Glasgow School of Art
Communication Design
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom · UCAS W213
Level
Bachelor
Duration
4 years
Campus
Garnethill Campus
Intl. Tuition
£24,800 (Fee 2026-27 · 2027-28 not yet published)
Intake
September 2027
UCAS code
W213
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Course Overview
Communication Design at Glasgow School of Art in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom is a bachelor programme designed to give you both rigorous academic grounding and exposure to current practice in the field.
- Study with academics who are active researchers and industry practitioners, with regular contact through seminars, tutorials, and project work.
- Develop core knowledge in your first year before specialising through optional modules in later years tailored to your interests and career goals.
- Build practical, transferable skills — analysis, communication, teamwork, and project delivery — that employers across sectors actively look for.
- Access dedicated employability support including internships, placements, alumni mentoring, and a careers service that connects students to graduate roles.
- Join a global student community with extracurricular societies, sports, volunteering, and study-abroad opportunities to round out your university experience.
Career snapshot (indicative)
Arts and design graduates build portfolio careers as practitioners, educators, creative directors and arts administrators, combining creative practice with commercial and community-facing work.
Student life (indicative)
Glasgow has one of the UK's liveliest student scenes — renowned for its music, comedy and arts, brilliant pubs and restaurants, and a famously warm and unpretentious local culture.
The University at a Glance
Student Population
2,845
Staff Ratio
13.0:1
International
37.0%
Career Prospects
Avg Starting Salary
£23,700
First-year earnings
Costs & Living
City & Location
Large city (500k-1m inhabitants)
Course Curriculum
Year 1
- Foundations of Communication Design
- Academic and Research Skills
- Quantitative Methods
- Introduction to Theory and Practice
- Optional language or breadth module.
Year 2
- Intermediate Communication Design topics
- Applied Methods and Tools
- Group Project
- Two optional pathway modules
- Career and Industry Insights.
Year 3
- Advanced Communication Design
- Independent Dissertation or Capstone Project
- Two specialist optional modules aligned with your interests
- Employability and Professional Development.
Entry Requirements
Subjects
- Communication design
- Visual communication
- Design
- Graphic design
- Creative arts
- Illustration
- Community arts
- Visual arts
Source: UCAS course listing, 2027 entry (retrieved September 2026). Always confirm the current requirements with the university.
Assessment Methods
Assessment is varied across the programme and may include: Written examinations across foundational modules; Coursework essays and analytical reports; Group and individual projects with presentations; Practical lab, studio, or fieldwork assessments where relevant; A final-year dissertation or capstone project that lets you specialise in a topic of your choice.
Campus & City Life
Student Population
2,845
Total students
Staff Ratio
13:1
Students per staff
International Students
37%
Of student body
Campus at a Glance
City Size
Large city (500k-1m inhabitants)
Climate (indicative)
Cool maritime
Safety Index (indicative)
7.5/10
Transport
Moderate (coach or indirect connections)
Social Scene
Friendly community | Coastal lifestyle | Academic / intellectual | Professional / career networks
Student Life & City (indicative)
Glasgow has one of the UK's liveliest student scenes — renowned for its music, comedy and arts, brilliant pubs and restaurants, and a famously warm and unpretentious local culture.
- Glasgow has one of the UK's liveliest student scenes — renowned for its music, comedy and arts, brilliant pubs and restaurants, and a famously warm and unpretentious local culture.
What Students Love
- Active music scene
- Vibrant nightlife & bars
- Rich arts & cultural scene
- Diverse international food scene
University Stats
Career & Outcomes
Avg Starting Salary
£23,700
Average first-year salary
Placement Year
✗ Not offered
Industry work experience
Career Outcomes Overview (indicative)
Arts and design graduates build portfolio careers as practitioners, educators, creative directors and arts administrators, combining creative practice with commercial and community-facing work.
- Arts and design graduates build portfolio careers as practitioners, educators, creative directors and arts administrators, combining creative practice with commercial and community-facing work.
Top Industries for Graduates
- Creative industries
- Design
- Architecture
Study Abroad Opportunities
N
- N
Costs & Living Expenses
Overall Cost of Living (indicative)
MEDIUM
This location has moderate living costs. Standard student budget recommended.
Estimated Annual Costs
Monthly Student Budget (indicative)
Cost Overview (indicative)
One of the UK's more affordable student cities — a $1,520/month budget (housing $870, food $320, transport $110) covers everything comfortably. A comfortable student lifestyle at costs well below London and the South East.
- One of the UK's more affordable student cities — a $1,520/month budget (housing $870, food $320, transport $110) covers everything comfortably.
- A comfortable student lifestyle at costs well below London and the South East.
Contains HESA data (Discover Uni), licensed under CC BY 4.0.