Teaching and learning in 2021/22
If government restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are required during the 2021/22 academic year, we are planning to teach through a flexible combination of online and onsite learning, in order to prioritise the safety of students and staff. For more details on changes to this course, see our planned undergraduate course changes page or postgraduate course changes page.
Course Overview
* Price per academic year
Course summary
Our well-established and broad-based course aims to encourage your creativity, individuality and personal growth through the study of graphic communication design.
Our emphasis is on the application of skills to develop ideas and present information in ways that are engaging, meaningful, useful and worthwhile.
You'll be encouraged to develop your awareness and understanding of the social contexts and environmental responsibilities of design, so that you can identify communication strategies that will enrich people's lives by enabling them to be better informed about the world in which they live.
You'll learn to engage audiences through imaginative and creative design solutions that may challenge, persuade, shock, provoke, excite and entertain, but always aim to inform. You'll also develop the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.
Graphic design is a multi-disciplinary activity that requires a wide range of intellectual, creative and technical skills. Our course places emphasis on the design, presentation and communication of ideas and information suited to the genuine needs of the end-user.
Based at our Harrow Campus – home to our arts, media and digital courses – you’ll work alongside students from film, photography, music, fashion and journalism, in a unique creative hothouse.
Our students' project work reflects their broad range of interests and understanding of design, and of the media through which they communicate. It also reflects the diversity of contemporary audiences.
Top reasons to study with us
- You'll learn to identify, redefine and resolve communication design problems through highly developed critical and reflective judgement
- Our course provides you with a sound design methodology and a range of creative, intellectual and technical skills that are sustainable and transferable within professional settings
- We encourage student self-awareness and confidence within their discipline and within the world of work
- Our course provides you with knowledge and critical understanding of the historical, theoretical, and cultural contexts of the discipline
- We enable students to identify emerging opportunities and gain a range of transferrable skills that allow them to respond to change
Course structure
Our course encourages your creativity, individuality, personal growth and understanding, employing a range of delivery and teaching strategies including project work, group work and collaboration, workshops, seminars, group tutorials, crits and think-tank sessions.
All modules are assessed through coursework. Practical modules are typically assessed through a combination of crits, submitted work and planning/research material, while assessment of theoretical modules includes written work, seminar presentations, research plans, visual essays and online study tasks.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.
The modules introduce you to a variety of historical, theoretical and conceptual issues, and to processes related to the generation, development and production of designed outcomes. Exercises and project work enable you to demonstrate your understanding of some of the basic principles of design, and encourage awareness of their relevance and importance within design and communication.
Subjects of study include:
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Design History and Culture
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Design Process
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Typography and Communication
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Visual Language and Communication
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Visual Narratives
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Visual Representation
Credit Level 4
You will carry out a greater degree of independent study, and support and develop project work with research, analysis and selection. The modules encourage your personal awareness and reflection, and offer you a degree of choice and selection of project options and media outcomes. During the Professional Practice module you can undertake studio placements, and engage with contemporary design practice.
Subjects of study include:
- Authorship and Interaction
- Live Projects
- Professional Practice
- Representation of Information
- Typography and Communication
Credit Level 5
You will have an increased degree of personal choice for the development of independent, high-quality work, demonstrating the higher level challenges of synthesis and innovation. In-depth research and design work will be characterised by your ability to analyse, synthesise and apply creatively what you have learnt during the course. The range of projects undertaken may include: animation and visual narratives; exhibition and installation design, design for screen and interaction; signage, wayfinding, and environmental graphics; and typography and design for print.
Subjects of study include:
- Contextual Studies Report
- Design Research and Development
- Information Applications
- Launch Pad
- Major Project
Credit Level 6
Programme Specification
For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the programme specification.
For general enquiries about the course, please email [email protected]
To request an accessible version of the programme specification, please email [email protected]
Careers
With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.
90% of our Graphic Communication Design BA graduates are in work and/or further study 15 months after finishing their course.
(Source: Discover Uni - site accessed in November 2020)
Our Careers and Employability Service can provide you with industry mentoring, one-to-one guidance, mock interviews, employer presentations and workshops.
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Job areas
This course will prepare you for job areas such as:
- Creative direction
- Design for interaction
- Editorial design
- Graphic design
- Information design
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:
- Apple
- BBC
- DixonBaxi
- FutureBrand
- The British Museum
- Transport for London
International Opportunities
Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.
Opportunities could include:
- Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
- Attending an international summer school or field trip
- Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad
International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.
Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.
