Intro

This is an innovative course with a reputation for producing ambitious and bold designers who communicate, inform, entertain and challenge the status quo.

Exploration, experimentation and finding your creative voice is paramount in the Graphic Design degree course. You'll be working in studio spaces as part of a dynamic art school, with opportunities for collaboration which will foster an understanding of visual communication intellectually and practically.

You will learn with a course team who are professionals in typography, letterpress printing, book design, exhibition design, photography, art direction, animation, digital sound and music.

Opportunities to exhibit your work run throughout your course including at group shows and at the annual Graduate Show. You’ll also have the opportunity to work on live industry projects and establish professional connections.

Open days

Book your place:
City campus open day

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of Brighton.

Book your place

Key facts

Location Brighton: City campus

UCAS code W210

Full-time 3 years

Clearing: apply now for 2023

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range. We are looking for highly motivated and creative students. We will consider you on an individual basis. Your portfolio is the most important and mandatory part of your application. If your predicted or actual grades fall below the range below but you can evidence your thinking, ideas and abilities through a high-quality portfolio we will still consider your application.

Art foundation diploma
Pass. A foundation diploma is not a requirement for entry – it is just one of a range of qualifications that is accepted for admission to this course. 

International Baccalaureate
30 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Art and design courses preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3, and 30 credits must be at merit or above.

Foundation degree/HND/degree
May enable you to start the course in year 2 or later depending on the qualification you hold and the level of your creative and practical experience.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Portfolio advice 

Online portfolio

We ask to see an online portfolio of 15–20 images. We are looking for evidence of ideas in any format (sketchbooks, layout books etc), backed up by a broad range of skills showing how you generate and develop ideas, and that you are passionate and inquisitive about the subject.

  • Typography in all its forms, for example, expressive, applied, kinetic.
  • Photography – inventive, creative and applied.
  • Type and image – be imaginative, bold and creative.
  • Think invention, imagination, expression, exploration.
  • Do not include life drawing, unless it is part of a project.

We are not looking for highly finished work. The portfolio, ideally in chronological order, should show a broad range of work both successful and unsuccessful.

Find out more about how to create and submit your portfolio.

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Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Year 1

Year 1 introduces you to the basic concepts of visual communication in graphic design. Through a series of studio-based projects and workshops in computing, letterpress, photography and book arts, you will begin to develop your own visual language.

Modules

  • Introduction to Graphic Design

    This module provides an introduction to the key concepts and practices of graphic design.

    You will be introduced to the history, cultural contexts, approaches, practices and techniques that inform graphic design. You will explore creativity and design approaches through experimentation, and you will be asked to critically reflect on your practice through guided and independent study.

  • Investigation and Application of Graphic Design

    Graphic Design is a diverse and changing practice that uses many approaches to engage with audiences. This module introduces you to working methods, professional practices and techniques.

    You will explore a range of technical skills and investigate new approaches, combine existing techniques and explore traditional methods to develop innovative outputs

  • Media, Messages and Meaning in Graphic Design

    In this module you will examine, define and apply concepts, practices and debates that inform graphic design

    Experimenting with media, contexts, techniques and processes will enable you to explore – and apply into practice – the theoretical concepts, and contemporary and historical approaches that have been used to communicate messages and meaning.

    You will also critically reflect on the ongoing debate and reformulation of graphic design as a subject area.

  • Developing a Graphic Design Language

    In this module you will explore graphic design and your relationship to it through an independent project.

    You'll consider different areas and approaches to graphic design professional practice and the development of an independent design language. As you begin to identify and position your practice you will be able to experiment with concepts, define approaches, and reflect on contemporary debates and ethical considerations with an analysis of contemporary practice.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

student prepares their graduation show work on an apple computer

Year 2

Year 2 introduces the key concepts of sequential communication with a focus on self-initiated, collaborative, experimental and independent ways of working. You will also begin to explore the creative industries via a personal and professional development programme. In years 2 and 3 you will attend a weekly professional practice lecture by guest speakers working within the industry. During your second year you can also take one module from a different course or discipline within the university to broaden your creative horizons and inform your work.

Modules 

  • Graphic Design: Audiences and Contexts
  • Contemporary Graphic Design Practice
  • Developing Independent Practice in Graphic Design
  • Option module*

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

male student prepares colourful graphics and photos for graduate show

Final year

In year 3 you build upon the creative and analytical abilities you have developed. Teaching encourages greater personal development as you move towards a more self-directed programme of study. You will work on set, with self-initiated projects and live industry projects, while establishing professional practice links.

