Graphic Design

BDes (Hons) Full time

Course Overview

UCAS code: W210
Duration: 4 years
Study type: Full Time
Napier code: 54109BH

The Graphic Designer brands the world we live in and creates innovative visual languages which can be applied across many design genres in today’s visual culture, a fast paced realm of converging media, communication, rapid technological advancement and unprecedented crossover among the arts, popular culture and commerce. This course offers a broad design education, drawing on a rich theoretical and practical history and is forward thinking in the way visual language is applied to a wide spectrum of design disciplines in professional practice. This exciting course aims to emphasise the importance of ideas and originality of content as key elements.

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As a graphic designer, you'll help shape the world around you. More and more, designers are working in diverse industries to create our visual environment, from branding and packaging to book covers, clothing and signage. Sharing its first year of content with the Product Design and Interior Architecture courses, this course will expose you to design in its broadest sense - including media, motion and spacial applications - and you'll study and create work that transcends the 2D format.

You'll have the opportunity to apply your learning on an optional one semester work placement. Additionally, you can broaden your design horizons by undertaking this placement abroad, at one of our linked EU universities.

This course has introduced a placement scheme with StudioLR.

We believe in giving you the skills you need to successfully operate as a professional graphic designer. As such, you'll develop a wide range of skills during this course. You'll work on conceptual thinking, design sketching techniques, illustration, and the use of digital media. In addition, you'll learn verbal and visual communication techniques, effective client liaison, team working skills and business and marketing principles.

  • packaging design
  • branding 
  • advertising
  • design management 
  • exhibition design 
  • web design 
  • editorial design 
  • merchandising.

What's it like?

As a graphic designer, you'll help in shaping the world around you

Career prospects

We are one of the top universities in Scotland for graduate employability, with over 93% of our graduates in jobs or further study six months after graduating.

As our society becomes more and more visually-oriented, the need for excellent graphic designers increases. The scope for employment is practically limitless. With further study, a career in design teaching could also be possible.

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What's involved

Modular learning

Our courses are structured by modules which gives our students a flexible learning programme. Modules covered by this course:

On offer

Campus life

World class facilities


Why I chose Napier

Requirements at a glance

Entry to the course

International students

Full-time study (per year)

The fees listed are stated per annum.

Part-time study (per year)

The fees listed are stated per annum.

Part-time study (per module)

Fees listed are per 20 credit module.

The number of modules studied is dependant on the exit that you wish to achieve, for example:

  • A Grad Cert is 60 Credits (3 modules)
  • A Cert HE/Grad Dip/ HND is 120 credits (6 modules)
  • A Dip HE credit is 240 credits (12 modules)
  • A Degree is 360 credits (18 modules)
  • An Honours Degree is 480 credits

Please note that some part-time courses give modular exemptions for previous study and vocational experience. Advice is available during application.

Fees Table

Fees displayed are correct at the time of publication but the University Court reserves the right to make changes in fees at any time, and without notice, before or after the student's admission to the University.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and will rise each year during your programme of study, at least in line with inflation.

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