Design Degree Courses in the UK - Bachelors & Masters

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Illustration (including Year 0) BA (Hons) Norwich University of the Arts 76% 5% 6% £9250 £18000 134 Norwich On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Professional Practice Year) BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts 76% 6% 3% £9250 £17500 144 Canterbury On campus Full-time
Illustration with Art & Design Foundation Year BA (Hons) Southampton Solent University - 0% 0% £9250 £13020 £14000 126 Southampton On campus Full-time
Illustration and Animation BA (Hons) London Metropolitan University 20% 5% 0% £9250 £19250 144 London On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University of Derby 73% 0% 10% £9250 £14900 126 Derby On campus Full-time
Illustration with Foundation Year BA (Hons) University of Derby 80% 5% 12% £9250 £14900 111 Derby On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University of East London 77% 6% 10% £9250 £13920 113 London On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 78% 0% 5% £9250 £34800 187 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Norwich University of the Arts 76% 5% 6% £9250 £18000 134 Norwich On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University of Huddersfield 70% 10% 5% £9250 £16500 140 Huddersfield On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Staffordshire University 88% 10% 5% £9250 £16750 126 Stoke-on-Trent On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Integrated Foundation Year) BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts 76% 6% 3% £9250 £17500 144 Canterbury On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Buckinghamshire New University - 5% 11% £9250 £15000 122 High Wycombe On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Middlesex University 100% 10% 15% £9250 £15100 127 London On campus Full-time
Illustration with Graphic Design BA (Hons) De Montfort University 72% 15% 10% £9250 £9250 £15750 £16250 115 Leicester On campus Full-time
Creative Media BA (Hons) Bath Spa University 100% 15% 5% £9250 £16905 117 Bath On campus Full-time
Illustration (Swansea College of Art) BA (Hons) University of Wales 75% 5% 0% £9000 £13500 168 Cardiff On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Birmingham City University 93% 30% 7% £9250 £16085 158 Birmingham On campus Full-time
Graphic Design and Illustration BA (Hons) Liverpool John Moores University 75% 10% 6% £9250 £16100 183 Liverpool On campus Full-time
Illustration with a Foundation Year BA (Hons) Birmingham City University 83% 10% 13% £9250 £16085 137 Birmingham On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Integrated Foundation & Professional Practice Years) BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts 76% 6% 3% £9250 £17500 144 Canterbury On campus Full-time
Graphic Design (Graphic Illustration) BA (Hons) University of Suffolk 100% 0% 0% £9250 £13992 125 Ipswich On campus Full-time
Illustration and Animation (with preparatory semester) BA (Hons) London Metropolitan University 80% 5% 8% £9250 £19250 120 London On campus Full-time
Game Art BA (Hons) De Montfort University 38% 5% 18% £9250 £15750 £16250 130 Leicester On campus Full-time
Graphic Design and Illustration (Visual Communication) BA (Hons) University of East London 77% 6% 7% £9250 £13920 98 London On campus Full-time
Creative Media and Production BA (Hons) University of Huddersfield 85% 0% 20% £9250 £16500 140 Huddersfield On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts 68% 5% 3% £9250 £17500 151 Canterbury On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Southampton Solent University - 0% 0% £9250 £15000 £16125 126 Southampton On campus Full-time
Studio Practice (Illustration) (Top-Up) BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts 66% 4% 3% £9250 £16950 145 Canterbury On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University of South Wales 64% 15% 0% £9000 £12600 145 Pontypridd On campus Full-time
Game Art BA (Hons) Sheffield Hallam University 46% 10% 9% £9250 £15860 £16655 114 Sheffield On campus Full-time
Illustration and Animation BA (Hons) University of East London 77% 6% 7% £9250 £13920 98 London On campus Full-time
Illustration with Foundation Year BA (Hons) Buckinghamshire New University - 5% 11% £9250 £15000 122 High Wycombe On campus Full-time
Illustration BDes (Hons) University of Dundee 70% 3% 0% £9250 £20900 174 Dundee On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Foundation) BA (Hons) University of Gloucestershire 58% 3% 14% £9250 £15000 £15450 126 Cheltenham On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University of Gloucestershire 43% 10% 10% £9250 £15000 £15450 132 Cheltenham On campus Full-time
Creative Media (Professional Placement Year) BA (Hons) Bath Spa University 84% 15% 8% £9250 £16905 123 Bath On campus Full-time
Game Art BA (Hons) University of South Wales 79% 0% 5% £9000 £12600 136 Pontypridd On campus Full-time
Illustration [with Placement year] BA (Hons) Anglia Ruskin University 69% 25% 5% £9250 £9250 - 118 Cambridge On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University of Central Lancashire 89% 0% 10% £9250 - 134 Preston On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) The University of Northampton 80% 10% 20% £9250 - 111 Northampton On campus Full-time
Game Art BA (Hons) Wrexham Glyndwr University - 10% 13% £9000 - 134 Wrexham On campus Full-time
Animation and Illustration [with Foundation Year] BA (Hons) Anglia Ruskin University - 25% 5% £9250 - 118 Cambridge On campus Full-time
Illustration Animation BA (Hons) Kingston University 85% 7% 1% £9250 - 178 Kingston upon Thames On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Leeds Beckett University 86% 4% 2% £9250 - 123 Leeds On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Wrexham Glyndwr University - 10% 10% £9000 - 134 Wrexham On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Anglia Ruskin University 89% 25% 5% £9250 - 129 Cambridge On campus Full-time
Animation and Illustration [with Placement year] BA (Hons) Anglia Ruskin University - 25% 5% £9250 - 118 Cambridge On campus Full-time
Animation and Illustration BA (Hons) Anglia Ruskin University - 25% 5% £9250 - 118 Cambridge On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Plymouth University 77% 10% 0% - - 154 Plymouth On campus Full-time
Graphic Design & Illustration BA (Hons) South Essex College of Further and Higher Education 70% 10% 20% £8000 - - Southend-on-Sea On campus Full-time
Game Art with Integrated Foundation Year BA (Hons) Falmouth University - 5% 14% - - 138 Falmouth On campus Full-time
Illustration FT BA (Hons) Nottingham Trent University 77% 1% 5% - - 136 Nottingham On campus Full-time
Illustration with Foundation BA (Hons) Plymouth University 83% 4% 7% - - 78 Plymouth On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons) The University of Northampton 80% 10% 20% - - 111 Northampton On campus Full-time
Illustration FdA University of South Wales - - 5% £7500 £12300 - Pontypridd On campus Full-time
