Art and Design

Join our community of artists, designers, creators and makers. Explore, express and experiment with the issues you feel passionate about through your work. Apply your ideas to the real-world and become a creative professional.

A person facing the camera surrounded by hands holding various foods

Welcome to the School of Art and Design

Be part of a dynamic, creative community, pushing the boundaries of artistic imagination and innovation.

Choose from a range of Art and Design degree courses. We offer BAs in Fine Art, Glass and Ceramics, Photography, Animation, Fashion, Graphic Design and Illustration. At postgraduate level, you can study MA Visual Practice, MA Design, or join our large cohort of PhD students.

Learn from knowledgeable and skilled academics and technical staff, who will support you from day one. Engage with industry leaders through guest lectures, exhibitions, and conferences.

Photography by Benta Maina, BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging

A close up of a portrait painting of a person with blue hair and makeup

Take advantage of our creative spaces, from generous-sized studios to well-equipped workshops. Work with industry-standard equipment and learn both traditional and digital skills.  Develop your own personal style, culminating in a showcase of your work in our degree shows.

Work on real-life creative projects through the Sunderland Creatives Agency, or apply for funded internships to gain key employability experience. Build an impressive portfolio of work that will show employers your artistic and practical skills, and start your journey as a creative professional.

Painting by Cristina Madalina Bratu, BA (Hons) Fine Art

Why us?

We’re proud to be shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2024

5th

Our Film Production and Photography courses are 5th in the UK

Guardian University Guide 2024
100%

BA (Hons) Artist Designer Maker: Glass and Ceramics has 100% Overall Satisfaction

according to the National Student Survey 2022
12th

Our Fine Art courses are 12th in the UK

Guardian University Guide 2024
20th

Our Art & Design courses were ranked 20th in the UK

The Times Good University Guide 2022

Our Art and Design courses

Take a look below to find the right course for you.

Undergraduate courses

A close up of a Glass and Ceramics student doing some lampwork
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Artist Designer Maker: Glass and Ceramics

Explore your creativity and master traditional and digital making skills, using a range of materials, including glass and ceramics. Utilise outstanding facilities, participate in competitions, public exhibitions and live commissions. Become an artist, designer, maker and work in diverse art, design and making contexts.

Find out more about Artist Designer Maker: Glass and Ceramics
A student working in their studio surrounded by their paintings and other artwork
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Fine Art

Fine Art will give you the skills and knowledge to join the ever-growing creative industries. You’ll have the freedom to explore your creative interests across a broad range of Fine Art practice, including painting, printmaking, digital photography, film, sound, drawing, sculpture and performance. Work towards live outcomes, building your confidence as an artist to promote yourself and your art, understanding the impact you can have as an artist in society.  

Find out more about Fine Art
Two students putting a photography exhibition together, pinning work onto a green wall
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging

BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging provides you with the wide-ranging skills needed for success in today’s photographic industries and beyond. Learn how to make high quality digital and traditional images in our state-of-the-art facilities. Tell compelling stories about the things that matter to you with guidance from our expert team of practising photographers. Develop your own distinct visual language and acquire the skills and contacts to get your work out into the world.

Find out more about Photography, Video and Digital Imaging
An animation student working on a design on a Wacom Cintiq screen
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art

Animation and Games Art allows you to explore and develop both traditional and new techniques, learning key digital skills in 2D and 3D, as well as the core principles of character-led animation. You'll have the opportunity to work on industry-led briefs and entries for festivals and competitions, and the creative freedom and flexibility to develop your specific areas of interest, gaining transferable skills crucial for employability in the animation, games and VFX industries.

Find out more about Animation and Games Art
A student pinning an outfit onto a mannequin.
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Promotion

Fashion Design and Promotion is a course that gives you skills and crucial understanding in both fashion design and fashion promotion and marketing. Develop concepts; explore materials; design full fashion collections; develop an understanding of the manufacturing processes and gain the skills you’ll need to construct garments. Consider fashion markets; analyse future trends; develop brands; gain an understanding of visual merchandising; create promotional materials; and plan and manage events.

