Life in Leeds
Leeds is an exciting and vibrant student city, find out what it has to offer!
Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Undergraduate BA (Hons)
Graphic Design
Study graphic design and visual communication with the opportunity to showcase your work to the public and industry.
Course Overview
-
W210 -
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
3 Years -
20 Sep 2021
Develop your own approach to the study and practice of graphic design through a combination of brief-led and self-initiated projects.
As part of your course you’ll:
- Explore a wide spectrum of disciplines including design for print, illustration, photography, typography, animation and moving image
- Discover your strengths and develop your own individual style
- Have the opportunity to show off your projects to the public and impress industry by exhibiting your work at the end of your final year
- Drive your own learning and set your own targets, as you would in the workplace
Our students have worked alongside practitioners and on live briefs from organisations such as Harvey Nichols, the BBC, Leeds Art Gallery and the NHS. You can see some examples of work from our students in our 2020 Leeds School of Arts Festival website and in our 2019 end of year show publication.
INSIDE/OUT
The INSIDE/OUT lecture series brings together some of the most exciting names from the fields of art, architecture, design, fashion, film, music, performing arts and beyond. You can catch up on previous lectures by visiting the Leeds Arts Research Centre site.
Why study Graphic Design at Leeds Beckett University...
- 97% of graphic design students were satisfied with their course*
- Benefit from the school's close links to industry and creative businesses in the Yorkshire region, throughout the UK, and beyond
- Your tutors will have extensive experience of working as active practitioners, allowing you to gain from their knowledge and professional networks
- Study within Leeds School of Arts - one of the largest university arts communities in the north, with 3000 students spread across over 40 courses and 170 years of inspiring, challenging and innovative practices
- Take advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of the course and the school; gain access to a vast range of ideas, skills and facilities which will allow you to take your practice in whichever direction you want to
- Leeds has a thriving creative sector; home to hundreds of innovative start-ups, agencies, design businesses and countless other opportunities for graphic design graduates
*National Student Survey 2020
BA (Hons) Graphic Design | Student insights Student Paloma talks about her experiences of studying BA (Hons) Graphic Design.
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
112
points required
If you're applying via UCAS, find out more about how your qualifications fit into the UCAS tariff.
Entry requirements
112
points required
UCAS Tariff Points: 112 points required.
(Minimum 72 from two A Levels or equivalent, excluding General Studies).
If you're applying via UCAS, find out more about how your qualifications fit into the UCAS tariff.
GCSEs:
GCSE English Language at Grade C or above (Grade 4 for those sitting their GCSE from 2017 onwards) or equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.Foundation in Art and Design:
The Foundation in Art and Design with Distinction will be accepted where applicants have not achieved any A Level qualifications.Access to HE Diploma:
Pass overall with a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points.Scottish Awards:
Minimum of 5 subjects at Grade B at Higher Level.Irish Leaving Certificate:
Minimum of 5 subjects at Grade C1 or above at Higher Level of which at least 3 must be at B2.Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
Interview Required
We conduct interviews as part of the admissions process and suitable applicants will be invited to an interview - interview dates will be published in due course. Invitations are sent via UCAS and you should check your UCAS Track account for further interview details. At interview you are assessed on your portfolio (artwork or photographs of artwork together with written assignments), general knowledge and your enthusiasm for Graphic Design.
International baccalaureate
25 Points
IELTS
IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Mature Applicants:
Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. All students will be considered through the contextual admissions policy described above. If you do not meet the requirements through the contextual admissions policy, we may still be able to make you an offer if you have recent relevant work experience through our ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ policy. Please ensure that you list both your qualifications and any relevant work experience in your application so that we can consider you under both schemes where applicable..
All applicants are required to meet our standard English language and Maths requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, for example we accept some Functional Skills Tests.
If you're applying via UCAS, find out more about how your qualifications fit into the UCAS tariff.
Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
Interview Required
We conduct interviews as part of the admissions process and suitable applicants will be invited to an interview - interview dates will be published in due course. Invitations are sent via UCAS and you should check your UCAS Track account for further interview details. At interview you are assessed on your portfolio (artwork or photographs of artwork together with written assignments), general knowledge and your enthusiasm for Graphic Design.
International baccalaureate
25 Points
IELTS
IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Additional entry requirements:
Verify your qualifications
If you are an international student, we can help you to compare and verify your qualifications. Please contact our International Office on +44 (0)113 812 1111 09.00 to 17.00 Mon-Thurs / 09.00 to 16.30 Fri GMT or email internationaloffice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.Need to improve your English Language skills?
Don't worry if you don't have the level of English required for your chosen course. We offer a wide range of courses which have been designed to help you to improve your qualifications and English language ability, most of which are accredited by the British Council. Check your English and find out more about our English courses.More questions?
No matter what your questions, we are here to answer them, visit our International website to get more information and find out about our online open days.We were awarded silver status in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework, reflecting our commitment to deliver high-quality teaching, learning and outcomes for our students.
As well as learning from expert tutors, you’ll be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support. Our subject-specific librarians will also direct you to the specialist learning and study-skills resources that will underpin your studies.
