Graphic Communication Design (Top-Up)

Our Graphic Communication Design (Top-Up) BA (Hons) builds upon your prior knowledge and skills to explore the communication of ideas and messages to diverse and ever-evolving audiences through a dynamic range of media that highlights the potential of what design can achieve.

The Top-Up programme will develop your critical understanding of communication, expand your understanding of how the Creative Industries work, and advance your creativity and professionalism. The Graphic Communication Design (Top-Up) is focused on identifying your individual interests, launching you on your career path and honing your commercial design skills.

Studio culture is at the heart of our Top-Up programme, naturally fostering the creativity, collaboration and debate that inspire personal perspectives on design and prepares you for the professional industries.

Students experiment with a range of traditional processes and evolving technologies to challenge the conventions of image-making and meaning. Through engaging with issues, real-world problems and commercial scenarios, you will develop critical, reflective and professional skills that will prepare you for the ever-changing creative industries.

On Graphic Communication Design BA (Top-Up) (Hons), you will have access to specialist resources, regular guest lecturers and industry contacts, as well as the opportunity to work with live commercial briefs, social impact initiatives and international competitions. In recent years, several of our students have either been shortlisted or have gone on to win international design competitions, such as Penguin Cover Design Award and Design and Art Direction – New Blood Awards (D&AD).

Along with exhibiting your work in your final year Degree Show, we have had students participate in D&AD's 'New Blood' and the 'New Designers' industry graduate degree showcases in London.

• Dedicated GCD design studio with access to Macbooks, creative software, cameras and lighting kits, sound and print facilities.
• High-quality teaching from experienced practising designers and educators.
• Work based learning through live commercial projects with a real focus on your future career, with employability modules in all years of the course.
• Participate in social design projects.
• Technical support and specialist workshop demonstrations
• Success with national and international competitions.
• Regular input from industry professionals.
• Study trips and cultural visits.
• Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.
• HP Laptop and software included with this course, see Eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions

• Tawjahiya and successful completion of a Foundation programme from a UK awarding body,
• Two-year associate degree / community college diploma (occasional Year 2 entry may be granted depending on qualification and modules studied),
• International Baccalaureate Diploma,
• Successful completion of a Foundation programme from a UK awarding body,
• A Levels

Please contact us or check the Course information pages for the specific grades or points you will need or if you have a qualification not listed above.

A Graphic Communication Design degree can open up your career options. You will not be limited to one specific type of role, but rather be able to pursue numerous career paths.

Our Graphic Communication Design graduates use their design skills to work in:

• Branding
• Advertising
• Illustration & Animation
• Editorial and Publishing
• Digital moving image
• Interactive, online, social media and app design
• UI/UX Design
• Packaging design
• Photography
• Information design
• Social Design

Throughout your time on the course, as well as post-study, we offer ongoing support to ensure you receive the guidance and information needed to succeed in your chosen field of work.