Find out more about Fashion Design and Promotion
A bird's eye view of some typography stamps laid out on green fabric
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Join our Graphic Design course and gain access to fantastic facilities and teaching that focuses on employability and cutting-edge professional skills. We combine teaching with professional practice in fields including graphic design, branding, illustration, exhibition and experience design, editorial, print, web and mobile interface, packaging, 3D (digital/physical/Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR)), animation and motion graphics.

Find out more about Graphic Design
A student sketching
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Illustration and Design

Illustration and Design will cultivate your talent, creative ideas and passion about drawing. We blend traditional techniques with computer technology, such as virtual reality and 3D design, and encourage you to push the boundaries of illustration. You’ll develop your own style, pursuing a specialist study of illustration during your second and final year, before entering the inspiring world of professional illustration.

Find out more about Illustration and Design
A student painting in the Fine Art studio
Full-time

BA (Hons) Fine Art with Integrated Foundation Year

Study a wide range of modules to suit your interests, including Fine Art Media Skills, History of Art and Fine Art Contemporary Practice which will culminate with an exhibition in your final year giving you the opportunity to showcase your work to a public audience.

Find out more about BA (Hons) Fine Art with Integrated Foundation Year
Camera equipment
Full-time

BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging with Integrated Foundation Year

Work alongside like-minded students within a creative and supportive environment, and gain work experience through projects and commissions managed by our Photography department.

Find out more about BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging with Integrated Foundation Year
A student wearing headphones and working in a sketchbook
Full-time

BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art with Integrated Foundation Year

Do you want to make animation and games industries? Use digital software such as Maya, Toon Boom and After Effects as part of this degree. Learn the core principles of character-led animation. Showcase your creativity to a public audience in the final year Degree Show.

Find out more about BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art with Integrated Foundation Year
A fashion student sketching a product on a screen
Full-time

BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Promotion with Integrated Foundation Year

Work on live projects set by fashion industry professionals. Focus on a wide range of options to suit your interests such as design and manufacture, photography, styling, branding and magazine design. Undertake industry-relevant modules such as Fashion Product and Promotion and Design Theory. Create a personalised fashion portfolio. Graduate work-ready and pursue a career in a range of industries including, design, brand development, fashion publishing, production, Public Relations and fashion retail.

Find out more about BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Promotion with Integrated Foundation Year
A student showing another student something on a computer screen
Full-time

BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Integrated Foundation Year

This is a four-year version of our popular BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, with an integrated foundation year. Study a wide range of modules with flexible options to suit your interests, such as Visual Communication, Motion Graphics and Branding, Position and Identity. Acquire valuable skills relevant to a career in Design, and work alongside like-minded students within a creative and supportive environment. Graduate with a portfolio of work to showcase your creativity and impress prospective employers.

Find out more about BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Integrated Foundation Year
A student sketching
Full-time

BA (Hons) Illustration and Design with Integrated Foundation Year

Are you passionate about drawing and full of creative ideas? If so, our Illustration and Design degree is for you. Benefit from generous studio space and well-equipped workshops. Flourish in a creative environment, working alongside like-minded students and showcase your work to a public audience in your final year Degree Show.

Find out more about BA (Hons) Illustration and Design with Integrated Foundation Year
Scissors and measuring tape
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Fashion Product and Promotion via Study Centres

Work on live projects set by fashion industry professionals. Focus on a wide range of options to suit your interests such as design and manufacture, photography, styling, branding and magazine design. Undertake industry-relevant modules such as Fashion Product and Promotion and Design Theory. Create a personalised fashion portfolio. Graduate work-ready and pursue a career in a range of industries including, design, brand development, fashion publishing, production, Public Relations and fashion retail.

