Graphic Design With Foundation Year
Full-time
Four year
September 2025
In a nutshell
The world of arts and media is changing at a phenomenal rate, and there has never been a better time to explore your creativity and the ways in which you can apply it to the world around you.
The Foundation Year of this four-year programme aims to provide you with an understanding of the subject to allow you to progress on to the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course.
This Foundation Year provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore the key principles of art, design and media. The course is designed to help you develop your creative skills, it gives you a chance to build a larger portfolio, and provides a good transition period to familiarise yourself with the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, and life as a student at the University of Salford. You will then be in a strong position to progress onto your chosen degree pathway.
This is a shared Foundation Year across Art, Design and Media disciplines, and will introduce you to a collaborative environment where you can explore ideas, take creative risks and become a confident independent learner. You will be joining a thriving and creative community.
Find out more by signing up to our next Open Day.
You can also find helpful FAQs and learn more about student life at Salford by exploring all of our Art and Design courses or, if you have any general questions, please contact course enquiries.
Continue reading to learn more about this BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Foundation Year course.
You will:
- develop your creative skills and academic confidence
- familiarise yourself with student life
- prepare to study on one of our degree programmes
This is for you if...
You can demonstrate knowledge and enthusiasm about design
You are keen to develop skills in all areas throughout all stages of the creative process
You want to explore both new and traditional design processes
All about the course
The Foundation Year will provide you with a dynamic, exciting and collaborative environment in which to become a confident self-learner, with the underpinning skills and knowledge to apply to your studies. You will be taught with students interested in progressing to different art, design and media programmes, and study modules that will help you increase your knowledge and understanding of basic art and design as well as other aspects of creative thinking.
Our strong connections within Greater Manchester’s thriving creative sector mean you will also hear from practitioners working in the industry right now about their journey into the world of art and design.
In the first term you will study modules that introduce the key concepts, skills and knowledge of art and design, and help you to develop your study skills such as note-taking and structuring reports. In the second semester, you will further develop your creative practice and be introduced to the creative industries.
The assignments are flexible enough to allow you to interpret and tailor your submissions to your preferred area of study. Tutors will help and support you in creating a portfolio of work to progress onto the BA (Hons) Graphic Design here at the University of Salford. You will be integrated slowly into the degree course with opportunities to meet tutors from the BA and by using shared collaborative facilities within our vibrant New Adelphi building.
This Foundation Year prepares you to study on the three-year undergraduate programme here at Salford meaning the duration of your degree is four years in total. The Foundation Year is not a standalone qualification.
Following the Foundation Year, you would progress onto BA (Hons) Graphic Design:
We support students to develop idea-led solutions, embracing the digital while at the same time engaging with traditional processes such as bookbinding and printmaking. Teaching is informed by research, and academic staff contribute to subject networks, international conferences, exhibitions, books and papers. Student learning is facilitated through a range of workshops, seminars and lectures, with additional support from a team of demonstrators.
The curriculum covers a broad range of specialist skills in both traditional and emerging areas such as design research methods, idea generation and creative thinking, typography, branding, art direction, print-making, illustration and image making, bookbinding, photography, motion design, ambient media, interactive and multimedia design.
Introduction to the Creative Industries
This module allows you to explore the creative industries and its career opportunities. You’ll learn about a range of subjects including responsible design and future trends within your chosen area of art and design. It will allow you to build on the technical skills that you gained in the first semester to produce a creative publication.
Creative Methods
This module will enable you to examine the creative and professional practice of others as a way of reflecting on your own practice. You’ll create a range of outcomes to help you build a dedicated portfolio as well as learning about major influences in art and design.
Creative Risk Taking
This module is all about challenging your creative thought and highlighting the importance of creative risk taking. The briefs allow you to produce a range of outcomes that underpin all of the main art and design disciplines as well as giving you the flexibility to interpret the brief to your area of interest.
Creative Practice Major Project
This module is designed to allow you to bring together all your prior learning from the previous modules. It gives you the opportunity to propose and create your own brief based on a theme, topic, or issue that you are passionate about. Within this module you’ll be supported by tutors who will guide you in creating a meaningful body of work that demonstrates confidence in your chosen area. Your work will be exhibited in the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology's end of year Degree Show.
Digital Media Applications
This module helps you to become more familiar and confident with technology. As well as learning creative software and photography skills, it will allow you to explore a creative subject of your choice and give you essential time management and research skills.