Illustration with Animation BA (Hons) Manchester Metropolitan University 83% 5% 8% - - 185 Manchester On campus Full-time
Creative Media BA (Hons) Plymouth University 81% 4% 25% - - 133 Plymouth On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Falmouth University - 6% 8% - - 150 Falmouth On campus Full-time
Game Art FD Leeds City College 89% 20% 25% £8745 - - Leeds On campus Full-time
Illustration with Integrated Foundation Year BA (Hons) Falmouth University - 6% 8% - - 150 Falmouth On campus Full-time
Graphic Design and Illustration FD Leeds City College 73% 15% 15% £8745 - - Leeds On campus Full-time
Creative Media with Foundation BA (Hons) Plymouth University 81% 4% 20% - - 121 Plymouth On campus Full-time
Game Arts and Design BA (Hons) Plymouth University 100% 10% 10% - - 115 Plymouth On campus Full-time
Game Art BA (Hons) Falmouth University - 5% 14% - - 138 Falmouth On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) University of Portsmouth 81% 15% 10% - - 135 Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Illustration [with Foundation Year] BA (Hons) Anglia Ruskin University - - 16% £9250 - 92 Cambridge On campus Full-time
Creative Media (Moving Image) HND NESCOT North East Surrey College of Technology - - 35% £7200 £7700 - Epsom On campus Full-time
Creative Media Production HND University of Portsmouth - - - £6165 £18800 91 Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Graphic Design and Illustration BA (Hons) Leeds City College - 10% 5% £8745 - - Leeds On campus Full-time
Illustration with Foundation Year BA (Hons) Middlesex University - - - £9250 £15100 - London On campus Full-time
Visual Communication: Illustration MA London Metropolitan University - - - £1170 £2020 - London On campus Part-time
Illustration MA University of Huddersfield - - - £7900 £17600 - Huddersfield On campus Full-time
Contemporary Art and Illustration BA (Hons) University of Huddersfield - - - £9250 £15000 - Huddersfield On campus Full-time
Illustration (Top-up) BA (Hons) Buckinghamshire New University - - - £9250 £15000 - High Wycombe On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Cardiff Metropolitan University - - - £9000 £15000 £16000 - Cardiff On campus Full-time
Illustration BA (Hons) Sheffield Hallam University - - - £9250 £15860 £16655 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Creative Media and Technology HND University of Portsmouth - - - £6165 £18800 - Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Game Art with Foundation Year BA (Hons) Sheffield Hallam University - - - £9250 £15860 £16655 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Integrated International Foundation & Professional Practice Years) BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts - - - £9250 £17500 - Canterbury On campus Full-time
Illustration and Animation (including foundation year) BA (Hons) London Metropolitan University - - - £9250 £19250 - London On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons) University of East London - - - £9250 £13920 - London On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Integrated International Foundation Year) BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts - - - £9250 £17500 - Canterbury On campus Full-time
Creative Media & Promotion BA (Hons) South Essex College of Further and Higher Education - - 20% £8000 - - Southend-on-Sea On campus Full-time
Illustration MA Kingston University - - - £10900 £18700 - Kingston upon Thames On campus Full-time
Illustration and Animation (Top-up) BA London Metropolitan University - - - £2310 £4815 - London On campus Part-time
Creative Media Technologies (L6 Top-Up) BSc (Hons) University of Portsmouth - - - £9250 £18800 - Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Children’s Book Illustration and Graphic Novels MA (PG) Middlesex University - - - £9000 £14500 - London On campus Full-time
Graphic Design and Illustration (Visual Communication) (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons) University of East London - - - £9250 £13920 - London On campus Full-time
Creative Media Technologies BSc (Hons) University of Portsmouth - - - £9250 £18800 - Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Illustration MA Teesside University - - - £6100 £14000 - Middlesbrough On campus Full-time
Illustration with Foundation Year BA (Hons) Sheffield Hallam University - - - £9250 £15860 £16655 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Creative Media Production: Film and Moving Image HND Gloucestershire College - - 10% £7400 - - Gloucester On campus Full-time
Game Art and Design FdA University of South Wales - - - £7500 £12300 - Pontypridd On campus Full-time
Design (Illustration) MA Bath Spa University - - - £9520 £17760 - Bath On campus Full-time
Game Art and Production FdA Sunderland College - - 10% £6165 - - Sunderland On campus Full-time
Illustration MA University of Portsmouth - - - £8900 £18100 - Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Illustration and Animation (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons) University of East London - - - £9250 £13920 - London On campus Full-time
Illustration (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons) Wrexham Glyndwr University - - - £9000 - - Wrexham On campus Full-time
Illustration and Animation MA Cardiff Metropolitan University - - - £1140 - - Cardiff On campus Part-time
Contemporary Creative Practice: Illustration (Top Up) BA (Hons) Staffordshire University - - - £6350 - - Stoke-on-Trent On campus Full-time
Creative Media Production: Film and Moving Image HNC Gloucestershire College - - - £7400 - - Gloucester On campus Full-time
Game Art (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons) Wrexham Glyndwr University - - - £9000 - - Wrexham On campus Full-time
Creative Media Technology BSc (Hons) Leeds Beckett University - - - £9250 - - Leeds On campus Full-time
Illustration MA Plymouth University - - - - - - Plymouth On campus Full-time
Illustration HNC University of Portsmouth - - - - - - Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Illustration MA Manchester Metropolitan University - - - - - - Manchester On campus Full-time
Children's Book Illustration MA Anglia Ruskin University - - - - - - Cambridge On campus Full-time
Game Art MA Falmouth University - - - - - - Falmouth On campus Full-time
Design (Illustration) MA Sheffield Hallam University - - - - - - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Children's Book Illustration MA University of Central Lancashire - - - - - - Preston On campus Full-time
Game Art MA Sheffield Hallam University - - - - - - Sheffield On campus Full-time
International Illustration (Top Up) BA (Hons) Manchester Metropolitan University - - - - - - Manchester On campus Full-time
Illustration MA Nottingham Trent University - - - - - - Nottingham On campus Full-time
Illustration: Authorial Practice MA Falmouth University - - - - - - Falmouth On campus Part-time
Illustration MA The University of Edinburgh - - - - - - Edinburgh On campus Full-time
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Student Reviews