Find out more about Fashion Product and Promotion via Study Centres
BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Top-Up) via Study Centres
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Top-Up) via Study Centres

Benefit from Sunderland’s expert teaching without leaving your home region. You’ll study a wide range of modules with flexible options to suit your interests, including Visual Communication, Motion Graphics and Branding. Acquire valuable skills relevant to a career in Design, while working toward a BA (Hons) degree.

Find out more about Graphic Design (Top-Up) via Study Centres
BA (Hons) Advertising and Design
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Advertising and Design via Study Centres

Benefit from Sunderland's teaching of Advertising and Design on a course based in Malaysia and Greece. Develop your own style and engage your personal creativity. It has core practice-based modules that include developing advertising campaigns, computer skills, creative portfolios, branding and identity.

Find out more about Advertising and Design via Study Centres
animation
Full-time

BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art via Study Centres

Do you want to make animation and games industries? Use digital software such as Maya, Toon Boom and After Effects as part of this degree. Learn the core principles of character-led animation. Showcase your creativity to a public audience in the final year Degree Show.

Find out more about Animation and Games Art via Study Centres
Students sitting in a lecture theatre
Full-time/Part-time

Customised Awards Scheme

Pick and choose the modules you want to study to build a tailor-made course. Available at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, this course allows you to gain a qualification that closely matches your particular needs.

Find out more about Customised Awards Scheme

Postgraduate courses

Glass and Ceramics student work on display during the MA Degree Show
Full-time/Part-time

MA Visual Practice

MA Visual Practice will enable you to develop your personal visual practice and follow your own interests and aspirations. Follow a chosen visual practice discipline, from Contemporary Fine Art, Photography, Glass, or Ceramics. Re-evaluate, experiment and test new ideas, while collaborating with peers to extend your contemporary practice. Grow your practice in a creatively stimulating environment and establish yourself as a creative professional.

Find out more about Visual Practice
MA Design student work on display during the MA Degree Show
Full-time/Part-time

MA Design

MA Design is built around your personal design interests and aspirations, allowing you to push the boundaries of creativity. You’ll choose a pathway to study, such as advertising, animation, design thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship, fashion design and promotion, graphic communication, graphic design, illustration, interactive media, motion graphics and typographic design. You’ll graduate with an impressive portfolio of creative designs that will appeal to prospective employers.

Find out more about Design
MA Design student work on display during the MA Degree Show
Part-time

MDes Design

Designers work to enhance and enrich a wide variety of projects, enhancing the appeal and function of objects, processes, and systems. Release your inner creative and help businesses engage their users with our 100% online MDes Design.

Find out more about MDes Design
An animation student working on a design on a Wacom Cintiq screen
Part-time

MDes Design with Animation

Animators use the power of motion to inspire audiences and breathe life into a wide variety of design projects. Help businesses take their creative outputs to the next level and realise your imaginative ambitions with our 100% online MDes Design with Animation.

Find out more about MDes Design with Animation
A student showing another student something on a computer screen
Part-time

MDes Design with Graphic Design

Graphic designers combine colour, shape, and form to convey meaning and create designs that motivate, inspire, and engage. Use your imagination and creativity to help employers develop and deliver their brands to a wide range of audiences with our 100% online MDes Design with Graphic Design.

Find out more about MDes Design with Graphic Design
Student cutting fabric
Part-time

MDes Design with Fashion Design

Careers in fashion combine art, aesthetics, and versatility to support the creative world around what we wear. Put your business nous and artistic flair to good use in this exciting and enduring industry with our 100% online MDes Design with Fashion Design.

Find out more about MDes Design with Fashion Design
MA Design - PT
Full-time

MA Design via Study Centres

Gain a UK degree without leaving your country. Pursue your passion for a particular area of design, at an advanced level and with professional support. Push the boundaries of creativity, within a framework of academic rigour and contextual research.

Find out more about Design via Study Centres
philosophy
Full-time/Part-time

MPhil Master of Philosophy

Take your education to the next level. Choose the areas you want to study, and which questions you want to research. Take the initiative while we support you with advice, guidance and facilities.

