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Graphic Design

BA (Hons)

Summary

Study level

Undergraduate

Award

Degree

Part time

3 years+

Location

Online

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Faculty of Business and Innovation

What makes Arden University special?

Education for everyone, everywhere

Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.

You decide how and where to study

We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.

Full support both online and on-site

We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.

Strong focus on employability

You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

In today's competitive landscape, graphic design proficiency is vital across diverse industries. Our digital-first BA (Hons) Graphic Design positions you as an industry-ready professional with a deep understanding of design principles, industry trends, and client expectations, increasing your chances of securing rewarding positions and advancing your career.

Free Adobe Creative Cloud licence for the duration of your studies

As part of your studies, you’ll receive full access to Adobe Creative Cloud at no additional cost. We'll guide you through integrating your newfound knowledge into your designs using Adobe tools, empowering you to master this essential tool to a professional standard.

What you’ll learn

This BA Graphic Design course will equip you with the professional, creative, and practical skills needed to excel as a graphic designer in the creative industries. Through carefully curated modules tailored to industry demands, you’ll learn why certain compositions work better than others and how to convey specific messages through design. This will enable you to produce high-standard designs and articulate how they fulfil the requirements of a given brief.

By the end of the course, you'll be ready to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape, presenting yourself as a well-rounded graphic designer with the knowledge and skills to succeed.

Preparing you for professional success

We prioritise your employability, ensuring you acquire valuable experience for your future career. You'll tackle authentic industry briefs, guided step-by-step from concept to completion. This process empowers you to transform creative ideas into industry-standard original designs, equipping you with the skills you need to effectively handle client briefs in a professional setting.

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Career development resources

You'll have online access to a huge range of career development tools from the day you start studying.

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Course details and modules

Your course modules emphasise employability and equip you with the practical design skills to succeed once you graduate. That’s why professional portfolio development is a critical aspect of our programme, and we offer a dedicated module in your final year to help you best present your work.

Just some of the fascinating modules you’ll study on this course include:

Creative Digital Skills

Get familiar with Adobe Creative Cloud, the industry-standard software suite used across the creative sector. This module provides a solid grounding in Adobe CC tools for creative practice. You’ll become proficient in the interface and learn how to transform creative ideas into professional graphic designs.

Reading Images 1

Learn how visual communication works and gain the ability to understand and convey the context and significance of your designs. Completing this module will elevate you from a competent designer to a smart one, capable of creating visually compelling and meaningful work.

The Major Project & Creative Showcase

Tackle a self-initiated design brief, choosing your own subject matter and media to create work that reflects your unique interests and style. You’ll present this work professionally to a public audience, preparing you for real-world exposure and critique.

I really feel like Arden University has already helped me with my career, not just because of the design/marketing knowledge I gained here but because studying here gave me a lot of confidence. I used some of my freshly gained knowledge in a recent interview in a marketing and promotions role, and it felt really good to be able to get ‘real life’ achievements due to my studies this early on.

Dorottya Kitchingman

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Modules

You have 3-9 years to complete this course, meaning that you can take up to three years to complete each level; however, many of our students complete the course in 3-6 years.

Level 4

Typography and Image Creation (20 credits)
Design Vocabulary (20 credits)
Design and Layout (20 credits)
Illustration and Animation (20 credits)
Design History and Critical Thinking (20 credits)
Digital Creative Skills (20 credits)

Level 5

Studio Practice 1 (20 credits)
Reading Images 1 (20 credits)
Employability, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in the Creative Sector (20 credits)
Studio Practice 2 (Packaging design) (20 credits)
Reading Images 2 (20 credits)
Visualising Concepts (20 credits)

Level 6

Self-Promotion & Packaging (20 credits)
Industry / Competition Briefs (20 credits)
Research for the Creative Industry (20 credits)
Creative Showcase (20 credits)
Self-Initiated Major Project (double module) (40 credits)

More than just a degree. Your career is our focus.

No exams: Instead of traditional exams, our assessments mirror real-world tasks you'll encounter in your career. This approach ensures you graduate fully prepared for the workplace, with a focus on building a comprehensive portfolio.

Tailored technical skill sessions: Our lecturers have curated a library of technical skill videos and offer personalised one-on-one assistance, empowering you to employ various design techniques. These skills enrich your professional toolkit, enabling you to create remarkable designs.

Specialisation opportunities: We advocate for specialisation and personal growth through independent projects. Working closely with you, we explore your response to briefs, helping you discover your unique creative voice. This allows you to specialise in an area of graphic design most aligned with your passions.

Design thinking: We prioritise the development of critical analysis skills, essential for understanding the purpose and effectiveness of imagery in graphic design. Our dedicated modules in this area cultivate a deep understanding of design principles, setting you apart in the field.

Professional portfolio development: In your final year, we offer a free web space for you to showcase the work you have created throughout your studies. Every aspect of your degree contributes to your industry relevance, and we provide guidance on presenting yourself as a “full package graphic designer”.

Learn by doing

This course is built around practical application. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the tools, platforms, and emerging technologies shaping today’s creative industries.

Illustration & Image-Making:

You’ll master Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create compelling illustrations, manipulate images, and develop branding assets, producing polished visuals for creative projects and campaigns.

Layout & Presentation:

You’ll design editorial spreads and print-ready layouts using Adobe InDesign, and craft professional presentations in PowerPoint to confidently present concepts and showcase your portfolio.

