About Graphic Communication BA (hons) in University of Northampton

Ideas and concepts are at the heart of the course with an emphasis on innovative and intelligent design solutions. Commercial, social, ethical, cultural and environmental issues are explored through live industry projects, staff set and competition briefs, confronting the stereotypical and challenging conventions of image-making and communication, whilst learning traditional craft skills and the potential offered by new and emerging technologies.

We will support you to achieve your career and study ambitions, which is why if you complete our Employability Plus Gold programme or Changemaker Gold certificate alongside your studies and if you haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating* we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you, or support you into postgraduate study.

*with a 2:2 degree classification or higher

Course Highlights

• Opportunities to work with live briefs and competitions
• Guaranteed paid internship with theNorthampton Employment Promise.
• Access to comprehensive specialist resources with technical instruction and support.

HP Laptop and software included with this course.

Course Details

Our Graphic Communication course provides you with all the skills and knowledge you will need to work in the creative industries, or progress onto a postgraduate course. You will learn through studio practice, specialist media workshops, lectures and seminars to help you understand contemporary graphic design practice. You will have access to studios and we have excellent facilities for digital media, printmaking and photography.

As well as active learning and studio practice, this course delivers a selection of design briefs; some will be set by your tutors, some you will decide yourself and others will be real-­world design competitions. There will be opportunities to work on live industry projects throughout the course, attend design conferences, receive Industry feedback on your work and developing portfolios, as well as the opportunity to travel with us on our international cultural trips [over the last few years we have visited Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid & Rome]. We regularly host visiting speakers, industry specialists and creative agencies giving you practical learning and advice from the professionals.

Students Successes

For the third year in a row, three of our students, Matthew Barnard, Elliot Lee and Carly Ayre are three of the only 30 students listed for the Penguin Random House Design award  2017 in the Adult Non Fiction Cover and Children’ Cover shortlists. Matthew and Elliot have come up with striking covers for Truman Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood’, while Carly has created a bright design for The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend. You can find out more on the Penguin Design Award Website.

Students on this course are constantly shortlisted and commended through the multiple international design competitions we enter – including in  You Can Now (YCN), Design and Art Direction (D&AD), and Penguin Random House Design awards. D&AD also provides students with a London-based industry graduate degree show opportunity, New Blood. We have strong industry partnerships with companies such as Stocks, Taylor Benson, The Met police, Whitworths, Engine Creative, Silverstone, Verto, Toxic Creative, The NN Gallery, The Northampton Music Festival and Creative Folks.

D&AD Pencil

The New Blood Awards are an invaluable introduction to the reality of working in the creative industry and gets your work seen by some of the biggest names in the creative industry. Winning students get awarded the highly coveted D&AD Pencil. Students on our BA Graphic Communication course have been regular winners over the last four years.

Changing Futures Week

Our annual Changing Futures Week is an exciting event and an excellent opportunity for our students to explore the potential of their course and understand where their university experience can lead them beyond graduation. It offers a unique chance to network with high profile industry professionals from the arts, TV, film, fashion and more.

Schedule

Your taught study will be a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and technical demonstrations, usually for 15 hours per week, depending on your level of study. In addition, we recommend that you spend around 10 hours per week in self-directed study time. You will have access to technical facilities and studies outside of taught time.

Assessments

You will be assessed through a range of graphic design assignments, including portfolio presentations, essays, dissertation and self-assessment.

Scholarships

EU and International Scholarships

We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

Sir Thomas White Scholarship

The Sir Thomas White scholarship will support and acknowledge an academically gifted student, with the proviso that the selection panel is confident that there is…

TD Lewis Scholarship

The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

The Chancellor's Fund

The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

Wilson Endowment Scholarship

The Wilson Endowment Scholarship provides a £1,500 scholarship to undergraduate students from the Northamptonshire area. The endowed scholarship was donated in memory of Mr Lynn Wilson,…

Entry Requirements

Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer would be BCC at A-Level or DMM at BTEC . In addition, you are expected to have studied Art, Design or a related subject at A-Level, BTEC level 3 Diploma, or equivalent qualification. We will also accept a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

Applicants are interviewed and are requested to provide a portfolio of their own work in Art and Design. International students may submit their portfolio electronically. Students with a relevant HND or Foundation Degree with a suitable profile of achievement may be admitted onto year two or three.

For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

Foundation Study Framework Entry Requirements

Admission to this foundation programme is normally DEE at A-Level or MPP at BTEC. However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.

English Language Requirements

All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

• IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
  for study at undergraduate level

For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

University of Northampton Highlights

Institute Type	Public
Campus Setting	Urban
Number of Staff	1,611
Number of Students	11,984
Number of International Students	1000
Graduation Employment Rate	95%
Student Satisfaction Rate	89%
Academic Programs Offered	Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Mode of Programs Offered	Full time, Part time and Distance
Medium of Instruction	English
Average Tuition Fee for International Fee	GBP 12,000 - GBP 15,000
Proficiency Test for English Language	IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Pearson PTE
Financial Aid	Scholarships, Funds and Loans

University of Northampton Average Tuition Fees And Other Expenses

For all the prospective candidates for the institute, an estimated cost of living in the UK is as cpmipield below.

University of Northampton Tuition Fee

The tuition fee varies from one course to another. Following are some of the popular courses along with the tuition cost:

University of Northampton Undergraduate Courses 

Course	Fee
BA and BSc Degrees	GBP 12,900
BSc Podiatry / BSc Occupational Therapy	GBP 13,900
BSc Nursing	GBP 15,750
Sandwich / placement Year	GBP 1,000

University of Northampton Graduate Courses 

Course	Fee
MA or MSc Degrees	GBP 13,750
MBA	GBP 14,750

University of Northampton Cost of Attendance

Basic list of expenses apart from tuition fee are as follows:

Type of Expenditure	Cost (in GBP, per week)
Accommodation (includes basic facilities)	130 to 300
Food	36 to 52
Mobile phone	4 to 14
Travel	Around 17
Books and supplies	Around 11
Clothing and personal care	16 to 26
Entertainment	Around 29

University of Northampton Application Process

Basic Admission Requirements

1. Certified transcripts of high school/college/university
2. One reference required
3. Statement of Purpose depicting the interest of the applicant in the chosen course
4. MBA applicants must also have a proof of work experience
5. Arts and design applicant must also submit their portfolio 

The outcomes of the English proficiency tests taken by all of the international applicants. IELTS, TOEFL iBT, and Pearson PTE are acceptable tests. The minimal IELTS scores needed to get admitted are as follows:

Academic Programs	Minimum Score
Undergraduate	6.0 overall and not less than 5.5 in each section
Postgraduate	6.5 overall and not less than 5.5 in each section
Research	7.0 overall and not less than 6.5 in each section

Additional Requirements

1. An overseas student who has been accepted must pay the GBP 5,000 deposit fee before the university would issue them a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).
2. Other documents for the visa application process are:

• Passport
• UK visa history form
• Proof of financial support