Find out more about MPhil Master of Philosophy
Medicine
Full-time/Part-time

PhD Doctor of Philosophy

Refine your own agenda and do what you find interesting every day. Develop mastery of research methods that are appropriate to your chosen field. Discover things that no-one else has ever discovered.

Find out more about PhD Doctor of Philosophy
A book
Part-time

DProf Professional Doctorate

Study for a doctoral qualification based on your professional role. Reflect on contemporary issues in the workplace.

Find out more about DProf Professional Doctorate
A book
Part-time

PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work

Take the fastest route to a PhD. Convert your previous research outputs into a qualification which will increase your employability and open up new opportunities. Progress your academic career and add credibility in applications for research funding.

Find out more about PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work
A stack of books
Part-time

Higher Doctorate

Take your academic career to the highest level. Make a very significant and sustained contribution to your subject. Gain an elite qualification that will mark you out as an outstanding contributor to your field.

Find out more about Higher Doctorate

Research courses

Partner Centres

Scissors and measuring tape
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Fashion Product and Promotion via Study Centres

Work on live projects set by fashion industry professionals. Focus on a wide range of options to suit your interests such as design and manufacture, photography, styling, branding and magazine design. Undertake industry-relevant modules such as Fashion Product and Promotion and Design Theory. Create a personalised fashion portfolio. Graduate work-ready and pursue a career in a range of industries including, design, brand development, fashion publishing, production, Public Relations and fashion retail.

Find out more about Fashion Product and Promotion via Study Centres
BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Top-Up) via Study Centres
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Top-Up) via Study Centres

Benefit from Sunderland’s expert teaching without leaving your home region. You’ll study a wide range of modules with flexible options to suit your interests, including Visual Communication, Motion Graphics and Branding. Acquire valuable skills relevant to a career in Design, while working toward a BA (Hons) degree.

Find out more about Graphic Design (Top-Up) via Study Centres
BA (Hons) Advertising and Design
Full-time/Part-time

BA (Hons) Advertising and Design via Study Centres

Benefit from Sunderland's teaching of Advertising and Design on a course based in Malaysia and Greece. Develop your own style and engage your personal creativity. It has core practice-based modules that include developing advertising campaigns, computer skills, creative portfolios, branding and identity.

Find out more about Advertising and Design via Study Centres
animation
Full-time

BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art via Study Centres

Do you want to make animation and games industries? Use digital software such as Maya, Toon Boom and After Effects as part of this degree. Learn the core principles of character-led animation. Showcase your creativity to a public audience in the final year Degree Show.

Find out more about Animation and Games Art via Study Centres
MA Design - PT
Full-time

MA Design via Study Centres

Gain a UK degree without leaving your country. Pursue your passion for a particular area of design, at an advanced level and with professional support. Push the boundaries of creativity, within a framework of academic rigour and contextual research.

Find out more about Design via Study Centres

Online

MA Design student work on display during the MA Degree Show
Part-time

MDes Design

Designers work to enhance and enrich a wide variety of projects, enhancing the appeal and function of objects, processes, and systems. Release your inner creative and help businesses engage their users with our 100% online MDes Design.

Find out more about
An animation student working on a design on a Wacom Cintiq screen
Part-time

MDes Design with Animation

Animators use the power of motion to inspire audiences and breathe life into a wide variety of design projects. Help businesses take their creative outputs to the next level and realise your imaginative ambitions with our 100% online MDes Design with Animation.

Find out more about
A student showing another student something on a computer screen
Part-time

MDes Design with Graphic Design

Graphic designers combine colour, shape, and form to convey meaning and create designs that motivate, inspire, and engage. Use your imagination and creativity to help employers develop and deliver their brands to a wide range of audiences with our 100% online MDes Design with Graphic Design.

Find out more about
Student cutting fabric
Part-time

MDes Design with Fashion Design

Careers in fashion combine art, aesthetics, and versatility to support the creative world around what we wear. Put your business nous and artistic flair to good use in this exciting and enduring industry with our 100% online MDes Design with Fashion Design.

Find out more about