Modules

  • Articulation of Graphic Design 1 and 2
  • Independent Practice in Graphic Design.

female student prepares artwork for graduate show, artwork hangs on string and is laid out on a table

Facilities

  • Spacious studios.
  • Central media centre with computing facilities specific to the needs of designers and illustrators.
  • Technical staff are on hand to assist you in the workshops.
  • Dedicated technical workshops in letterpress printing and book arts.
  • Central media centre with computing facilities specific to the needs of designers and illustrators.
  • Book arts workshop (dedicated technician).
  • Students also have access to the TECH HUB – a team of technical demonstrators based in Grand Parade who provide specialist creative software support including Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects etc), Rhino, Blender and C4D, as well as web and blog-related software. They manage digital manufacturing services within the School of Art and Media, including laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing, plasma cutting and 3-axis CNC milling. They also have VR headsets and 3D scanners. The TECH HUB has its own dedicated PC suite with all of the software they support as well as standard university programmes.
  • Department print bureau.
  • We have one of the country's best-stocked art and design libraries.
  • Internationally important Design Archives with a wealth of graphic design and illustration material.

Meet the team

Eloise Parrack, course leader

Eloise has extensive teaching experience across higher education and is a Fellow of Advance HE. As course leader she works to ensure students have an excellent education in the area of graphic design, leading and overseeing the development of the Graphic Design BA(Hons) curriculum with her colleagues in the department of visual communication. Alongside a focus on type and language, her aim is to nurture connections between graphic design, wider communities and issues within society, establishing meaningful and critical tools with which to explore, interrogate and visually communicate to a range of audiences. Read Eloise's full profile.

Other staff who teach on the course have a diverse range of graphic design-related professional, academic and research-led practice.

More about this subject at Brighton

Brighton secures national Silver Award for teaching excellence

The University of Brighton has been recognised for the quality of its teaching and student outcomes in a UK-wide evaluation of higher education institutions.

Illustration alumni animates film based on UoB academic’s research

Kate Bilbow, who studied BAHon) Illustration, has animated a film based on University Design Historian Dr Harriet Atkinson’s research into art on the streets in 1943.

Welcome to the School of Art and Media!

Professor Tamar Jeffers Mcdonald welcomes you to the School of Art and Media.

Illustration students artwork feature in Bellingcat report

Award-winning investigative news agency Bellingcat has used illustrations from three graduating BA(Hons) Illustration students in their annual report.

Read more from our blog

Careers

Prepare for your career 

Your Graphic Design degree course will provide you with skills and technical expertise plus opportunities to put what you learn into practice with work-related experience.  

  • In your second year of study we work on Industry briefs. In recent years students have worked on the John Lewis Christmas clothing range, a live brief for local Studio, Studio Makgill and for the paper company Antalis.
  • Students have the opportunity to run printing workshops and mini-residencies at Ditchling Museum bringing them into contact with the public to pass on the skills they have learned during their studies.
  • Projects such as Studio245, involving students and staff who work with professional clients on live projects, provides participating students with invaluable real-world experience.
  • By the end of your studies you will have experience of working independently and in collaboration with other disciplines.
  • During your second year you can take one module from any course or discipline within the university to broaden your creative horizons and inform your work.

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As part of our Future Selves employability week of events, Graphic Design graduate Charlie Sheppard spoke to students about his career – and we chatted with him afterwards about his time at Brighton, his advice for graduates and what he’s been doing since

Showcasing your talent 

There are many opportunities to exhibit work publicly throughout the course. 

At the end of the degree you can exhibit a body of work in the university’s graduate show, a large-scale exhibition that is the culmination of the final year and a major event attended by the public. 

In previous years students have also put on a major show in London at the end of their studies.

Artwork installation for graduation show featuring colourful prints and images with newspaper-based installation in background

Graduate destinations 

Our graduates work across a range of disciplines within the contemporary creative industries including in the publishing industry, book design, design consultancy, a branding specialists and advertising agencies.

Our students are working internationally in Switzerland, Germany, France, Hong Kong, South Korea and China.

Employers of our graduates include:

  • It's Nice That
  • Macmillan
  • Becks
  • Interbrand
  • Channel 4.

There are further opportunities for postgraduate study at the university, for example:

Notable alumni 

  • Will Hudson and Alex Bec founders of It’s Nice That
  • David Wilson, music video director
  • Charlotte Bassett, Designer at Studio Makgill
  • Charlotte Heal, Creative Director at Kinfolk Magazine
  • Aneel Kalsi, Art Director at Wallpaper*
  • Chani Wisdom, Designer at Tate Galleries
  • Charlie Sheppard, Art Director at Anyways
  • Rifke Sadleir, designer/developer, Our Place Studio

Ones to watch

Megan Chandler, 2019 graduate winner of the Creative Conscience Award for her Off The Streets concept campaign aiming to reduce the stigma of homelessness whilst ensuring the money given to homeless people is spent in a non self-destructive way.