Motion & Video:

You’ll produce dynamic motion graphics and video content using Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Animate, and Fresco, while exploring alternative workflows with tools such as DaVinci Resolve and Dragonframe to create engaging content across digital platforms.

UX/UI Design:

You’ll wireframe and prototype user interfaces with Figma, and gain hands-on experience with Adobe XD, developing intuitive and visually engaging digital experiences for apps and websites.

3D & Prototyping:

You’ll develop realistic mock-ups and product visualisations using Adobe Dimension, applying these skills to packaging and spatial design within studio projects.

Flexible Workflows:

You’ll experiment with tools such as Canva and Procreate to support personal practice and creative exploration, helping you adapt to diverse briefs and working styles.

AI in Design:

You’ll explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative workflows, using AI-powered features within industry-standard software to enhance productivity and creativity. You’ll also examine the ethical implications of AI in design and learn how to integrate emerging technologies responsibly.

Study options

This course is available to students as a fully online programme, which gives you the convenience of being able to study from anywhere worldwide.

I am only halfway through my second module of year one at Arden, but I’m loving every part of it. I was worried at first about how I could manage it alongside my job, and also about how we would manage to build a sense of community among the students, but this is working well so far. So far the course has opened my creative mind to some forgotten aspects of design as well as introducing new possibilities. I’m really enjoying the whole experience.

Stephen Killick

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Online learning

How does it work?

Studying this course online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.

Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. ilearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge, and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree with us.

ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have you Kindle handy.

Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with likeminded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning.

Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Tuition Fee loan to pay for their course. If you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability, you may also be entitled to a Maintenance Loan to cover living expenses. Please find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information about obtaining a student loan to cover your costs from your student finance body.

Learn more about online learning

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What you need to study with us

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.

Eligibility

Standard entry requirements

Two subjects at GCE A level or equivalent, plus passes at grade C or above in three subjects at GCSE level or equivalent.
Completion of a recognised Access Programme or equivalent.

Non-standard entry requirements

Two years relevant work experience – this should be in the field of graphic design, broader design work, advertising or a related creative field in which working with visual media has been a significant part of the role.
Applicants who do not hold qualifications or do not have the relevant work experience will need to demonstrate two years of general work experience and provide a portfolio of five pieces of work that demonstrates an aptitude in graphic design.

English Proficiency

IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 80; or equivalent

We are happy to consider an application from you if you can show us you have the motivation to study this graphic design degree.

We’ll ask you for a personal statement that demonstrates your ability to study the course. We may also want references and evidence of relevant experiences.

Course fees and funding

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Meet the faculty

Katy Fowler joined Arden University as Head of Department in January 2025, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in Higher Education leading degree programmes in Drawing, Games Design & Fine Art.

Katy has expertise in Fine Art as a practising artist, she is also the founder of WAM! (Working-class Artist Mothers), a nationally recognised network supporting underrepresented artists. WAM! is currently developing an online residency programme, and exploring participatory research practices around equitable payment models, raising awareness of the systemic barriers faced by working-class artist mothers, and advocating for policies that support their artistic and caregiving responsibilities.

A committed advocate for widening participation, Katy has played a key role in developing evidence-based strategies to enhance access, retention, and success for underrepresented students. Her broader contributions to the Intersectional Students Working Group and the Student Success and Quality Committee demonstrate her dedication to fostering inclusive learning environments and promoting creative excellence.

Katy Fowler

Head of Department Design and Creativity

Career prospects

This course provides unique opportunities to cultivate personal creative interests and talents, empowering you to specialise in your chosen area of expertise. Beyond Adobe skills, we foster professional graphic design thinking, enabling you to integrate your knowledge into your designs. With step-by-step guidance on handling briefs, you will gain valuable skills in turning concepts into marketable products, a crucial career asset in the competitive graphic design industry.

To provide you with insight into the typical salaries within the Graphic Design industry in the UK, here are some average figures*:

Content Designer: £87,939
User Experience Designer: £56,170
Designer: £39,493
Creative Designer: £37,035
Packaging Designer: £36,718

*Sourced from Reed Salary Tracker, 5th May 2024

Related courses

What can a graphic design degree do for me?

This programme equips you with essential employability skills for the creative industries. By working on real-world briefs and independent projects, you will build a unique portfolio vital for job applications. While studying, you will:

Learn to use Adobe software professionally, enhancing your digital design capabilities.
Work on real-life briefs, providing hands-on experience from project conception to completion.
Understand the creative industry landscape and navigate the ethical limitations relevant to your work.
Choose and complete a project that aligns with your future ambitions and desired specialisation.
Explore graphic design career paths, writing business plans, and marketing yourself effectively.
Curate your portfolio, design business cards, and build a website to establish your presence in the creative industry.

What can I do after Arden University?

The critical analysis of imagery is crucial in today’s graphic design field, particularly given the rise of AI-generated images. The understanding of design intent you’ll gain throughout this course will set you apart for a wide range of exciting opportunities. Here are a few career options you might consider:

Graphic Designer (public/private sector, design studio, etc).
Art Direction
Publishing (book or magazine design)
Branding
Advertising
UX Design
Packaging Design
Exhibition Design
Digital Asset Production (games, CGI, etc.)

Industry skills

Adobe Creative Cloud

As an Arden student, you’ll receive full access to Adobe Creative Cloud at no cost for the duration of your studies. These industry-standard tools are embedded into teaching, studio practice, and assessment, ensuring you graduate with practical, professional-level software experience.