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BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Integrated Foundation Year

The Graphic Design team combine teaching with professional practice in a variety of fields including: graphic design, branding, illustration, exhibition and experience design.

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A letter press print showing different letters of the alphabet, surrounded by letter press equipment
UCAS codeW240
Duration4 years
Fee (UK)£9,790
LocationOn campus

Course summary

Our passionate and highly experienced staff understand how to nurture talent and are dedicated to building your confidence, knowledge, and design skills, to help you to succeed within the creative industries. We have fantastic facilities, award-winning students and alumni, and a focus on employability and cutting-edge professional skills.

The Graphic Design team combine teaching with professional practice in a variety of fields including: graphic design, branding, illustration, exhibition, experience design, editorial, print, web and mobile interface, packaging, 3D (digital/physical/Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR)), animation, and motion graphics. Each bring their industry insights and experience directly into teaching and, when coupled with influential guest speakers, enriches your student experience and ensures that the course meets the needs of an exciting and dynamic industry.

Throughout the course we'll support you to launch your design career. You'll develop a creative and industry-ready portfolio, access work placements, attend employability days and put your designs on show to the public.

Why Sunderland for Art and Design

Integrated Foundation Year

This course is available with an Integrated Foundation Year, an extra year of your degree. This route offers a supportive way of transitioning into university study. It may be suitable for you if you:

  • Have valuable work or life experience but no formal qualifications
  • Are returning to education after a break
  • Want to change direction or explore a new career path
  • Have just missed the entry requirements for the three-year course.

We’re enhancing our Integrated Foundation Year to give you an even stronger start to your degree. The updated modules will align more with your chosen subject area. This will help you build the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need for your studies. We'll share full details soon and can't wait to tell you more.

Please note, this route isn’t available to international students.

Alix Maguire

I now work at Newcastle United FC and Newcastle United Foundation as Junior Designer, on a variety of projects. My degree helped prepare me for the workplace by feeling empowered to be as creative as possible.

Alix Maguire

Read Alix Maguire's story

What you'll study

*Placements are subject to availability and placement providers may require an interview as part of the process. If successful, you'll remain an active student and will have access to a wide range of support from Graduate Prospects.

Many of our courses include a range of modules you can choose from. Some options may only be available if you’ve already studied specific modules. If you’re not sure what you need before picking a module, your course leader can help.

Undergraduate module credits should total 120 credits per academic year. If optional modules are available, choose an amount that totals 120 credits.

How you'll learn

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work, and e-learning, with support and a structure that helps you develop independent study skills. You'll take advantage of the University's specialist learning communities, knowledge structures, facilities, computer suites, and enhanced techniques to develop a command of core and advanced creative skillsets.

In your first year, you'll focus on skills and knowledge acquisition and development, applied across a comprehensive range of techniques, both studio and software-based. Moving into year two, you'll focus on idea and conceptual development, while honing technical skills for a broad range of print and screen-based outcomes.

You'll have the opportunity to apply to undertake an optional placement year out in industry between your second and final year, this is sometimes known as a sandwich degree.

In your final year, professional practice is underpinned by further theoretical, conceptual and technical development that culminates in a major project that defines your practice, interests, skills, and knowledge.

Entry requirements

Fees and finance support

UK£9,790

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. If you're a Home fee-paying student, the fee for your first year of study for 2026/27 will be £9,790. You'll pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

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See all course tuition fees.

Full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled students may be eligible for financial support. This would cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Apply now

UK students

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have clear and accurate information about our courses. Our website always shows the latest updates. If you’ve applied and you're offered a place, we’ll contact you in writing if anything important changes.

For more information, view our programme specifications. These include course content, learning outcomes, and the skills you'll gain.