- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 5
- Start Date
- 27 Jan 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 Weeks (January to June)
Graphic design and illustration is all around us, from billboards to magazines, packaging and logos, you will encounter the work of a graphic designer and illustrator many times every day.
The creative industries is growing — by 2030 the UK Government has projected that the sector will have increased by £50 billion supporting a million extra jobs.
If you are creative and enjoy problem solving, then graphic design or illustration is a good career choice. This short 18-week Access to HND Graphic Design and Illustration course is ideal for anyone looking to learn and develop graphic design and illustration skills to progress to further study.
What will I learn?
You will gain an understanding and practical knowledge of typography, poster design and digital design, analytical drawing, illustration styles, professional development and a personal project where will have the opportunity to work on a piece of graphic design or illustration of your choosing.
By the end, you'll have a better grasp of what graphic designers and illustrators do and what course you can apply to next.
During the Access to HND Graphic Design and Illustration course you will study:
- Introduction to illustration where you'll learn about the design process for illustrators and research methodologies
- Analytical drawing where you'll develop your drawing skills
- Sketchbook process which includes the development of creative ideation through research and sketch ideation
- Introduction to graphic design which will cover the design process for graphic designers and research methodologies
- Poster design which involves applying illustration and graphic design typography to a set design brief
- Personal project where you'll work to a brief specialising in your choice of either illustration or graphic design.
For examples of our student work please visit the examples below:
Entry requirements (minimum)
- You should preferably have two passes at National 4, or equivalent, including English, or an ESOL equivalent
- You should have an interest in art and design and demonstrate this within the personal statement in the application form
- You may be asked to provide examples of your drawing ability in pencil and in colour
- Applications are also invited from those without formal qualifications but who have relevant life and/or work experience.
- If English is not your first language and you have no formal qualifications, you will still be considered for the course but will be required to complete a short ESOL assessment.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
We have excellent links with industry and students on the course benefit from visits from industry professionals throughout the programme.
Jobs and further study
Successful students may progress to the following courses starting in August at Glasgow Clyde College:
- HND Graphic Design
- HND Illustration
- Foundation in Graphic Design and Illustration
Take a look at the course progression map for graphic design and illustration courses.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Invited to book an interview session. You will be sent information about the course in advance of a 1:1 interview being set up at our Cardonald Campus. Interviews will take place between December and early January.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding. This will normally be sent out in January.
