School of Creative Industries

BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Foundation Year

BA (Hons) Part-time 8 years, Full-time 4 years

Graphic design is a dynamic subject that enriches and influences all aspects of our visual environment. The studio-focused course at Wolverhampton is designed to be responsive to this and is continually reflective in order to positively contribute to your student experience.

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Graphic design is a dynamic subject that enriches and influences all aspects of our visual environment. The studio-focused course at Wolverhampton is designed to be responsive to this and is continually reflective in order to positively contribute to your student experience.

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BA (Hons)
Start date(s)
16 September 2024
UCAS Code
W2VC
Course specifications
View course spec
Course length
Part-time (8 years),Full-time (4 years)
Campus location
University: City Campus
School
School of Creative Industries
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In the foundation year, you get a WIDE selection of taster sessions for different courses (Glass & Ceramics, Photography, Fashion & Textiles, etc). If you're worried about getting thrown in the deep end by starting Level 4, do your chosen course with a Foundation Year. I 100% recommend it.
Lewis Ashfield, BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Foundation year

Why choose this course?

Graphic design is a dynamic subject that enriches and influences all aspects of our visual environment. The studio-focused course at Wolverhampton is designed to be responsive to this and is continually reflective in order to positively contribute to your student experience. Perfect for intellectually curious individuals with creative ambition.

The Graphic Design course encourages students to engage with design at a professional level across all print and screen media. Ideas and their development are all-important and we create an environment that encourages creative thinking.

The Foundation year prepares students for university level study. Successful completion of our Foundation course permits access to any of our Art or Digital Media BA (Hons) or BDes (Hons) degree courses, which include Fashion, Fine Art, Furniture Design, Glass and Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Paint and Print Making, Photography, Product Design, Sculpture and Environmental Art — The Foundation year begins with modules aimed at providing transferable study skills and then, in the second semester, gives students the opportunity to study more specialist modules, with a focus on various aspects of Arts and Digital Media.

Our programme of assignments allows you to design for areas including branding, editorial, exhibition, packaging and visual identity. You will use digital tools to develop screen-based and web solutions that are interactive, immersive and challenging. Most importantly, the course encourages you to become a thoughtful designer – producing creative work that has a place in and benefit to contemporary culture and society.

The course is focused on employability; you have the opportunity to meet and work with design companies large and small and to collaborate internationally on assignments with overseas universities. You are also able to boost your CV with student prizes sponsored by notable companies such as Rotovision and Sheaffer.

Many students undertake live briefs, competitions and professional placements helping to build experience and to enhance their confidence. Our alumni have secured positions at all levels of the profession around the world successfully contributing to the creative industries and global economies. Why not join them?

What's unique about this course?

  • With a large focus on employability, you will be given opportunities to work with design companies of all sizes.
  • You may also have the opportunity to enhance your CV with awards sponsored by well-known companies such as Rotovision and Sheaffer.
  • All courses in the School of Art are now available with a professional placement option

What happens on the course?

Level 4: the first year of the course introduces you to specialist design skills, creative thinking and problem solving, all informed by professional and contextual learning. You will be guided through the transition required to study at degree level, and supported in developing approaches and solutions to projects. There will be opportunities to learn practical and software skills during workshops, and explore the practice and theory of broad Graphic Design areas including typography, colour, image-making, composition and output for a range of platforms, formats and purposes for print and screen.

Level 5: the second year builds from skills and knowledge learned at Level 4, and encourages you to develop your emerging style and higher-level skills in relation to more specific aspects of the design industry such as Print and Editorial Design, Screen / Interface and Mobile / Web Design, Motion Graphics, Design for Commercial Enterprises and Information Design. Your understanding will be extended through our exciting lecture programme, referencing contemporary and historic practice, societal issues and critical thinking, and you will be encouraged to consider employability as you work on live project briefs, and have opportunities to engage with clients.

Level 6: the final year of BA (Hons) Graphic Design encourages deeper understanding of your subject whilst developing your design outputs, professional-level skills and ambition through integrated study of practice and theory. Emphasis is on your personal development and individual creative direction and you will have opportunities to consolidate your learning from Levels 4 and 5 through negotiation of a portfolio of work including live, competition and exhibition projects. You will be supported in consideration of personal aims, creative ambitions, employability and career intentions as you complete the course.