Overall student satisfaction
76 /100
91296 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

chart data
Source: National Student Survey NSS 2023. The Overall student satisfaction data point is from 2022 (latest available year). The Office for Students made the unfortunate decision to discontinue collecting overall student satisfaction data points per course.
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Primarily based on salary data of undergraduate students

Salary of all UK Graduates of Design

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22025 £20113 £23568
25-75 percentile range £19981 - £25071 £15144 - £24676 £17604 - £29974
Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All Design courses in the UK

Salary of all UK Graduates of all subjects

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22178 £20914 £24774
25-75 percentile range £19675 - £25027 £16034 - £25439 £18391 - £30927
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023

Jobs & Career Perspectives

Career perspectives for Design

15 months after graduation, graduates of this subject were asked about their current circumstances of employment, what they do, and whether their activities and perspectives are directly related to their studies.

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023

Current jobs

Among graduates of Design who indicated that they are working, the percentage below represents the number who “agree” or “strongly agree” with the statements about their job.

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023

Typical employers for graduates of Design

  • Interactive Media Companies
  • Landscape Gardening Companies
  • Interior Design Companies
  • Fashion Design Firms
  • Avertising Firms
  • Printed Media Companies
  • Film and Television Producers

Specialisations within Design

  • Fashion Design
  • Communication Design
  • Product Design
  • Textile Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Interior Design
  • Web Design

Jobs of graduates of Design (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Design at Anglia Ruskin University

30% Elementary occupations
10% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
10% Design occupations
10% Administrative occupations
10% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Media Professionals
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Sales occupations
5% Web and Multimedia Design Professionals
5% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023

Grading & Study Time

chart data

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Design

chart data
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Design, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

FAQ

Design is the study of design for everyday objects, taking into account technology and commerce as well as appearance and current art thinking.

The median salary of graduates of Design was £22025 15 months after graduation, £20113 3 years after graduation and £23568 5 years after graduation.

  • The following degrees are offered for Design studies:
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - BA (Hons)
  • Bachelor of Design (Honours) - BDes (Hons)
  • Foundation Degree in Arts - FdA
  • Foundation Degree - FD
  • Higher National Diploma - HND
  • Master of Arts - MA
  • Bachelor of Arts - BA
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) - BSc (Hons)
  • Master of Arts (Postgraduate) - MA (PG)
  • Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert
  • Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
  • Higher National Certificate - HNC