Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

25th Aug 2025, 2 years

Location

City Campus

Applications from International Students Welcome

Overview

This well-established and highly successful graphic design course provides the knowledge and skills for an exciting career within the creative industries.

Through a programme of practical projects, you'll learn about all aspects of graphic design with an emphasis on the creative process and typography.  You will learn Adobe CC Software including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects and XD.

The programme is supported by our industry partners from studios such as MadeBrave, OStreet, Stand, Cause & Effect, Tangent, D8, Recoat, Collins Debden, Thirst Craft and Equator, through client-led projects, mentoring and guest lectures.

The course will be taught via a blended mode of on-campus and online classes.

Follow us on Instagram to keep up to date with the course and see examples of work.

This course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

• Higher Art and Design at Grade C or above AND National 5 English at Grade C or above; OR
• National Certificate in Art and Design or related subject; OR
• Other equivalent qualifications or experience.

Submission of Digital Portfolio

Create a single document that contains 5-10 images and save it as a PDF.  Include your best work, we would rather see quality over quantity. Under each image, write a short sentence that explains the work. 

We want to see your work, rather than work you have collected by other people. We want to see your ideas rather than designs or characters that you have copied from other people. If you have any work that shows us you have worked with images and text, please include it, but this is not essential. 

Submit a portfolio of your own art and design work that contains:

• 2-3 examples of finished art or design work that could include 2D or 3D work 
• 2-3 examples of research for art or design work that might include observational drawing or photography. 
• 2-3 examples of development work for art or design work where you show us sketches, thumbnails, experiments and developments. 

Photograph your work carefully, preferably in natural light. Crop the image so that we can see it clearly. You can include more than one image on each page, especially if it is from the same project. 

Successful candidates will be invited for a course information session.   

Additional selection requirements

• You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area or we'll make an offer based on your application form.
• You'll be asked to provide examples of your art and design work - Portfolio Information.

ESOL entry requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

What you study

Year one:

• Digital Imaging.
• Typography.
• Page Layout for brochures, zines and magazines.
• Art & Design Context.
• Introduction to Visual Communication.
• Label & Packaging Design.
• Advertising.
• Corporate Identity.

Year two:

• Design Production.
• Motion Graphics.
• Web Design.
• Typography.
• Preparing a Professional Portfolio and CV.
• Graphic Design Projects.
• Screen Printing and Riso Printing.
• Client-Initiated Design Project.

After the course

Careers

After completing the HND you can gain employment in areas of the communication industry including graphic design studios; design consultancies; brand & communications agencies; advertising agencies; newspaper & magazine publishing; web design; motion graphics, in-house design studios or self-employment as a graphic designer.

Continuing Study

On successful completion of your HND you can apply to:

• Year three of BA (Hons) Design Practice at City of Glasgow College, Year two BA (Hons) Communication Design at The Glasgow School of Art, Communication Design at Gray’s School of Art, or Graphic Design at Edinburgh College of Art.
• Year two BDes (Hons) Visual Communication at Dundee University or BDes (Hons) Graphic Design at Edinburgh Napier University.
• Year three of either BSc Digital Design at Glasgow Caledonian University, or BA (Hons) Digital Art & Design at The University of the West of Scotland.

Teaching

How the course is taught