Lucia Vinti, 2019 graduate was commissioned to illustrate the families guide for the 2019 Van Gogh and Britain exhibition at Tate Britain.

Alumni view: Rifke Sadleir designer/developer, Our Place Studios, graduated 2016

"The fact that the course is so open to pursuing your own interests and choosing what you want to learn means that collectively we have a really diverse skill-set. We're all really supportive of each others successes, and quite often end up working together which feels like a natural progression from uni. I think the most important thing I took away from the course is friends and collaborators

"It seems a lot of us have ended up in similar circles in terms of work since graduation. Studying at Brighton has had a direct effect on my work now. Doing a design degree rather than learning coding through a route such as computer science means that my work is heavily design-led and I try to make sure that I undertake design and illustration work alongside web-based work."

Designs by Megan Chandler

Award-winning concept campaign by 2019 graduate Megan Chandler

Professional advice and support 

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Employable

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,300 GBP

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Art and Media in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Typically, practice-based courses incur more costs than text-based subjects. For many courses you will need to budget for the cost of specialist materials, equipment and printing and are likely to spend between £50–£300 per year.
  • For some courses you may also need to budget up to £100 for specialist personal protective clothing which, with care, will last for the whole of your course and beyond.
  • For most courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits, for example to galleries, exhibitions and studios both in the UK and overseas. These are optional and are not required to pass your course. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken, and typically range between £100 and £700 across the duration of your course.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software at City campus and Moulsecoomb campus and at other locations across the university. Specialist equipment is provided to cover essential learning. Students may choose to buy their own specialist equipment, these may include cameras, or computers and software, university/student discounts are available for some equipment and software. Budgets can range from £50–£2,000. Buying specialist equipment is best undertaken in consultation with our academic and technical staff. This expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
  • For some courses you will need to budget up to £200 for printing and publishing. Photography courses may incur higher costs (£500–£2,000) when printing and framing images of professional standard for public presentation.
  • Course books, magazines and journals are available in the university libraries. You do not need to have your own copies, but if you wish to, you should budget up to £200 over your course to buy them.
  • For courses in which there is an optional placement year, you will need to budget for living costs (rent, food, travel etc) in that city/country, as if you were on site at the university.
  • For some courses you will need to budget up to £150 for stationery.
  • Final-year graduation shows are opportunities to present your final, independent project work to the public. Practice-based courses will typically incur higher costs. Depending on the specific nature of your final project you will need to budget between £20–£2,500.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

City campus

City campus is located at the heart of central Brighton.

The facilities for making and designing, the theatre, galleries, workshops, studios, archives and the independent arts organisations based on site provide a unique and inspiring environment where creativity thrives.

St Peter’s House library and Phoenix halls of residence are close to the Grand Parade main building where you will find the student centre with careers, counselling, student advice service, and disability and dyslexia support. Edward Street provides extensive teaching and gallery space for media, photography and film.

Also on site are Screen Archive South East and University of Brighton Design Archives.

Brighton Pavilion, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, the iconic pier and beach are a very short walk away. The independent shops and businesses of the North Laine and Kemptown, and Brighton main line station, with frequent express services to London, are 10 minutes walk.

Grand Parade exhibition space

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: City campus

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
    • Phoenix halls are in the heart of the city, a short walk from City campus – and from the seafront.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around four miles from the city centre and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Phoenix Brewery Halls Accommodation

Accommodation for City campus is in the nearby Phoenix Halls

Student kitchen in Phoenix Halls

Student kitchen in Phoenix Halls

Relaxing in nearby Pavilion Gardens

Relaxing in nearby Pavilion Gardens

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city’s reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year. Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements, live briefs and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

We provide support and venues for key events in the city’s arts calendar including the Brighton Festival, the Festival Fringe, the Great Escape, the Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Photo Biennial and the Cinecity Brighton Film Festival. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate Show transforms our campus into the largest exhibition space in the South East as we celebrate the outstanding talent and creativity of our students.

As a student you’ll get lots of opportunities to experience these events at first hand and to develop your skills through the volunteering and other opportunities they offer.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

City campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Open days

Book your place:
City campus open day

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of Brighton.

Book your place

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification

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