Teaching & Learning
This course represents the breadth of possible practices within the field of graphic design, ranging from design for print and screen, advertising, typography, photography, moving image and animation. You are encouraged to explore this breadth in the earlier stages of the course, as a means of understanding your own creative potential. This initial exploration supports you to progress towards narrowing your area of interest and to engage with a deeper level of creative investigation.
Overall workload
410
Hours teaching and learning
790
Hours independent study
Assessment proportions
Year oneis assessed by coursework predominantly.What you'll learn
Undertake a number of short projects, which will introduce you to the course philosophy and your wider course community. You will explore some of the key principles of idea generation, problem-solving and communication in new and unexpected learning scenarios and develop strategies to initiate work.
Gain an understanding of contemporary graphic design, illustration and visual communication through its relationship to the history of art and design in general. You will begin to be able to locate your own work within wider contexts.
Investigate some of the fundamental building blocks of graphic design through a series of short projects, designed to build on your existing skills and introduce you to new ones. You will take part in a range of workshops and learning activities, which will support the integration of process skills into your project work.
Explore a broad range of practices related to graphic design, such as branding, advertising, editorial, user experience and interaction, and art direction. You will be presented with a series of creative scenarios, which will require resourcefulness and adaptability for you to work with a professional perspective.
Investigate, interpret and analyse images, combinations of image and text as well as sequential and moving image forms through a theoretical and practical application of semiotics. You will develop an appreciation of different communication models and their relevance to understanding the functions of visual communication in general.
Overall workload
430
Hours teaching and learning
770
Hours independent study
Assessment proportions
Year two is assessed by coursework predominantly.What you'll learn
Explore the rigorous craft of typography as a means to manage language, function and space, and consider how meaning and expression can be used to enhance a visual form. You will work through practical problems of managing complex amounts of information within a defined space and format, to enhance communication and the reader/viewer experience.
Integrate theory and practice through a critical study presented through written, visual and/or audio-visual formats connecting your research and critical understanding of the work made in the studio.
Extend your knowledge of technologies that relate to graphic design through the creation of multiple and varied visual outcomes. This module will develop your creative thinking skills, extend the scope of your graphic design practice, and it encourages innovative playful experimentation to extract unexpected results from technologies.
Through the exploration of selected and negotiated studio projects, this module aims to build the skills relevant to your creative direction. It aims to develop your creative voice and reflect on the location of your graphic design practice, within a professional setting.
You will introduced to key debates, both historically and in a contemporary context, within graphic design and visual communication, and you will be encouraged to apply some of these to your own emerging practice. You will develop critical thinking by researching, analysing, reflecting on, responding to and discussing some of the key debates within graphic design.
Overall workload
350
Hours teaching and learning
850
Hours independent study
Assessment proportions
Year three is assessed by coursework predominantly.What you'll learn
Create a body of work appropriate to your emerging practice. Through negotiation, you will propose, develop and refine projects allowing you to build on, acquire new skills, and explore appropriate practices within graphic design.
Develop your ideas and approaches towards graphic design by negotiating, developing and refining a coherent body of work which represents consolidation within your practice. You will build on the work you produced in semester one, and continue existing project ideas, experimenting and developing new forms for the work, or initiating and self-directing new projects that explore related ideas.
You are encouraged to engage with a range of transferable professional practices in a real-world, external context, challenging you to consider how your practice can exist beyond university.
Fees & Funding
£9,250
Home / EU 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £9250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
£13,000
International 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £13000. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Fees & Funding
£9,250
For students entering in 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £9250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Studio equipment and facilities.
- Free entry to Inside/Out lecture series.
Essential Costs
- Year 1 materials and printing (£75-150. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Year 2 materials and printing (£75-150. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Year 3 materials and printing (£150-300. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- External hard drive (£70. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Portfolio (£60. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
Optional Costs
- Sketchbooks (£50-100. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Digital camera (£100-250).
- Subscriptions / competitions (£100 per year).
- Course educational visits (£150-750).
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Additional information
For further information on financing your studies or information about whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships, follow the links below:
£13,000
For students entering in 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £13000. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Studio equipment and facilities.
- Free entry to Inside/Out lecture series.
Essential Costs
- Year 1 materials and printing (£75-150. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Year 2 materials and printing (£75-150. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Year 3 materials and printing (£150-300. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- External hard drive (£70. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Portfolio (£60. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
Optional Costs
- Sketchbooks (£50-100. Digital alternatives can be submitted).
- Digital camera (£100-250).
- Subscriptions / competitions (£100 per year).
- Course educational visits (£150-750).
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Additional information
For further information on financing your studies or information about whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships, follow the links below:
90.2%
of Graphic Design students were satisfied with their course.
Graphic Design Develop your own approach to the study and practice of graphic design
BA (Hons) Graphic Design | Student insights Student Callam talks about his time studying graphic design at Leeds School of Arts
Your future in our hands
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
Your Beckett experience
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
Explore our specialist teaching facilities and premium accommodation that you’ll be proud to call your second home.
