beyond structured class times, you’ll also have full access to our state-of-the-art technical facilities for further learning and exploration. This balanced approach ensures you have both the guidance and the freedom to excel in your studies.
List of modules
Schedule
Your taught study will be a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and technical demonstrations, usually for 15 hours per week, depending on your level of study. In addition, we recommend that you spend around 10 hours per week in self-directed study time. You will have access to technical facilities and studies outside of taught time.
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK – Full Time: £9,535
- UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,535
- International – Full Time: £15,700
- International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,700
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UON will adjust UK fees annually in line with Government Policy.
Staff
Careers and Employability
A Graphic Design BA degree can open up your career options. You will not be limited to one specific type of role, but rather be able to pursue numerous career paths. Our Graphic Design graduates use their design skills to work in:
- Branding
- Advertising
- Illustration
- Editorial and Publishing
- Digital moving image
- Typography
- Interactive design
- Online, social media and app design
- Packaging design
- Photography
- Information design
Throughout your time on the course, as well as post-study, we offer support to ensure you receive the guidance and information needed to succeed in your field of work.
Master’s Opportunities
The University of Northampton’s master’s courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on master’s fees to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.
Facilities and Special Features
When you study BA Graphic Design at the University of Northampton, you will enjoy access to a number of different facilities and services to help you in your studies, including;
- Large specialist studio spaces with dedicated access to Mac-books, digital cameras, lighting kits and sound recording equipment.
- Additional iMac design suite
- Subsidised digital printing
- Printmaking facilities and professional photography studios with controlled lighting studios
- Video editing suites
- Free Adobe Creative Cloud software account for your duration on the course
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