Why not check out what our students got up to for their final projects at our annual Degree Show 2018

Course Modules

Module: 3VA001
Credits: 60
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

In this module you will work on a series of short projects that aim to introduce you to the core art and design skills that will support your development as an artist or designer at degree level and beyond. In semester 1 you will explore a range of approaches to drawing as a fundamental art and design tool for thinking through and communicating your ideas. Increasingly drawing will be seen as a basis for exploring 2d, 3d and media solutions to art and design problems. Alongside these practical workshops you will begin to explore how research, reflection and documentation can inform your ideas and support studio practice by creating a studio journal containing a series of structured tasks. In semester 2 you will have extended opportunity to work with specialist staff from the different art and design subjects taught in the school and develop projects responding to more defined areas of practice appropriate to your interests and ambitions for degree level study. You will be expected to develop a more focused and independent approach to research through your journal responses and studio practice. Increasingly you will be expected to take greater control and direction of your learning. In semester 1 the workshops, studio projects, research tasks and study visits will be clearly structured and you will be expected to attend regularly and participate in a range of learning activities within and outside of taught sessions. As the course develops and you start to define your subject and contextual interests you will necessarily need to become more independent in accessing appropriate resources for your personal development as an artist/designer. The studios, workshops and other resources are open 5 days a week and you are increasingly expected to manage your taught and independent studio/study time effectively to complete work well and on time.

Module: 3VA002
Credits: 60
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

In this module you will be introduced to the range of art and design subject specialisms taught in the School of Art. Academic and technical teams from across the school will introduce you to specialist workshops and provide a range of short project briefs to enable you to explore and test your ideas out in different mediums and contexts. This will be accompanied by contextual visits, lectures and seminars that will explore how the different artists and designers address genres and issues pertinent to their practice. Assessment reviews and tutorials will be used to support you to reflect on these experiences and begin to consider some areas for extended experience in Semester 2. In semester 2 you will work in subject groupings and propose an individually negotiated project aligned to a broad subject area in the school. You will work with Foundation and degree level tutors to develop your ideas and work towards degree level entry standard. You will need to demonstrate some ability to work and learn independently and reflect on your work to progress your ideas. Alongside practical work you will undertake a portfolio of contextual research which will underpin your core knowledge of your chosen area of study and learn the basic research and writing skills that you will need to progress to degree level study.

Module: 4VC019
Credits: 60
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

This module introduces you to a range of topics and processes pertinent to the broad practice of graphic design, as well as resources and staff within the University and the School of Art. It is an intensive practical module extending throughout the year and you will undertake a range of studio projects as a foundation to your professional practice as a graphic designer. Centred on design processes, including development of specialist skills, this module aims to maximise your graphic design potential. You will be supported throughout this module in making the transition between your prior educational experiences and full time graphic design study and practice. Developing time management skills through structured tasks, you will be expected to make use of independent study hours to further progress your graphic design skills and practice, subject studios, art school workshops and the Harrison Learning Centre. In Graphic Design: Preparation you will also learn to develop, and record your design ideas, taking inspiration from a range of contextual sources including artists and designers, gaining confidence to express and communicate design solutions with visuals, sketchbooks and journals within tutorials.

Module: 4VC020
Credits: 60
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

This module helps you to build an understanding of graphic design principles through investigation, and application to projects. You will have the time and space to practice and develop professional graphic design skills in response to project briefs and lectures. The emphasis of this module is on practice, guided by tutorials, feedback and experience, challenging and encouraging you to expand your subject knowledge, skills and confidence. This module provides the opportunity for you to identify and reflect on your strengths and weaknesses at every stage of design exploration, helping you to learn from feedback and experience, in order to appeal to potential audiences and specific situations. Introducing you to a range of contextual knowledge from both contemporary and historical graphic design practice and visual culture, Graphic Design: Principles will help you to understand professional practice and its place in society, cultural significance, impact and connection with audiences. You will engage in subject specialist lectures and seminars and produce a range of creative, academic and contextual assignments in response to project briefs. This module will encourage you to organise your time effectively, increase your ability to analyse your designs and the designs of others and to demonstrate intellectual and professional curiosity, stimulating your professional design skills and contextual knowledge while enhancing your ability to make professional judgements in response to briefs.

