Graphic Design BA (Hons)
University of Portsmouth
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.2) View reviews

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Different course options
2 options available
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Location

Main Site

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

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Start date

SEP-25

Duration

4 Years

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Subjects

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Art & Design
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Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
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T Level
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Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
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England
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Course info

**This is a Connected Degree**Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after youve started your course.**Overview**On this BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree, you’ll develop your own visual identity, with a distinct typography emphasis and ...Read more


This is a Connected Degree

Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.


Overview

On this BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree, you’ll develop your own visual identity, with a distinct typography emphasis and professional connections gained from our industry-active, research-led teaching staff. With opportunities to specialise in your area of interest and win awards from prestigious graphic design bodies, you’ll build an inspiring design profile that no employer can resist.Graphic design is a cornerstone of many industries, so you'll have lots of career options after graduation. If you want to start in web design, advertising, branding, and other media, or advance to a Master's: now is your time to explore.


Course highlights

- Hone vital design techniques – including screen printing, letterpress, laser cutting and dye sublimation printing – using our specialist facilities- Get your talent recognised by entering international competitions by renowned organisations You Can Now (YCN), Design and Art Direction (D&AD), and the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA)- Elevate your professional profile by becoming a member of the esteemed International Society of Typographic Designers (iSTD)- Impress future employers by showcasing your work at our annual Graduate Show- Experience the graphic design profession by taking a one-year placement - either with a company or by setting up your own- Show your Adobe expertise to industry peers by gaining an Adobe Certified Associate qualification- Connect with companies and communities by taking part in events like SKY Creative Day- 90% Graduates in work or further study (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey conducted in 2019)


Careers and opportunities

With the skills and knowledge you gain from this course, you can work across a variety of creative industries. In 15 months after graduating, 90% of Graphic Design graduates have already started work or are pursuing further studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019), so you'll be in excellent company.Areas you could work in include magazine design publishing, branding and design, advertising, web design, and TV and film. You could also set up your own business, work as a freelancer, or go on to postgraduate study. Graduate destinationsCompanies and studios our graduates have worked at include:- Why Not Associates- Aardman Digital- The Light Surgeons- Fitch- 4IV- Rubrik- FHM Magazine - Graduate startupsSome businesses our graduates have started up include:- Territory Studio- Bright Agency- Debut Art- Strong Island- MWM Creative- Lethal Creative Studio- iLoveDustOngoing careers supportGet experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
48/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
31st
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
49th
Design Studies
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 91 = 9% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
9%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
93%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Design Studies graduate salary at this uni
£20,000
UK Design Studies graduate salary
£19,000
What students say
B
Bhuvan
25 Feb 25

The workshops and facilities are very impressive and so much helpful in the course am..Read more

A
Anamika
25 Feb 25

The labs and facilities are great and so is the course that Im..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBC - BBB Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Scottish Advanced Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

UCAS Tariff:

112 - 120 Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

25 Grades / Points required

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017):

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4 - H3,H3,H3,H3,H3 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DDM - DMM Grades / Points required

T Level:

M Grades / Points required

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

112-120 Tariff points.

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 46-50.

25 points from the IB Diploma, to include 3 Higher Level subjects

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

Popular A-level subjects

Design Studies

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

Art & Design
40%
Graphic Communication
18%
Mathematics
18%
Photography
17%
Media Studies
14%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£17,200 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£17200 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Graphic Design reviews

Graphic Design
Graphic Design
B
Bhuvan
25 Feb 25
Graphic Design MA
The workshops and facilities are very impressive and so much helpful in the course am...
Read more
A
Anamika
25 Feb 25
Graphic Design MA
The labs and facilities are great and so is the course that Im...
Read more
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How Graphic Design students rated:

Student rating
( 4.2) 27 reviews
5 star
38%
4 stars
56%
3 stars
3%
2 stars
0%
1 star
3%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.2) 2,555 reviews
5 star
40%
4 stars
47%
3 stars
12%
2 stars
1%
1 star
0%
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Uni info

University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth is located in the centre of the UK’s only island city....

Student rating
( 4.2) View reviews
CUG ranking
49th
University of Portsmouth
University House Winston Churchill Avenue Portsmouth PO1 2UP United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Portsmouth & Southsea  0.1 miles away

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