BA (Hons) Graphic Communication
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication
Institution code: N39Course 3 Year UCAS code: W213Course 4 Year UCAS code: W214Course length: 3 or 4 year options
All courses starting in September 2021 will run as a hybrid of on-campus and digital teaching and learning and will follow UK government safety advice. We may need to adjust course delivery if advice changes. We will notify applicants and students of any changes directly.
Your passion for exploring visual ideas and brand communication across all platforms will be at the heart of your time at NUA studying on our award-winning Graphic Communication course.
Our BA (Hons) Graphic Communication degree is closely aligned to industry and you will work on a wide variety of briefs set by staff, professional design agencies and external competitions.
You will engage in work that explores traditional formats as well as emerging digital technologies such as augmented and virtual reality. Your knowledge and skills will grow in branding, identity, advertising, motion graphics, interaction/UX design, whilst developing strong skills in creative thinking and ideas-led communication solutions.
Design solutions to real world problems
You’ll be challenged to engage with real-world problems, controversies and commercial briefs through research, design and technology.
Your original ideas are as likely to play out through an app, website or augmented reality experience as a printed poster, pamphlet or journal.
Design industry skills
As you hone your craft, you’ll get to meet leading practitioners from the creative industries and work on commercial briefs.
We’ll help to prepare you for a successful career as you compile your professional portfolio based on your own design interests.
Thanks to our strong links to industry, recent graduates are highly-employable and have found full-time employment in leading design studios, working in areas such as branding and digital, motion and cross-platform advertising.
You will be taught by passionate and experienced tutors, as well as many visiting professional designers, whose reputation for nurturing talent means that leading design groups and agencies actively recruit graduates from the course.
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including
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You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our team in the Ideas FactoryNUA to help support you as you plan your career.
- Course specifications
Three year degree
Four year degree - Course costs
Ask a Student
Course content
- Year 1
- Develop skills in typography, printing, layout, photography, design research, idea generation, visual narrative and storytelling
- Learn technical skills in various design-related digital media such as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator
- Explore print, paper, material, format and hand-craft/making skills
- Develop your ability to design solutions for presenting complex data and information through editorial design and infographics.
- Year 2
- Focus on branding and identity, advertising and promotion, digital/screen design, app design, film and animation, corporate communications, infographics, design within the environment and large-scale graphics (super graphics), exhibition design and experience design
- Explore printed and digital formats, including books, journals and magazines, brochures and reports, as well as websites, apps, user interface design and user experience design
- Collaborate with others in a competitive presentation and/or pitch environment, and across courses with other NUA students.
- Year 3
- Create a professional portfolio of work
- Explore new territories for graphic design, including new and traditional media
- Advance your core skills in 2D and 3D design, specifically in typography, layout, image usage and editing, print/physical and screen based digital technologies
- Take part in projects, including competition briefs and other professionally-focused projects
- Complete a Research Report that provides broad contextualisation to your practice.
Student work
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Convention
Typical UK offers
A / AS Levels – GCE
GCE A/AS Levels 3 A-level qualifications at grades BBB. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, NUA will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject
UAL Extended Diploma
Merit
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Merit
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Merit
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 27 points
NUA welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio, responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications. Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
International applications
We accept qualifications from all over the world. To find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.
Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).
We also accept some alternative English qualifications. Learn more about our English entry requirements.
You can email us on international@nua.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication degree portfolio guidance
Your portfolio should be relevant to this course, but you can include a wide range of work that shows your creativity, technical competence and understanding of innovative communication.
You may wish to include some of the following:
- Visual identity, logos and branding
- Digital, motion design and interactive design
- Advertising projects/ campaigns
- Work created using Adobe Creative Suite or other appropriate design software
- Web design
- Typography
- Photography
- Editorial work and poster designs
- Drawing Skills
- Suggestions for context: branding, corporate communications, advertising, digital/interactive design
Further portfolio advice and tips
Get more advice on presentation formats, layouts and when to submit your portfolio in the application process.
