BA (Hons) Digital Design Course

Entry Requirements 2026/27

Standard Entry

96 to 112 Tariff Points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions and we understand that every applicant’s circumstances can be different, which is why we take a flexible approach when making offers for this course. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our university regardless of personal circumstances or background. Typically, offers range from 96 to 112 UCAS tariff points, but we’ll assess your individual circumstances and potential when reviewing your application

To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

A portfolio of creative design work is required. Get advice on preparing your portfolio here:https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/coming-to-northumbria/portfolios/

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.

Entry Requirements 2027/28

Standard Entry

96 to 112 Tariff Points

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

A portfolio of creative design work is required. Get advice on preparing your portfolio here:https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/coming-to-northumbria/portfolios/

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.

Fees and Funding 2026/27 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,790

The UK tuition fee for 26/27 is £9,790 and is set in line with the UG Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase this fee in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.

The remaining fees relate to the International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements.

Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.

*if your course is longer than one year

* Fees subject to annual increases over the course of the period of study. Students will be liable for payment of any/all tuition fees which are not sponsored by their employer or other third party.

International Fee in Year 1: £19,850

This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.

This is the programme fee for your first year of study. The programme fee includes the international tuition fee, International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements.

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options available for UK and International applicants for 26/27 entry.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

During your time on the programme you will incur additional costs for design materials research trips. These are optional not mandatory. Subsidised optional day study trips may incur minimal personal costs e.g. meals, entry to museums (approx.. £10), etc. There may also be optional student-funded national or international study visits, which vary in cost according to destination. Whilst we provide access to computers and software, we would recommend that students have their own laptops – we would suggest getting the best spec you can. Software programmes: Adobe Creative Cloud is provided by the University throughout the programme. It is recommended that you purchase a portable hard drive(s) to back up your digital work (approx. £ 50) as well as a personal SD card for digital cameras (approx. £10).

Fees and Funding 2027/28 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £10,050

The University may increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments). If the University intends to exercise this right to increase tuition fees, notification will be communicated with all students affected by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which we intend to exercise that right. Student fee loans have risen in line with the level of uplift decided by the UK Government.

Extended Degrees: Students will pay the applicable Foundation Year fee in Year 0. Tuition fees will follow the Year 1 (Level 4) cap in the first year of Undergraduate study, with tuition fees in subsequent years increasing as per the above information.

International Fee in Year 1: TBC

International fees for the 2027/28 academic year will be confirmed in due course. As an indication, tuition fees in the 2026/27 academic year were £19,850 or £21,500 depending on the course of study. Fees are charged for each year of study and may be subject to an inflationary or other uplift in the second and subsequent years of study as decided by the University. Students will be notified of any changes by the end of June each academic year.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

TBC

Modules Overview

As a Digital Design student, you will use creative design briefs and real-world collaborations to explore the principles and practice of designing human-centred digital products, interfaces, objects or environments. Led by subjects experts, the course combines human-centred and critical research methods with visual and interaction design principles to allow you to explore and speculate with new and emerging technologies, and prototype outcomes. A shared module in each year will allow you to expand your field of study in collaboration with students from across different design disciplines.

Year 1 - Fundamentals

Year 1 explores the fundamentals: visual design, web and app interface design, UX principles, and a taste of creative coding. You'll start building your portfolio from day one.

Year 2 - Going deeper

Year 2 pushes further. Motion, sound, data, advanced UX, and emerging technologies: this is where your practice starts to take a distinct shape.

Year 3 - Your year to shape (Optional)

For the optional year, you can choose a placement at a real studio, study abroad at a partner university, work on live industry briefs on campus, or move on to final year (see below). The choice is yours - you can mix options across the two semesters.

Year 4 - Make your mark

Final year is all about leaving your stamp. A major self-directed project, collaboration with an external client, and a public exhibition of your finished portfolio.

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.