Form and Content
This module introduces a variety of approaches to developing an applied understanding of the fundamental design principles used within graphic communication design practice. Through a series of practical workshops and projects you will examine process, materials, form, proportion, contrast, balance, space, colour and symbol and their impact and use.
Critical and Professional Contexts 1
The Critical and Contextual Practice module gives you the opportunity to intellectually explore and interrogate your chosen discipline. The module is supported by workshops, lectures and seminars aligned to and in support of the development of studio practice. The module aims to embed writing as a connected and integral part of design process where a series of interlocking, complementary texts and artefacts will be produced to help build deeper understanding of the theories, debates and discourses that surround the discipline of graphic communication design.
Process and Application
This module aims to develop an awareness of the contextual factors, which affect contemporary graphic communication design practice through the study of challenging real-world ‘wicked’ problems. You will be introduced to working within the constraints inherent in designing for specific purposes and encouraged to give due consideration to the responsibilities of designers to any stakeholders involved. Focus will be placed on the application of previous learning, the development of personal design processes and capabilities regarding the generation of ideas and application of creative thinking.
Critical and Professional Contexts 1 (continued)
Further developing the knowledge and skills you acquired in semester one.
Graphic Design for...
In this module you will research how 21st century designers are expanding their role beyond the aesthetic and commercial and are applying their creative skills to social, ecological and political issues. You will participate in several projects intended to help the development of socially responsible design practices and the broadening of perspectives on how and where design can be applied in an ethical manner. These projects may range from devising and communicating inventive proposals to local level, everyday problems, to larger and more complex global issues such as food production, energy consumption, mass education and the protection and improvement of natural ecosystems and resources.
Critical and Professional Contexts 2
This module introduces further knowledge and context and facilitates the academic application and continuing development of the knowledge and skills gained on the course. You will investigate and test your position in relation to creative and cultural communities relevant to your developing practices. The module will also provide practice in working with others and explores the nature of applying research in collaborative situations.
Live Projects
This module will challenge you to utilise graphic communication skills and knowledge in the answering of a live design brief. Through negotiation, you will be encouraged to select and answer a project with externally set requirements. The work produced for this unit should demonstrate a clear understanding of the aims, goals, objectives and needs of stakeholders involved (clients, collaborative partners and target audiences). You will have the opportunity to expand and apply the skills and learning gained in an educational context within a professional setting.
Graphic Design and…
This module will allow you to investigate possibilities for graphic communication design connecting and interacting with other subjects such as sociology, anthropology, politics, science, philosophy, psychology, economics and technology. Through a series of project challenges, workshops and seminars, you will generate and evaluate ideas that help identify your own ambitions and develop specialist technical and practical skills.
Critical and Professional Contexts 2 (continued)
Further developing the knowledge and skills you acquired in semester one.
Games and Virtual Worlds
On this module, you will learn about gamification and the design of virtual interfaces for multiple design contexts, such as advertising, education and training.
Design Practice
This module offers the opportunity to consolidate specialist interests by enabling you to select from a range of projects that allow flexibility of process, media and outcome. These projects will be either course set, industry partnered or from a range of design award schemes.
Critical and Professional Contexts 3
This module requires you, in consultation with programme staff, to formulate, investigate and produce an individual response to a subject area connected to visual culture or key critical, professional subject debates. It will also allow you to consider and articulate a personal agenda and prepare for life after graduation through the development a post degree plan and related portfolio of work.
Negotiated Major Project
The Negotiated Major Project module is designed to allow you to bring together and synthesise your prior learning and experiences on the course through the definition, negotiation and implementation of a self-determined programme of study. You are encouraged to identify a theme, topic, issue or set of issues around which to focus your exploration leading to the development and presentation of a significant body of work.
Critical and Professional Contexts 3 (continued)
Further developing the knowledge and skills you acquired in semester one.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
BE A PART OF A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
All our Art, Design and Fashion courses are delivered by the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology. We are a creative community with a focus on creating a collaborative environment where you can thrive and gain the skills needed to pursue your dreams.
Our Engagement Team coordinated school-wide events such as the Create Student Awards, academic conferences, networking and volunteering opportunities, welcoming and wellbeing fairs and exhibitions like our annual Degree Show.
For non-course matters, you will have access to our university-wide support service askUS, who will support and guide you to be successful in all aspects of your life.
Throughout your time at Salford, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there. You’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, meaning you’ll be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.
ART AND DESIGN FACILITIES
This Graphic Design Foundation Year course is based at our £55 million New Adelphi building, the home of design and creativity on campus.
