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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

BA Graphic Design work in the summer show that includes typography, illustration, maps, sketches, notes, photography and posters.
BA Graphic Design work in the summer show.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
College
Camberwell College of Arts UCAS code
W210 Start date
September 2023 Course length
3 years

BA Graphic Design at Camberwell College of Arts gives you a range of skills and knowledge to produce effective design for both social engagement and the future of the design industry.

Apply to start in September 2023 

This course has places available. Read our Guide to applying for a course starting this September through UCAS Extra. For a full list of UAL courses open for 2023/24 entry, visit the Courses with places available page.

Course overview

We are a community of designers, educators and students who are interested in exploring what it means to be a contemporary graphic designer. We believe that graphic design has a role in the broader fields and landscape of contemporary life, both locally and globally. Our aim is to empower you to be a proactive practitioner with the ability to make change.

What to expect

  • Projects ranging from the commercial to the more experimental.
  • To engage with the principles of social, political, and design industry debates.
  • To develop a deep understanding of core graphic design skills through workshops in typography, type design, layout and photography.
  • To develop a personal practice which works with content and audiences which are important to you.
  • To put social engagement at the heart of your work and face socially responsible creative challenges.
  • To work on producing, promoting and delivering public events as a way of showing work at the end of projects.
  • A series of key ideas lectures. These will introduce important questions and theories that underpin contemporary art and design.
  • Course tutors from a range of different disciplines, including artists, designers and filmmakers.
  • To work with design and advertising agencies with established links to Camberwell.
  • To have access to Camberwell's shared workshops that include printmaking, photography, film, moving image, digital, plastic, ceramics, wood and metalwork. View the Camberwell facilities.

Mode of study

BA Graphic Design is offered in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage consists of 30 teaching weeks. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

Year 1

Unit 1 - Introduction to Graphic Design

Unit 1 is an introduction to your course, the college, the university and London. Students come from many diverse educational backgrounds and a part of this unit will enable to reflect on your own background and how that shapes the way you approach your course.

Unit 2 - Provocations

Unit 2 will introduce you to core skills and essential knowledge associated with the discipline of graphic design. Workshops and software inductions, you will explore the analogue and digital construction of graphic design, informed by historical and contemporary research.

Unit 3 - The language of images

Unit 3 will introduce you to a range of conceptual and practical approaches to image-making in relation to the discipline of graphic design. Technical workshops and software inductions will support you to experiment with both analogue and digital methods of production. 

Unit 4 - Publish

Unit 4 encourages you to expand your knowledge of the specialist methods and media associated with graphic design practice. Working both collaboratively and independently, you will experiment with a range of key processes and techniques that will inform the production of final outcomes.

Year 2

Unit 5 - Design systems 1 

Through a series of exercises you will explore a variety of methods of design thinking, making and writing. Like going to the graphic design gym, you will work out your design muscles through a series of exercises in order to become a stronger more confident designer.

Unit 6 - Collaborative and collective practices

Unit 6 is a collaborative unit which aims to introduce you to different ways in which collaborative practice can focus and enhance your own creative strengths through working towards shared a goal.

Unit 7 - Design systems 2

This unit continues the systematic approach to making work, and it will ask you to respond more directly to content through design thinking, making, reflecting and writing.

Unit 8 - Agency and representation

This unit challenges you to identify who you are as a graphic designer. Informed and supported by seminars and workshops you will critically analyse the role of the practitioner and your position as an innovative and adaptable designer

Year 3

Unit 9 - Communities of enquiry

In this unit you will work on a self-directed research project. You will produce visual and written work. The balance between these will be decided between you and your tutors.

Unit 10 - Staging

Based in your research from unit 9 you will develop a body of work to visually communicate your findings and opinions to an appropriate audience. You will edit and photograph your portfolio of work before designing a public platform for presenting it to the world.

Optional Diploma between year 2 and 3  

Between year 2 and 3 you can opt to undertake the Diploma in Professional Studies or the UAL Diploma in Creative Computing. Whilst these Diplomas are an optional aspect of the course, they are designed as an integrated and assessed part of your journey through the course. 

Learning and teaching methods

  • Blended learning
  • Collaborations
  • Critiques
  • Excursions
  • Independent learning
  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Student work

  • Camberwell-BA-Graphic-Design-Frank-Sharman.jpg
    Frank Sharman
    BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Camberwell-BA-Graphic-Design-Tom-Guildmard.jpg
    Tom Guildmard - BA Graphic Design
    , Camberwell College of Arts, UAL | Photograph: Tom Guildmard.
  • Camberwell-BA-Graphic-Design-Alice-Rigby.jpg
    Alice Rigby - BA Graphic Design
    , Camberwell College of Arts, UAL | Photograph: Alice Rigby.
  • Camberwell-BA-Graphic-Design-Racheal-Treliving.JPG
    Racheal Treliving - BA Graphic Design
    , Camberwell College of Arts, UAL | Photograph: Racheal Treliving.
  • Camberwell-BA-Graphic-Design-Tanguy-Bertocchi-1000.jpg
    Tanguy Bertocchi - BA Graphic Design
    , Camberwell College of Arts, UAL | Photograph: Tanguy Bertocchi.
  • Camberwell-BA-Graphic-Design-Adam-Donnelly.jpg
    Adam Donnelly - BA Graphic Design
    , Camberwell College of Arts, UAL | Photograph: Adam Donnelly.

Film

Graduate Showcase: Ella Wanendeya

Staff

Technical staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£25,970 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

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Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are one or a combination of the following qualifications:

  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • 2 A Levels at grade C or above
  • Merit, Pass, Pass (MPP) at BTEC Extended Diploma
  • Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma
  • Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 24 points minimum
  • And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C)

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • An ability to explore, articulate and develop ideas
  • An ability to research information and visual material to support your ideas
  • Your portfolio to demonstrate a range of appropriate skills and technical abilities
  • An ability to communicate your ideas visually, verbally and in writing
  • An ability to self-direct and evaluate your own work

Apply now

Home International

Places available 2023/24 

This course has places available for 2023/24 entry. Applications for 2024/25 entry will open in Autumn 2023.

Apply

You must apply through UCAS, where you’ll need the following information:

  • University code - U65
  • UCAS course code - W210

    • Application deadline

    We recommend you apply by 25 January 2023 at 18:00 (GMT) for equal consideration.

    However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.

    What happens next

    Communicating with you

    After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

    Initial application check and selection

    We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you will be invited to submit a digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system. These will be reviewed by the academic team.

    We aim for all on time application reviews to take place by end of February 2023.

    Following the review of the digital portfolio, a small number of applicants will progress to the interview stage. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes. For support with your interview, visit our Interview tips page.

    For the on time selected applicants, we aim for the interviews to take place during February-March 2023.

    Portfolio advice

    • A maximum of 30 pages showing project work that is clearly presented indicating project briefs.
    • Research, references and processes leading to the project outcomes.

    For more support, please visit our Portfolio advice page and PebblePad advice page.

    How we notify you of the outcome of your application

    You will receive the final outcome of your application through UCAS.

    Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

    Feedback requests:

    If you would like to request feedback please contact us through the UAL Portal using the Contact us button in your My Application(s) tab.

    Deferring your place

    This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner.

    Read our Admissions Policy for details, and request your deferral by contacting us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

    Transfers

    If you are currently studying somewhere else on a course in an equivalent subject area and would like to transfer to this course, you can transfer to:

  • Year 2, if you’ve completed 120 credits in Year 1
  • Year 3, if you’ve completely 240 credits in Years 1 and 2



    • Apply via UCAS and choose Year 2 or 3 for your POE (Point of Entry).

    Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information.

    Be ready to provide us with:

  • Your current course handbook
  • Year 1 / Year 2 unit transcripts

    • Places available 2023/24 

    This course has places available for 2023/24 entry. Applications for 2024/25 entry will open in Autumn 2023.

    Apply

    There are 2 ways international students can apply to an undergraduate course:

    Applying through UCAS you will need the following information:

    • University code - U65
    • UCAS course code - W210

    Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

    You can only apply to the same course once a year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.

    Application deadline

    We recommend you apply by 25 January 2023 at 18:00 (GMT) for equal consideration.

    However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.

    What happens next

    Communicating with you

    After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

    Immigration history check

    You will be asked to complete an Immigration History Check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. We will not be able to proceed with your application until you have submitted your completed Immigration History Form.

    Initial application check and selection

    We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you will be invited to submit a digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

    Once we have received your digital portfolio it will be reviewed by the academic team. A decision will be made on your application which may include - offer, offer alternative, recommend to alternative course, reject or invite to interview.

    We aim for all on time application reviews to take place by the end of March 2023.

    Portfolio advice

    • A maximum of 30 pages showing project work that is clearly presented indicating project briefs.
    • Research, references and processes leading to the project outcomes.

    For more support, please visit our Portfolio advice page and PebblePad advice page.

    How we notify you of the outcome of your application

    You will receive the final outcome of your application through UCAS.

    Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

    Feedback requests:

    If you would like to request feedback please contact us through the UAL Portal using the Contact us button in your My Application(s) tab.

    Deferring your place

    This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner.

    Read our Admissions Policy for details, and request your deferral by contacting us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

    Transfers

    If you are currently studying somewhere else on a course in an equivalent subject area and would like to transfer to this course, you can transfer to:

    • Year 2, if you’ve completed 120 credits in Year 1
    • Year 3, if you’ve completely 240 credits in Years 1 and 2

    Apply via UCAS and choose Year 2 or 3 for your POE (Point of Entry).

    Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information.

    Be ready to provide us with:

    • Your current course handbook
    • Year 1 / Year 2 unit transcripts
    • An official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed

    Study Abroad

    Through the Study Abroad programme international students can apply to join an undergraduate course.

    For information on how to apply visit the Study Abroad section.

    Careers

    Camberwell BA Graphic Design graduates are currently working in advertising, branding, corporate identity, illustration, interactive design, print design, product design, film and video with leading companies such as Mother, Why Not Associates and Wolff Olins.

    Many of our graduates have set up their own studios, including A Practice for Every Day Life, Brighten the Corners, Burgess and Beech and Hyperkit.

    Alumni

    Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.

    Camberwell College of Arts

    Contact

    Telephone

    +44 (0)20 7514 6302
    Address
    Camberwell College of Arts
    45 - 65 Peckham Road
    London
    SE5 8UF