Overview
Our BA (Hons) Graphic Design course is ranked first in London for "Learning Opportunities" (NSS 2023). Our university degree in graphic design blends traditional visual communication with emerging technologies. The programme encourages experimental thinking from the beginning. It provides a space to work with others which is fundamental to working as a graphic designer in any industry.
- Comprehensive Skill Development. Develop a range of graphic design skills including practical, conceptual, theoretical, social, and commercial knowledge. Study editorial and print design, typography, web and app design, as well as broader visual communication practices such as studio photography, moving image, 3D prototyping and animation
- Practical and Theoretical Understanding. You will gain an understanding of both the practical and theoretical aspects of graphic design processes.
- Creative Community Building. Through collaborative projects and workshops, you will expand your knowledge base. You will contribute to the development of a dynamic creative community and learn how to have a successful graphic design career.
This course is in Clearing
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Course modules
This graphic design foundation year combines practical skill-building with theoretical knowledge to prepare you for a career in graphic design. You'll get an overview of practical, studio-based and workshop skills. You'll visit museums, galleries, and cultural sites in London. You'll learn about the context of art and design and your place in it as a graphic design student.
These Year 1 graphic design modules build essential skills through six core modules: Professional Life develops workplace and professional skills. Practice 1 introduces fundamental creative techniques. Contextual Studies explores fine art history, and Research into Practice establishes theoretical frameworks. The curriculum culminates with Experimentation and Application modules that develop your technical skills.
This Year 2 graphic design programme builds upon foundational skills, advancing you towards specialised creative practice. The Professional Life module teaches you workplace skills through working on client briefs and within the industry. Practice 2 encourages risk-taking and the development of your personal style. Contextual Studies and Research into Practice enhance the critical analysis of contemporary art and design within broader contexts.
This Year 3 graphic design programme focuses on professional preparation and independent practice development. The Professional Life module positions you as "managers" of collaborative projects. We encourage participation in industry competitions like the D&AD New Blood Awards. Practice 3 emphasises self-directed work, allowing you to define your own creative direction. You finish with a two-part Independent Major Project, where you develop, produce, and exhibit professional-quality work in a public showcase.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Entry requirements
What makes this course different

1st in London
Our Design Studies courses ranked 1st in London for “Learning Opportunities” (National Student Survey 2023, Results published 10 August 2023)
See full NSS survey results
Competitive edge
Our graphic design students have competed at an international level at the D&AD Impact awards.

International exposure
Interact with postgraduates from overseas universities. Previously we have worked on a live project with Iowa State University students and on a social-design project based in Detroit.
Detour Ahead 2025 - Creative Corner with Sherwin Teo
Detour Ahead is a Visual Arts Symposium organised by University of East London, featuring world class designers, artists, curators and creatives.
We caught up with Sherwin Teo, creative at internationally renowned creative agency, Mother on the embracing the weird journey and forging a lucrative career in the arts.
Your future career
We help develop graphic design graduates who are creative, innovative and are going places. Spending three years tracking multiple projects, solving the logistics of production and negotiating with teams of creatives will prepare you for work within and beyond the subject area.
Industry links
We provide a forum and facilities where staff and graphic design industry experts fuse with students' knowledge, experience and ambition. Such placements, exchange trips and 'live' projects with professional designers are all geared to provide you with the experience that will prepare you for a career in graphic design.
Graduate employers
Our graphic design graduates have gone to work for employers such as SPOT Project, the University of East London, HFW (Holman Fenwick Willan LLP), Dawson Group, Fiver and the creative agency, YVMV Studios.
Job roles
You may question yourself and have lots of graphic design-related questions. What does a graphic designer do? How to start a graphic design career?
Our alumni may work in-house for a large company, in a specialist design studio, run their own business or be self-employed across a variety of industries. Some go on to postgraduate studies, while others quickly start to make their names in leading graphic design and advertising agencies, typographic design studios, corporate graphics companies and moving image production houses.
Further study
You could go on to further study and do an MA in Fine Art, Filmmaking, Creative Enterprise or Media and Communication Industries which will help you learn how to work as a graphic design freelancer or entrepreneur. We also offer an MPhil or PhD in the School of Arts and Creative Industries.

I found it extremely helpful to start an internship before graduating, as it helped me refine my career expectations. All the career life coaches from UEL have been amazing, always checking on me throughout the internship and celebrating my career achievements."Camilla Serini
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
How you'll learn
Your learning will involve a blend of activities, from research through practice to reflection. The graphic design course is divided into modules, with each module made up of a set of projects or briefs. These briefs can be compiled over time to produce a growing record of experience and budding expertise.
The graphic design course begins at pace by introducing a wide range of key ideas and their practical applications. You'll learn what graphic designers do in their day-to-day lives whilst gaining a deeper understanding of the course as a whole. This gives way to longer, more in-depth and self-determined projects that cover many processes and conceptual stages. Along the way, you will develop your work via regular feedback sessions, seminars, tutorials and critiques, or 'crits'.
UEL has extensive maker facilities that help you develop to become a graphic designer. Within Architecture and Visual Arts (AVA) there are dedicated spaces for production. These include a fully equipped Risograph printing studio, analogue and digital darkrooms, an immersive green screen studio and a variety of traditional printing. There are also wood, ceramic and metal workshops to further develop your design practice. Digital Fabrication facilities include 3D printing, laser cutting and CAD milling.
As a student, you can loan equipment including photographic kits, projectors and VR headsets.
Further ways you will learn include:
Subject area-wide electives: workshops (such as printmaking, textiles, bookbinding, coding, etc.) ensure students take full advantage of our extensive facilities and highly skilled staff team;
Remote learning: off-campus access to a Virtual Learning Environment; Industry expertise: specialist lectures and visits to/from industry figures, as well as participation in live briefs and competitions;
Culture in London: regular engagement with many of the 250 art institutions and archives that offer ever-changing inspiration for set briefs and self-directed study;
Portfolio development: we help you build strong portfolios and professional outlooks that match your ambitions and personalities and prepare you for the industry.
Guided independent study
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face, on campus and online with many of these available 24/7. We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces and a dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.
Academic support
Students are supported with any academic or subject-related queries by an Academic Adviser, module leaders, and former and current UEL students. If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential. You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the University from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses.
Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need. UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Dedicated personal tutor
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.
Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
approximate percentages for this course are:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
Your timetable
You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year depending on your course.
Class sizes
The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work.
How you'll be assessed
Each module in the graphic design degree has a duration of 12 weeks (one term) and always concludes with an assessment point. We provide feedback throughout these 12-week periods with a specific 'Tracking Week' dedicated to this process midway through each term.
For practical modules, your submission will consist of a Learning Journal (the presentation of your development and experience) and a portfolio (the presentation of your practical output). For theoretical modules, you may be asked to produce a piece of academic writing of a given length and a live presentation.
Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL's assessment and feedback policy.
Campus and facilities
Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD
Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.
Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.
Features include our 24/7 Docklands library, our £21m SportsDock centre, a campus shop and bookstore, the Children's Garden Nursery, cafés, eateries, a late bar, plus Student Union facilities, including a student lounge.
The University of East London is one of the few London universities to provide on-campus accommodation. Our Docklands Campus Student Village houses close to 1,200 students from around the world. We are well connected to central London and Canary Wharf, with London City Airport just across the water. We also run a free bus service that connects Docklands with Stratford campuses.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What our students and staff say

UEL's graphic design course embodies the philosophies of past pioneers in the context of today's graphic design and its advancement. Here it seems we are at the epicentre of creating ideas that will move, influence and shape the world."
Temidayo Kolawole
BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Graphic Design at UEL offers everyone a chance to operate in an economy which is moving further and further into the realms of the creative industries."
Joe Pleass
BA (Hons) Graphic Design