When you study with us, you’ll learn from our experienced tutors and demonstrators, who’ll teach you how to use our art and design facilities. These include:
Studio space – dedicated areas for each course, giving you room to think and create.
Marker Space workshop - create digital rapid prototypes using 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters and more.
Photography studios - industry standard photographic studios, which you can use in conjunction with darkrooms and digital printing facilities.
Workshops – from print to textiles, wood to metal, our range of workshops allow you to take your ideas from page to reality and work in a variety of media.
Mac suites - equipped with the industry-standard software you’ll need during your studies and in the world of work.
To see for yourself, take a 360 tour of our New Adelphi building.
You’ll also be able to make use of our New Adelphi Theatre. The industry-standard live 350-seat theatre is located in our New Adelphi building. It’s also open to the public, and with its three floors of tiered seating, it’s the largest of our performing spaces.
What about after uni?
Graduates from the BA programme work in many areas of graphic design, including design for print, branding, editorial design, illustration, interactive design including app design, ezine and e-book design, online marketing and web design, as well as motion graphics. Students also move into related careers within the ever evolving creative industries in marketing, project management, social media and account handling.
Graduates work locally, nationally as well as internationally at companies such as Love Creative, Vault 49 New York, Typo com, Raw, Great Fridays, Mainframe, Code, Office, TBWA, GQ, Harpers & Queen, Showstudio, Skaggs Advertising in New York, Sha-La-La workshop, Hong Kong and Zietgiest in Germany. Graduates work within the creative industries, as well as freelance, and others pursue careers in teaching.
Career Links
We offer many opportunities to engage with industry and the programme has close links with a range of design companies and industry networks both locally and nationally.
Industry experience is also integrated into module delivery with live briefs and other opportunities such as print fairs and exhibitions at internationally acclaimed venues within the north-west and beyond.
Live projects include Decode Recode as part of the official Opening of the University Building at MediaCityUK, this ran for 24 hours project with 24 countries, a live media Jam. Students designed branding, marketing and exhibition design for a networking event, DNA Carnival at Islington Mill, Salford. Other live briefs include Magma store promotion, album cover and merchandising for Ali Moss Late Bloomer (BT Ad) and ‘Sharing the Making’, a group that interacts with artisans in Peru to connect them with companies in the UK to offer fair trade. Another project was with BBC21CC, students worked alongside BBC media trainers teaching digital media skills to produce content for the BBC Big Screens.
Whilst not an assessed part of the course or part of a module, students are supported and encouraged to search for and undertake live briefs, freelance work or industry placement during the course, usually during the summer vacation period between years two and three.
Students gain work experience at a broad range of companies including Code, Design by Day, Hallmark, Havas Lynx, True North, DR ME, Lazerian, Like A River, Doodledo and Unconvention.
The graphic design programme delivers a popular professional speakers’ occasional programme of leading design professionals, from a broad range of disciplines, to present their individual philosophies and portfolios. Past speakers have included practitioners such as Textbook Studio, DR ME, Music, Si Scott, Peter Saville, Pete Fowler, John Burgerman and Trevor Johnson.
What you need to know
This course isn’t suitable for international students. If you are an international student and interested in studying a foundation year, please visit our International Foundation Year course page.
By applying to this Foundation Year you are applying to a four-year programme - the shared Foundation Year, followed by a three-year art, design or media degree here at University of Salford. The Foundation Year is not a standalone qualification.
APPLICATION PROCESS
As part of the selection process, you may be invited to submit an online portfolio of your work. You may then be invited for an interview with our tutors. If you are called for interview we will send you further guidance well in advance.
In your personal statement (up to 4,000 characters), we would like to know more about why you are interested in Graphic Design, what inspires you in the graphic design sector, and what you hope to gain from the Foundation Year.
GCSE
English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent). Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) is preferred but not essential.
You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.
A Levels
64 tariff points from A-levels (or equivalent) to include an Art & Design qualification preferred
T Levels
Pass: D or E in core subject.
UCAS tariff points
64 tariff points from A-levels (or equivalent) to include an Art & Design qualification preferred
BTEC National Diploma
MPP
Access to HE
Pass Level 3 Access to HE Diploma with 64 points (relevant subject)
Scottish Highers
64 points including Art & Design
Irish Leaving Certificate
64 points including Art & Design
International Baccalaureate
24 points including Art & Design
European Baccalaureate
Pass Diploma with 60% overall
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £8,250.00 for Foundation Year and £9,250.00 for subsequent years. |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.