Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Admission, Top Colleges, Fees, Scholarships & Jobs
Masters in Graphic Design in UKDo you have a keen interest in studying a Masters in Graphic Design abroad, such as in the UK? This article provides you with the top universities, job opportunities and placements, and much more information to help you pursue Masters in Graphic Design in UK. This course is a postgraduate degree for 1 year that enables candidates to obtain a 2-year post-study work visa for working in the UK. University of Edinburgh, Anglia Ruskin University, and Loughborough University are regarded as the top universities that offer Masters in Graphic Design in UK.
After the completion of Masters in Graphic Design in UK, the students can get jobs such as Web Designer, Illustrator, Creative Director with a salary package of £20,000 to £40,000 (₹23,24,000 to ₹46,48,000). Organisations like Google, Microsoft, Pentagram Design and Accenture engage in hiring graphic designers to ensure them a bright career in the UK.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Details
To get admission into Masters in Graphic Design in UK, you need to initially know the duration, top universities, average cost, and intake seasons of the universities for admission.
Particulars | Details |
Duration | 1 year |
Top Universities | University of Edinburgh, Loughborough University, and Anglia Ruskin University |
Average tuition fees | £16,000 to £30,000 (₹,8,56,000 to ₹34,80,000) |
Cost of living | £1300-£1400 (₹1,50,800-₹1,62,400) each month in London, whereas in the UK, £900-£1300 (₹1,04,400-₹1,50,800) within the rest of the UK |
Job opportunities | Web Designer, Creative Director, Illustrator |
Placements | Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Pentagram Design |
Intake seasons | January, May, July, August, September |
Masters in Graphic Design in UK - Important Dates and Events
The applications for Masters in Graphic Design in UK, along with their visa application timeline in the top universities offering this course, are different for various universities.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Application Start & End Dates for Top Universities
The universities in the UK are internationally recognised for their strong academic excellence. Look at the table below that shows the universities providing graphic design courses in the UK for global students.
University | Courses | Application deadline |
University of Edinburgh | Master of Arts (MA) in Graphic Design |
|
Loughborough University | Master of Arts (MA) in Graphic Design and Visualisation |
|
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge | Master of Arts (MA) in Graphic Design & Typography | Sep, 2026 |
The University of the West of England | Master of Arts (MA) in Graphic Arts | 1 Aug, 2024 |
Nottingham Trent University | Master of Arts (MA) in Graphic Design | 30 July, 2024 |
Middlesex University | 1 Sep, 2025 |
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Visa Application Timeline
The student visa in the UK for international candidates, in terms of application timeline, is before 6 months, and 3 weeks is the visa processing time.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Fees
Tuition Fees: The tuition fees are provided in a table for various universities in terms of UK and Indian currencies.
University | Tuition fees |
University of Edinburgh | £29,900 (₹34,91,320) |
Loughborough University | £28,750 (₹33,72,780) |
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge |
|
The University of the West of England | £16,000 (₹,8,78,080) |
Nottingham Trent University | £17,500 (₹20,54,150) |
Middlesex University | £15,463 (₹18,15,109) in a year |
Living Costs: The price of pursuing Masters in Graphic Design in UK might change depending on the part-time or full-time enrolment of the students in the courses. The living costs in the UK include food, accommodation, personal expenses, transportation, healthcare, etc.
Type of expenses | Average yearly expense (£) | Cost for the Indian students (₹) |
Meals | 2,400 | ₹2,81,712 |
Accommodation | 7,200 | ₹8,45,136 |
Utilities | 2,220 | ₹2,60,484 |
Transportation | 780 | ₹91,556 |
Personal Expenses | 1,500 | ₹1,76,070 |
Why Choose a Masters in Graphic Design in UK?
The career benefits, global exposure and networking are the significant factors to be looked upon when pursuing Masters in Graphic Design in UK.
- Career Benefits: As per the National Career Services of the UK Government, the average salary in the initial stage of a graphic designer is £20,000, which increases to £40,000 with experience. After becoming a graphic designer in UK, the students can get the benefit to work for 37 to 40 hours a week. The 96% employment rate in UK is obtained by the graphics designing sector.
- Global Exposure and Networking: After pursuing this course, the students get abundant networking opportunities in terms of collaborating with global students and obtaining exposure to the international design trends. They get to know a variety of design-related and creative careers.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Qualification
Getting admission to Masters in Graphic Design in UK requires a good qualification, whose details are.
- Required Degrees: At least 60% in a bachelor's degree in a related field is needed to be scored for students.
- English Proficiency: Students who want to pursue this course must keep in mind about scoring a valid mark in English proficiency language tests like IELTS or TOEFL-iBT.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Eligibility Criteria – Category-wise
The eligibility criteria for the students are important in terms of academic performance, language test scores, application requirements and admission steps of the various universities providing Masters in Graphic Design in UK.
- Academic Performance: Students who want to study Masters in Graphic Design in UK need to score 60% or more in a bachelor’s degree in a related area (8 score in CGPA on a scale of 10 point).
- Language Test Scores: At least a 6.5 score or equivalent in IELTS should be obtained by the candidates for admission to Masters in Graphic Design in UK. Moreover, the TOEFL-iBT score must be 90 or above in the top universities, though this varies from one university to another.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Application Process
The following steps for the application process for Masters in Graphic Design in UK are.
