Course summary
Our BA (Hons) Communication Design is a globally focussed programme that equips you with the skills to harness design as a powerful tool to inspire, inform and influence the world around you. Through creative thinking, hands-on design and a people-focused approach, you’ll learn to ask the right questions, spot problems and turn ideas into solutions. This course will ensure you are prepared to tackle real-world challenges with creativity and confidence, producing work that matters in an ever-evolving global design industry. You’ll explore a wide range of media, including graphic design, photography, motion graphics, branding, publication design, and digital experiences including UI/UX. This mix of creative approaches will help you think beyond traditional design and business models. Your projects will focus on how people interact with systems and experiences, giving you the tools to create new ideas that challenge the norm and make a positive impact. Studio-based learning is at the heart of the programme. You’ll work both independently and collaboratively on briefs for commercial entities or to promote social awareness and inclusivity, while building strong research and problem-solving skills. Peer-to-peer learning and collaborative studio practice will boost your confidence and adaptability, while strong links to industry provide you with the opportunity to work with partners through placements and live, real-world projects. Through our Go Global programme you will have the opportunity to study for a semester or longer at our campus in Dubai, ensuring that by graduation you have developed the skills necessary to become a globally focused designer, ready to create ideas and strategies that influence, innovate, and drive change. Please visit our website for further information on our 3 year honours degrees.
How to apply
14Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W6CD
- Institution code:
- H24
- Campus name:
- Scottish Borders
- Campus code:
- S
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements
Standard Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - BCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
Scottish Higher - BBBB
Scottish Advanced Higher - ABB
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 29 points
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Scottish HNC - Pass
Scottish HND - Pass
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass
T Level
We operate contextual admissions defined by our Fair Access Policy which may mean entry requirements are flexible. We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK, Europe and International countries. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further information on the entry requirements for these.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - BCC
Scottish Higher - BBBC
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass
T Level
The University guarantees to make a minimum entry offer to anyone who would be considered a Home or Rest of UK (RUK) applicant and who has achieved, or can achieve, the required grades from the following categories: Priority postcode areas – Home Scottish applicants from SIMD20 postcodes or RUK applicants from POLAR 4 quintile 1 areas – identified through Scottish and UK government targets. Care experience – Home Scottish or RUK applicants who have had experience of care, including adoption, kinship care, foster care and home supervision orders.
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
Selection is by application and submission of a portfolio, which will demonstrate your aptitude to textiles through use of colour, texture, rhythmic pattern-making and a logical design process. The ability to produce observational work in the form of both controlled and gestural drawing, painting and relief work should also be shown. Applicants are invited to submit a digital portfolio before the end of February. Late submissions may be accepted, please contact [email protected] for more information. If upon review of a portfolio it is deemed appropriate, we will contact an applicant for interview. Online portfolio feedback sessions with an academic will be offered following your submission. What to include in your digital portfolio: Your application must include a portfolio of 10 to 15 carefully curated pages in PDF format. Please ensure that the images used in your submission are high resolution and of good quality. These images should include examples of past work and must include evidence of the following: Research and investigation: To show the level of your engagement in visual investigation and research and how well you apply and integrate it within a design project. This could be through the medium of notetaking, sketches, photographs, painting, collages and so on. Design development: To show your ability to explore and develop ideas in a creative and critical way; and your level of skill and ability in the use of different visual methods and techniques to express development. We want you to show a strong evolution of your work and ideas. Visual communication and presentation: To clearly communicate and visually express a few of your most successful design projects from start to finish in a professional way.
English language requirements
Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.
HWU English Language Requirements
https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £1820 | Year 1 |
| EU | £20080 | Year 1 |
| International | £20080 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS