BA (Hons) Graphic Design
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 9
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- First Degree
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 2 years (August to June)
If you’ve successfully completed a HND in Graphic Design/Visual Communication or have previous experience of working with typography, this BA (Hons) course will help get you ready for an agency, in-house or freelance career in the creative industries. You’ll work with highly experienced graphic design professionals in our purpose-built studio, working on brief-led projects that will challenge your creative thinking and design skills. In your second year, you’ll also have the chance to exhibit your work at the D&AD New Blood Festival in East London, giving you the opportunity to network with industry professionals from around the UK.
What will I learn?
During Year One, we build your confidence in all key areas within Graphic Design through a series of tutor-led briefs designed to challenge your creative thinking, technical ability and research development. You'll also have the opportunity to develop an online portfolio and blog.
In Year Two, you'll undertake professional design practice which will develop and expand your technical knowledge and employability within the Graphic Design industry; you'll also create a self-directed brief tailored to your own career aspirations and enter a recognised national competition brief (ISTD).
BA Hons Graphic Design Instagram
Entry requirements (minimum)
- HND Visual Communication/Graphic Design or equivalent with an A or B at Graded Unit
- Portfolio of Graphic Design work/Typographic knowledge. You must send a single PDF portfolio (not exceeding 15MB or two files, if required) along with a personal statement to kreid@glasgowclyde.ac.uk. Your PDF portfolio file should have your full name clearly stated and contain a minimum of eight finished Graphic Design projects and sample sketchbook pages with development, that demonstrate a clear understanding of typography and aesthetic judgement. Only when we have received your PDF will you be considered for interview.
- Satisfactory completion of a Graphic Design competency exercise.
Other Required Qualifications/Experience
You may also be considered if you have other academic, vocational, or professional qualifications deemed to be equivalent and evidenced by a portfolio or related graphic design work.
or
Have a suitable portfolio of work that demonstrates an understanding of Typography and InDesign within a body of design/illustration work.
Please note: You should apply for the BA Honours Graphic Design directly through the Glasgow Clyde College website (NOT UCAS).
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
Engagement with our employers has been developed over several years mainly within the PEC (Personal Effectiveness and Creativity) module. This module allows you to reinforce the transition from student to professional designer by developing the commercial aspect of Graphic Design and the need for a systematic approach to the design process as a business.
Along with industry speakers we also invite professional designers/marketers to devise and deliver real-world brief/s during the final modules of year three. You'll also be given the opportunity to network and experience the transition into a working studio during placements in your honours year of study.
As an Honours student you will exhibit your work at the D&AD New Blood Festival at The Old Truman Brewery in the heart of east London. This gives you the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals from around the UK.
Jobs and further study
The BA Honours Graphic Design is an industry-specific course aimed at employment within the field of Graphic Design. The course structure allows you to specialise in any of the disciplines within the scope of Graphic Design.
Our alumni are now working with design consultancies including Sachi & Sachi London, MC & Sachi Berlin, Red Bee Media, D8, Made Brave, Traffic Design Screenmedia, Skyscanner, Webber Shandwick, ThirstCraft, Connect Communications, STV Creative.
Gaining a BA Honours Graphic Design may lead to progression onto a number of associated MA programmes within the UK including the MA Creative Media Practice (University of the West of Scotland).
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You'll receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you'll either be:
- Invited to book an interview session - Please note you'll only be invited to interview if you have sent a copy of your single PDF portfolio (not exceeding 15 MB or two files if required) along with a personal statement to kreid@glasgowclyde.ac.uk. Your PDF portfolio file should have your full name clearly stated and contain a minimum of eight finished Graphic Design projects and sample sketchbook pages with development, that demonstrate a clear understanding of typography and aesthetic judgement. Only when we have received your PDF will you be considered for an interview.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you'll not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you'll be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date.