Module: 5VC022
Credits: 60
Period: 3
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

With emphasis on critical and experimental practice, this module aims to develop your understanding of graphic design through investigation of, and engagement with design projects. You will continue to develop professional graphic design skills in response to project briefs and lectures, and you will have opportunities to explore the creative and practical tools required to meet the needs of client-led briefs. As the module progresses, you will negotiate and manage design projects with increasing independence, and develop your individual approach to problem-solving and realisation of final design work through critical analysis and professional judgement. Your theoretical knowledge and understanding will be further developed, encouraging you to consider your relationship to, and place in graphic design, the creative industries and society. You will use visual and contextual research to inform your decision-making, and be encouraged to develop risk-taking strategies through experimentation in order to create new and surprising solutions appropriate to a range of outputs discussed in Graphic Design: Projects. As your confidence grows, you will also consider and establish effective methodologies to communicate and evaluate your creative work.

Module: 5VC021
Credits: 60
Period: 3
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

Developing your understanding of communication through graphic design, this module encourages you to engage with practical projects, introducing you to specialist disciplines in print and screen media creating work for a range of clients and outputs. The initial focus of the module will be on the acquisition and application of higher-level design skills, techniques and processes aligned to specialist practice, and you will engage with lectures, workshops and seminars to support your learning. Broad principles introduced at the start of the module will provide the foundation for detailed investigation of graphic design projects, and you will be encouraged to consider your individual approach to creative problem solving and developing visual language. Through engagement with projects on this intensive studio-based practical module, you will increase your knowledge of the graphic design industry, and reflect on your professional practice as a graphic designer in relation to potential future employment. You will continue to develop and record your design ideas, taking inspiration from contextual sources discussed in Graphic Design: Practice. Opportunities to engage with live and competition briefs alongside tutor-led assignments on this module will enable you to gain experience in understanding and responding to design specifications, and provide a platform for reflection across a range of professional and academic situations.

Module: 6VC022
Credits: 60
Period: 4
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

Graphic Design: Portfolio enables you to negotiate and produce a final body of creative work based upon your professional ambition and emerging specialisms. You will undertake a series of intensive practical studio projects, including live briefs, national and international competitions, and thematic group projects. There will be opportunities to further develop specialist knowledge, skills and understanding to support your increasingly personal visual language, to help demonstrate your ability to generate ideas and to create considered and targeted solutions as a practicing designer. Graphic Design: Portfolio is a student-led module, supported by the academic and technical team in group and individual tutorials, encouraging you to test your project management skills and increasing autonomy. You will be required to manage your time and workload effectively, synthesising prior learning experiences, and utilising design strategies and methodologies developed at levels 4 and 5.

Module: 6VC023
Credits: 60
Period: 4
Type: Core
Locations: University: City Campus

This module enables you to consolidate your learning and practice in a professional context, where you will demonstrate increasing independence in preparing for a career in the creative industries. You will engage with a range of assignments that will be both self-authored and developed from increased input from guest lecturers discussing career paths, providing meaningful insight and helping to enhance your understanding of the broad area of visual communication in the context of employability. Engagement with lectures, workshops and seminars will support this increasing independence as you learn to build an effective portfolio, engage with commissions, group exhibitions and develop strategies for presenting yourself and your work to the global creative community. You will undertake written and visual research to produce a visual thesis, generating an extended written assignment alongside supporting, experimental practical work. Using critical and reflective skills, this body of work should complement your practice-led portfolio, as well as contributing to your contextual understanding of your discipline. This module offers an opportunity to refine your personal visual language and approach to your chosen specialism within the market.

Potential Career Paths

Employability is core to the ethos of the School of Art’s learning and teaching, and BA (Hons) Graphic Design provides opportunities to experience and engage with professional and industrial contacts. At Level 4 you will be encouraged to encounter and experience all aspects of your specialist area and further embed yourself into the subject through visits and speakers. At Level 5 you will have the opportunity to experience professional practice and will work on subject-specific briefs led by external clients/organisations. At this level there will also be emphasis on live projects / placements that offer opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborative practice. Level 5 is designed to give you the opportunity to take risks and experiment within your subject but also to meet and network with other students across the School of Art. Level 6 emphasises self-initiated and negotiated projects and provides you with the time and support to develop your individual voice as a designer. There is also provision for interdisciplinary teams working together on ambitious final outcomes where appropriate, and you will be supported to maintain placement learning and external networks established at Level 5. In addition, the University offers a Career Development Week each year, which is intended to provide cross-curricula activities that enable you to extend your skills and employability goals.