Course Leader
Jason Pidd
Senior Lecturer
Jason leads the Graphic Communication Design BA course at the University of Westminster. His role is to provide a broad, multi-disciplinary and critically informed learning environment for students to explore and apply graphic design in a range of innovative, creative and reflective ways. He is focused on how graphic design can form understanding within many, socially engaged, contexts.
Before engaging with education, Jason worked in a range of art and design contexts, with practitioners within the arts sector on projects that had critical observation at their centre, engaged with a wide range of London graphic design studios that included BBC Worldwide. He draws to questioning and exploratory approaches to graphic design. His own practice is interdisciplinary, fusing image, typography, visual programming, moving image, sound, and physical computing. He is curious how graphic design, conceptual approach and technology can blend into new meaningful frameworks, especially when exploring multiple fields simultaneously.
Jason is a graduate of Goldsmiths College and the Royal College of Art. He holds a PGCHE in Higher Education and is a fellow of the HEA.
Studying graphic design incorporates research, analysis, experimentation and synthesis in a variety of considered ways. Skills are grown alongside personal development and engagement. It can be hard work, yet the rewards are worthwhile, fulfilling design projects that matter.
Course Team
Why study this course?
You’ll work alongside students from film, photography, music, and fashion at our Harrow Campus.
With central London only a 20-minute tube ride away, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major creative capital.
We provide our students with the right environment, support and guidance throughout their studies to keep them motivated.
Online open days
Join us at an online open day or information session and get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster.
You'll get a chance to:
- Speak to our academic staff
- Take a virtual reality tour of our student halls
- Ask us any questions you may have about student finance and accommodation
Entry Requirements
- A levels – CCC to BBB
- International Baccalaureate – 96 to 120 UCAS Tariff points from the IB
- BTEC Extended Diploma – MMM to DDM
- BTEC Diploma – DD to D*D*
- Access – 96 to 120 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
In addition to one of the above, you should have:
- GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths Pass – IB Pass
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.
You will be required to submit a portfolio with a maximum of 25 images in total that represent the following: examples of your creative process, for example photographs of your sketchbooks or examples of your visual research and explorations. The abilities to research, critically evaluate and write are important to both the theory and the practical strands of this course. Where possible, make short captions that inform us about the images that you upload, to help us fully understand the intentions behind them. Your portfolio should be presented online on a free website (such as https://www.behance.net), which can be viewed by the public.
Where possible, these would be linked to the next requirement: examples of any 'final' project outcomes that you feel best represent your current creative practice.
We will evaluate projects on their own merit, but when selecting your projects consider how they relate to the application for our course. Examples, where possible, of your explorations of varied media, ie photography, drawing, visual experimentation, 3D explorations, typography etc.
We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combinations of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.
View more information about our entry requirements and the application process
- International Baccalaureate – 96 to 120 UCAS Tariff points from the IB
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.
You will be required to submit a portfolio with a maximum of 25 images in total that represent the following: examples of your creative process, for example photographs of your sketchbooks or examples of your visual research and explorations. The abilities to research, critically evaluate and write are important to both the theory and the practical strands of this course. Where possible, make short captions that inform us about the images that you upload, to help us fully understand the intentions behind them. Your portfolio should be presented online on a free website (such as https://www.behance.net), which can be viewed by the public.
Where possible, these would be linked to the next requirement: examples of any 'final' project outcomes that you feel best represent your current creative practice.
We will evaluate projects on their own merit, but when selecting your projects consider how they relate to the application for our course. Examples, where possible, of your explorations of varied media, ie photography, drawing, visual experimentation, 3D explorations, typography etc.
More information
Pre-sessional English programmes
Need to improve your English before starting your course? We offer summer pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills.
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Student work
A selection of work created by our Graphic Communication Design BA Honours students.
Learn new skills
From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme.
Our award-winning Creative Enterprise Centre offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects.
We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.
Fees and Funding
UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme
If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2021 on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.
Funding
As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.
Find out about undergraduate student funding options.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
International tuition fee: £14,400 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme
If you are accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2021 on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction of £4,500 per year, which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.
International student funding
Find out about funding for international students.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
Teaching and assessment
Below you will find how learning time and assessment types were distributed in the past on this course, through approximate percentages taken from previous cohorts. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.
How you'll be taught
Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:
- Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
- Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
- Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
How you'll be assessed
Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.
Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:
- Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
- Written exams: end of semester exams
- Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
Data from the academic year 2019/20
Supporting you
Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
- Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
- Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
- Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
- Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more
Course location
Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the creative enterprise hub.
Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.
For more details, visit our Harrow Campus page.
More information
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