Graphic Design (with Foundation Year) Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Available for September or January intakes.

Course overview\
This course includes a foundation year - ideal if you need additional preparation or if you don't have sufficient grades to join Year 1. Work with both traditional and contemporary technologies on our graphic design course as you find your unique creative voice, with a focus on areas such as visual design, brand identity, editorial work, packaging and more. Delve into key skills like research, strategy, typography, and process design, gaining a holistic understanding of professional design practice. We offer a dynamic approach to the discipline, preparing you for a broad range of media including digital, print, and environmental. As a graphic designer, you explore your social responsibility while developing critical thinking, experimentation and innovative visual communication, in this ever-evolving area.

Top reasons to study this course

* Nationally recognised: Teesside University is 1st in the UK for Graphic Design three years running. (Guardian University Guide 2026, 2025 and 2024, [tees.ac.uk/source](tees.ac.uk/source))

* Industry recognition: our courses and campus are powered by Adobe, Apple and Wacom. We’re Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus, the only Apple-accredited university and a Wacom Experience School, equipping you with the digital tools and resources to transform the creative world. Our courses have a built-in Creative Week – a workshop based, festival style, off-timetable week each semester where you can experiment with new materials, make visits and upgrade your tech skills.

* Professional membership: we’re a member of the [Association of Illustrators](https://theaoi.com/) giving you access to interactive talks, guidance on contracts and licensing. You also have your own discounted membership, equipping you with the tools to forge a successful career in industry or as a freelancer.

* Work-ready: this course includes short, career-focused modules helping you understand working in the arts and creative industries.

* Enter awards: you are supported to enter career-enhancing awards, including the Adobe Global World Championships held in Disney Studios, the Creative Conscience Awards, D&AD New Blood Awards and the renowned International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) – many of our students have been successful in winning awards at these events.

* Creative UK: take advantage of our Creative UK membership and help futureproof your career, with networking events, a resource hub to support professional development, and bespoke workshops in partnership with industry leaders and mentors. Sign up for free student membership to get opportunities, events and newsletters sent directly to your inbox.

Responding to live briefs and developing personal projects, you create a substantial portfolio through your degree and gain an understanding of wider global contexts, sustainability and the changing shape of equality and diversity. You also have opportunities for field trips, fellowships and international mobility with our partners in Dubai and India.

Employability\
You will get involved with competitions from professional bodies such as Design and Art Direction (D&AD), You Can Now, Royal Society of Arts and International Society of Typographic Designers. You also have the opportunity to exhibit work externally. The D&AD Professional Awards are recognised globally as the ultimate creative accolade, entered and attended by the best from around the world. You are prepared for a career in branding, advertising, strategy and visual communication. Our alumni are working as freelancers in entrepreneurial start-ups or in companies including Sapient Razorfish, plewsy.com, Juiced Studio, Kairos Media Group, KPMG, Calm Digital, The Chase, Lazy Oaf, DA Digital and Hype Type Studio.