Fees and Funding
The cost of your course is determined by your status as either ‘UK or ‘International/EU’, so it’s important to check your fee status. If you’re unsure, the UKCISA website will help you determine whether you’re eligible to pay a UK fee (also called a ‘home’ fee). If you’d prefer to speak to NUA directly, please contact student.finance@nua.ac.uk
UK students are eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning you won’t have to pay your fees up front. Further details about tuition fee loans are provided below. International students are not eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan.
2021/22 Tuition Fees for new entrants
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Citizen status |
Course |
Fee |
|
UK |
Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) |
£9,250 |
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International (including EU) |
Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) |
£15,900 |
Fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
International students
Find out more about 2021 fees for international students and the scholarships and support available.
Financial support for UK students
Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are available, as well as non-repayable NUA bursaries that take into account family income. Find out how to apply for funding.
Tuition Fee Loan for undergraduate study – 2021/22
Tuition fee loans are available for UK students.
- Available to cover the full cost of your tuition
- You don’t have to pay for your course up front yourself
- Only start paying back when you are earning over £26,575 per year
Maintenance Loan for undergraduate study – 2021/22
Student Maintenance Loans are available from Student Finance England for UK students to help with living costs such as accommodation, food, clothes, travel and course expenses. The amount students receive is dependent on household income and any maintenance grant received.
- A loan of up to £9,203 may be available if you live away from home.
- A loan of up to £7,747 may be available if you live with your parents.
Different figures may apply if you are currently based in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
How can you find out more?
To learn more about loans, repayment calculations and other financial support, visit Student Finance. If you have any questions about fees, please email us: student.finance@nua.ac.uk
Scholarships
Find out about scholarship programmes available to NUA applicants.
Bursaries
For new entrants whose household income is assessed as £25,000 or less, the university will offer a contribution towards the costs of studying at NUA (such as equipment, materials and other course-related costs). Find out more about bursaries at NUA.
NUA alumni, staff and feeder staff discount
All NUA alumni are eligible for a £1,000 discount on NUA postgraduate degree fees. All NUA staff and staff from feeder institutions are eligible for a £500 discount on NUA postgraduate degree fees.
Four year degree – BA (Hons) Graphic Communication
Four year degrees offer students a chance to build on their experience within their undergraduate course of choice.
Year 0 will help to build confidence and develop subject specific practical, creative and conceptual skills – making full use of University studios and workshops.
Typical UK offers and entry requirements for Year 0 entry
GCE A/AS Levels
2 A-level qualifications at grades CC or higher.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
UAL Extended Diploma
An overall Pass
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
An overall Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 24 points
NUA welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio, responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
Students
Tsu-Ann Wong
"Having access to technical workshops and speaking with the courses’ guest lecturers has made me realise that there are so many different ways to approach a project. It’s important not to restrict yourself – exploration helps me realise the best way to communicate ideas."
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication
Wild Paths Festival design team
"I’ve learned a lot about how dedicated my friends & fellow students are to their creative practices, and I’m so proud of them for how much they’ve pushed themselves on this."
Ross Hawkin
"In Year Three you are heavily involved in self-promotion and have direct contact with industry — this sets the bar for you to network with creatives and make contacts yourself."
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication
Teaching
staff
Lecturers
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Mette Ambeck
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Emma Bailey
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Bryony Birkbeck
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Christopher Challinor
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Martin Devenney
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Maria Fletcher
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Helen Furness
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Mike Harrington
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Neil Hedger
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Andrew Johnson
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Professor Laura Jordan Bambach (Visiting Lecturer)
D&AD -
Sean Perkins and guests
North -
David Pearson
David Pearson Design -
Jonathan Gibson
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George Payne
Need help? Chat to our friendly recruitment team
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Call: +44 (0) 1603 610561
Email: studentrecruitment@nua.ac.uk
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