BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Integrated Foundation Year

During Year 1 you will focus on:

• Fundamental design principles: typography, colour, hierarchy, layout, and imagery
• Developing clear visual narratives, identities, and design systems
• Crafting effective visual storytelling through sequencing, pace, and tone
• Conducting research with cultural, social, and ethical awareness
• Mastery of industry-standard software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Animate, After Effects, Acrobat, Premiere Pro)
• Managing production workflows from pre-production to post-production
• Critically evaluating design work using relevant criteria
• Creating professional portfolios, slide decks, and pitch presentations

During Year 2, 3 and 4 of the course you will explore:

• Type and typography
• Editorial design
• Ideas and concepts
• Design innovation
• Information design and data visualisation
• Service design and creative coding
• Graphic design for promotion.

Year 1 introduces you to the fundamental principles of design and creative problem-solving. This foundation year gives you the time, space and support to explore your creative identity, build confidence and prepare for the demands of studio-based, project-led learning.

Modules are as follows:

• Module 1 Diagnostic exploration: making informed choices 
• Module 2 Technical: Technical knowledge in practice 
• Module 3 Specialist: Innovating specialist practice
• Module 4 Integration: Integrated practice for progression to Higher Education

Our first year explores the fundamentals of graphic design, looking in depth at ideas, tools and approaches, working together, digital skills, users and audiences, design and technology in culture, the future of workspaces, and utilising serious play. You are treated as a design professional from day one.

Modules include:

• Fundamentals of Graphic Design 1
• Fundamentals of Graphic Design 2
• Message 1
• Message 2
• Professional Life Practice: "Developing your Practice"
• Professional Life Practice: "Exploring your Practice"

The third year of the Graphic Design degree expands your design horizons, giving you a thorough grasp of the current settings for work, helping you to specialise and focusing your ambitions by offering you live briefs, collaborations, external partnerships, and work-based learning opportunities.

Modules may include:

• Collaborate
• Specialism
• Elective
• Professional Life Practice: "Applying your Practice"
• Work-based learning

The final year refines your design voice and prepares you to join the design community, by constructing your portfolio, refining your chosen direction, building professional readiness, a future-facing showcase and your own design identity.

Modules include:

• Design Voice
• Professional Life Practice: "Situating your Practice"
• Major Project
• Showtime

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade DD or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade PPP
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 48 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. 

Selection criteria:

Students should ideally have a background in art, creative media or design. 

There are no interview or portfolio requirements for this course.

You will graduate with strong concept skills, technical expertise and understanding of the future settings of design within society. Our graduates work in areas such as: typography, editorial design, packaging, information design, wayfinding, exhibition design, user-experience and user-experience (UX/UI) design, art direction and design strategy.

UK students

Simply select your chosen start date using the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate course page on the UCAS website.  The UCAS code for this course is located in the course overview bar at the top of this page. 

The UCAS website will guide you through the simple application process. You can also apply through your school or college using the UCAS system.

Learn more: how to apply for an undergraduate degree course

The entry requirements for this course can be found in the relevant section above.

International students

Simply select your chosen start date using the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate application form.

 For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England,  language and entry requirements, application requirements and access to international agents, please visit our international section.

Quick links:

• How to apply
• International Education Agents
• Visas and immigration
• Student visa CAS deposit refund
• International student FAQs

You can’t learn in a vacuum. At Ravensbourne University London, industry connection is ingrained into everything we do. We will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries, ensuring you are truly industry ready upon graduation. Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links.

You will be part of a diverse community of creatives, working collaboratively to explore new professional practices. Ravensbourne has strong industry links with a range of high-profile companies, including: Apple, Barclays, the BBC, European Space Agency, Marks & Spencer, Museum of London, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Samsung and many more.

Find out more about our tuition fees and whether you qualify for financial support during your studies. 

Key links:

• Undergraduate fees and funding
• Paying your fees
• Scholarships, bursaries and other discounts

If you have any questions, we'd love to hear from you. 

Get in touch with a member of our admissions team:

T: +44 (0) 20 3040 3998

E: [email protected]

If you have specific queries about being an international student, contact [email protected]

For general information, call +44 (0) 20 3040 3500

You can also chat to our students