Level: Undergraduate
Study Mode: Full time / Part time
Duration: 1 year (full time) 2 years (part time)
Application: To UCAS (full time) Direct to the College (part time)
Application Deadline: Route A 15 Jan 09 Route B 24 Mar 09
UCAS Course Code: Route A W214
Route B E214
Institution Code: H18
Validated By: The University Of Gloucestershire

The graphic and media design industries need designers with innovative and original ideas, who are able to work with a range of processes and formats, and who understand, and are able to respond to the exciting demands of the professional industry. This one-year ‘top-up’ degree aims to bridge the gap between being a design student and becoming a successful professional designer.

This degree is validated and awarded by the University of Gloucestershire.

This intensive one year course aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop a strong portfolio of design work in an encouraging and creative design environment. Students will negotiate project briefs with teaching staff in order to challenge and improve their design skills, as well as responding to a number of ‘live’ project briefs and presentations.

Students may concentrate on one area of the design industries such as new media design or print based media or are equally able to produce work in response to a range of design situations.

Final Major Project
This unit aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop a new portfolio of work with which to best demonstrate their skills and ability. Students will negotiate projects with staff in response to a number of ‘themes’.

External brief
Students work directly with clients in order to respond to a variety of ‘live’ projects. This unit also provides an opportunity to enter a number of national student competitions.

Cultural and Professional Studies
During the year students will research a negotiated ‘cultural’ or ‘professional’ theme, which will then be developed into a final major essay. Students are supported in this project by both an individual tutorial system, and a series of seminars.

Final Major Presentation
This last unit involves developing a major presentation of work in terms of a portfolio, website, and final major exhibition. Some students may also be selected to exhibit their work at a London graduate showcase.

Throughout the course students explore potential areas for employment by visiting design companies, and meeting professional designers for portfolio consultation. For the forthcoming year this will involve students visiting some prestigious design agencies based in London.

At the last graduation ceremony, 80% of students on this course gained a 2:1 or above. These students have successfully gained employment across a number of specialist design areas within the design and media industries, both in the UK and abroad.

Successful completion of a Foundation Degree (FdA) or HND in a related subject
portfolio
English as a second language: IELTS 6.0 at enrolment

All applications to our Full Time Higher Education courses should be made via UCAS – for more details on how to apply, click here