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Graphic Communication (Top-up)

Newcastle College University Centre

UCAS Code: W214 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Entry requirements


GCSE/National 4/National 5

Maths and English Language

Students studying Foundation Degrees are also encouraged to apply.

You may also need to…

Present a portfolio

About this course


Course option

1year

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Graphic design

The BA(Hons) Graphic Communication Degree (top up) at Newcastle College is a fast moving, competitive and industry led course that is designed to allow Foundation Degree graduates to further their studies in order to obtain the Level 6 qualification of a BA(Hons) in Graphic Communication. Visiting speakers, collaborative projects and live industry briefs combine in this course to offer you an up to date and challenging programme that will equip you well for success. This course focuses on creativity and quality of ideas. Course content is continually evolving and developing with the introduction of new skills which are aligned to current industry advancements in digital technology and practice. This course is aimed at the self-motivated students and the onus is on you to take your studies in the direction that best suits your chosen path of progression. This course is ideal for those students who wish to enhance their skills acquired at Foundation degree level and work at a more professional, self-directed level in line with the demands of the modern design industry. Graphic Communication now spans across all medium including print, digital, moving image and web. We recognise that our graphic communication graduates need to be multi-disciplined in a number of media. Course content is continually evolving and developing with the introduction of new skills which are aligned to current industry advancements in digital technology and practice. Delivery of skills and academic theory on the course is directly responsive to the needs of industry and is delivered by qualified teaching and subject specialist staff. Employer input is continuously provided throughout the year by local, national and international companies and practitioners. This creative course is forward thinking and provides Graphic Communication graduates with the relevant skills to work in this sector. This top up course promotes professionalism. You will be expected to manage your own projects and workflow, develop presentation skills, communicate with clients, plan and execute projects to the level expected from industry. All aspects of delivering the projects will be covered with an emphasis on working at a professional level, both through technical delivery and the softer, transferable skills required to work within an agency or self-employment. The course is designed for Foundation Degree or HND graduates that already have a passion for creative arts and want to pursue a career within the sector. We are looking for highly motivated, interesting and informed applicants who embrace their subject and are willing to commit to a programme of study that will allow progression either in to employment or further study at level 7. The focus of the course is to allow you to direct your own work and progression, whether that be as a freelance designer, business owner or employed within the design industry. The emphasis is on you to drive your own projects within the module framework with tutors on hand to facilitate your studies. With professionalism being at the heart of the course, you will be offered the opportunity to enhance your skills and direct your studies in order to enter the workplace or progress onto a level 7 study programme. This may be an MA or teaching qualification such as a PGCE. By working on live briefs set by creative agencies, our students have gone on to secure placements, internships, commissions and employment at some of the leading design agencies in the country. Previous graduates have gone on to work as a Mac Operator/Entry Level Designer, Mid-Level Designer, Senior Designer, Art/Creative Director, Advertising/Marketing Designer, Print Publication Designer, Front End Web Developer.

Modules

Project Proposal, Project Development, Commercial Realisation, Reflective Practice.

Assessment methods

You will learn in a variety of ways including via practical project-based learning and e-learning. You will develop relevant practical skills underpinned with theoretical knowledge in order to prepare you for a rapidly evolving industry across a variety of Graphic Communication settings. Learning takes place in classrooms, and digital CAD suite. You will also participate in practical sessions, group work and self-directed study. You will be given opportunities to present group work to your peers developing skills in presentation and increasing self-confidence. You will learn through a variety of teaching and learning methods including written practical assignments, presentations, peer work and independent study. You will put together a portfolio of work, evidencing the modules of the qualification, which is internally assessed and externally moderated as the course progresses.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Newcastle College University Centre

Department:

Digital Arts

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What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

89%
Graphic design

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Design studies

Teaching and learning

94%
Staff make the subject interesting
94%
Staff are good at explaining things
96%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
92%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

84%
Library resources
68%
IT resources
84%
Course specific equipment and facilities
92%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

After graduation


We don't have more detailed stats to show you in relation to this subject area at this university but read about typical employment outcomes and prospects for graduates of this subject below.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Design studies

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£12k

£12k

£17k

£17k

£19k

£19k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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