Students graduating from BA (Hons) Graphic Design emerge as creative independent thinkers, prepared for employment in a breadth of potential roles. The Creative Industries continue to be a growth area, vital to UK and overseas economies, and the course and University have an excellent record in helping students to find meaningful employment within the sector. Potential careers include: graphic designer, graphic artist, design consultant, fine artist, media creative, account handler, studio manager and creative director.

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

Teaching takes place in our studio environments where tutor-student engagement and peer-to-peer learning promotes a professional and independent approach to your development. Teaching, supervised practice and independent exploration also takes place in well-equipped material workshops and computer labs. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to explore and build material and technical competencies towards developing your own rich, challenging and distinct visual language as designers and artists.

BA (Hons) Graphic Design is distinctive in its approach because:

  • Students are assessed on 100% coursework
  • The course structure reflects the breadth and flexibility of industry practice
  • Our focus is on employability and student support
  • We have a great success rate in national and international design competitions
  • We integrate theory and practice to encourage deep learning and quality coursework
  • Our dynamic environments enable creative practice and discourse
  • Award-winning lecturing and support staff
  • Access to world-class facilities
  • Studio culture enables discussion, advice and support outside of teaching sessions
  • We have an excellent network of contacts offering live projects, placements and opportunities

Our course has received excellent results and feedback from the National Student Survey, particularly concerning our award-winning teaching, student support and overall student satisfaction. External examiners have consistently commended our approaches and commitment to learning, teaching and student support. We are also members of creative professional organisations such as D&AD and the AOI.

The member of academic staff who leads this course is Marc Austin

Our long-established course is designed to provide you with the best creative education focusing on employability and student support. Within each academic year, two year-long modules allow you to experience and engage with dynamic projects of increasing complexity over varied timescales, reflecting the breadth and flexibility of professional graphic design with regular opportunities to work on live projects and international competitions. This carefully structured course encourages independent learning supported by an integrated delivery of contextual, theoretical, technical and practical skills. Our studio-centred approach reflects industry practice and enables you to work in a creative community, encouraging personal, professional development and communication.

During your time with us, you will have opportunities to explore diverse, interesting and challenging design briefs – you will be guided through your studies by our experienced academic, technical and study-support staff team and engage with industry practitioners. Studio culture is core to our courses and you will be encouraged to become part of the art and design community through time spent working in the studios, workshops and labs available to students across the week. We believe in enabling students to become confident designers by developing their contextual knowledge and supporting intellectual curiosity alongside learning and practicing professional skills.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time £3120 per year# 2022-23
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2024-25
International Full-time £13450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £14450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £14450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £14950 per year 2024-25

Additional Course Costs

Additional Materials: £50 to 250 per semester - Prices vary according your subject of practice.

Additional Field Trips: £50 to 500 - Prices will vary according to location.

Additional Events: £350 - Degree Show/New Designers. Costs will vary according to the medium and mode of your practice but considerations will be around materials, installation and presentation.

Further information on these additional costs will be provided prior to the start of your studies.

Further information on these additional costs will be provided prior to the start of your studies

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

Key Entry Requirements 

Either: 

  • A-levels: Grade profile of DD 
  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (48 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at pass)
  • BTEC: Grade profile of PPP 
  • T-Level: Pass grade with a core component profile less than C.  
  • Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted for entry. A minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points will be required. 
  • UAL L3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design or Creative Media Production & Technology - grade P
  • Other: We also consider applicants who have not achieved 48 UCAS points from prior level 3 qualifications. If you have a keen interest in this subject area or hold relevant experience, please make sure you outline this experience within your personal statement. This can be assessed through an alternative assessment route such as an academic essay. 

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

International entry requirements and application guidance can be found here

Other Requirements

Those meeting the entry requirements will be shortlisted for a Portfolio Review. Further details can be found at https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/4---after-youve-applied/subject-specific-applications/. Applicants will also be required to provide a satisfactory reference.

 

Progression Information: 

Applicants who successfully complete the foundation year programme can progress onto Level 4 of this course area, you will not be required to reapply or reinterview. 

If you complete this foundation year programme and decide you wish to change your degree subject, you will be required to apply again through UCAS and take part in the course specific interview and selection process for this new course area.  

 

 

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

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