- A bachelor’s degree with 60% or above in a related area (CGPA with an 8 score out of a 10-point scale)
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score or equivalent
- Statement of Purpose
- A Digital Portfolio that contains brochures, adverts, website designs, and magazines that were created by you before
- Financial statements
- Work experience that is preferred
- Student visa for the UK
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: SOP, LOR, and Resume
During admission to Masters in Graphic Design in UK, the students are required to submit a Letter of Recommendation (LOR), Statement of Purpose (SOP), Digital Portfolio and Financial Statements.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: University-Specific Admission Steps
The academic requirements and additional documents needed by the students when applying for Masters in Graphic Design in UK are.
University | Admission steps | Additional documents |
University of Edinburgh | 2:1 honours degree in the UK, or its global equivalent in graphic design (60% or more than that, or an 8 GPA score in bachelor’s studies) | Portfolio |
Loughborough University | 2:1 honours degree or an equivalent global qualification in Art and Design or for closely related subject (65% or more) | Submission of a PDF portfolio of 20 pages, and it should not be more than 5 MB |
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge | Bachelor’s of 3 years or 4 years within a related field, with at least a division 2 (50% to 59%) in the relevant subjects | Submission of a digital portfolio |
The University of the West of England | Bachelor’s degree of 3 or 4 years in a related field (55% or more) | A portfolio that is based on practical work which contains 12 to 15 pieces of work, and a personal statement that has 500 to 600 words |
Nottingham Trent University | Honours degree with 2:2 in a related subject | A practical work portfolio |
Middlesex University | 2:2 or more in the honours degree or equivalent qualification within an appropriate subject | Entry depends on an interview as well as a portfolio |
Top Masters in Graphic Design Entrance Exams for UK
IELTS and TOEFL are considered the top entrance exams for securing strong English proficiency to get admission to Masters in Graphic Design in UK.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: IELTS/TOEFL Tips
The tips for getting well prepared for the entrance exams, such as IELTS/TOEFL for admission to Masters in Graphic Design in UK are.
- Get familiarised with the format of the test
- Regularly practice
- Prioritise all four skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing
- Considering getting enrolled in a preparation course
- Research all the particular requirements of the universities
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Cutoff
The IELTS/TOEFL scores are vital that are required to be present among the interested candidates to showcase their English proficiency.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: IELTS/TOEFL Score Cutoffs
The cutoff in terms of IELTS for admission to Masters in Graphic Design in UK for the top universities is.
University | IELTS/TOEFL Score Cutoffs |
University of Edinburgh | IELTS with a 7.0 score |
Loughborough University | 6.5 score in IELTS |
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge | IELTS score of 6.5 and 88 in TOEFL-iBT |
The University of the West of England | 6.5 as the IELTS score, 90 or more in TOEFL-iBT |
Nottingham Trent University | IELTS with a 6.5 score, TOEFL-iBT with a 73 score |
Middlesex University | 6.5 score in IELTS, 79 score in TOEFL-iBT |
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Syllabus
The syllabus for Masters in Graphic Design in UK at the top universities is detailed below.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Core Courses
The core courses for pursuing Masters in Graphic Design in UK prioritise design principles, professional practice, and research methods.
University | Core Courses |
University of Edinburgh | Experiential design, advertising, packaging, exhibition design, digital design, marketing, design research, and many more |
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge | Effect the social change through a creative designer for Community cohesion, perspectival and behavioural change, diversity and integration |
The University of the West of England | Diverse practices of graphic arts, graphic design processes |
Nottingham Trent University | Practice-led and intensive research in graphic design |
Middlesex University | Branding, typography, illustration, photography |
Best Universities/Colleges for Masters in Graphic Design in UK
The top public universities offering Masters in Graphic Design in UK include the University of Edinburgh, Anglia Ruskin University, Loughborough University, the University of the West of England, Middlesex University, and Nottingham Trent University. The QS ranking for the universities providing Masters in Graphic Design in UK is.
University | QS ranking |
University of Edinburgh | 34 |
Loughborough University | 39 |
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge | 501-550 (World rankings) |
The University of the West of England | 721-730 (World rankings) |
Nottingham Trent University | 51-100 |
Middlesex University | 801-850 (world rankings) |
Masters in Graphic Design in UK vs Masters in Graphic Design in India
UK and Indian universities provide Masters in Graphic Design in UK whose comparison is presented.
Particulars | UK | India |
Duration of the course | 1 year | 2 years |
Opportunities for a career | Broader opportunities in international brands, freelancing and agencies in Europe | Opportunities from the Indian agencies, local organisations, and studios |
Global exposure | High global exposure and engaging with diverse individuals and knowing international design principles | Less global exposure with design perspectives from India |
Tuition fees | £16,000 to £30,000 (₹,8,56,000 to ₹34,80,000) | ₹40,000 to ₹7,50,000 in a year, though this varies as per the university |
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Scholarships
The scholarships in the UK are offered to students to obtain wide benefits, but they should meet the required steps. Need-based awards, prizes, and assistantships, and tuition exemptions are available for students studying Masters in Graphic Design in UK.
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Scholarship Deadline for 2025
The deadlines of the scholarships in the UK and their value are given.
Scholarship type | Deadline | Value |
Cyber Security and Data Analytics Global Excellence Scholarship | 31st Jul 2025 | Varies |
Andrew Grant Postgraduate Scholarships by the University of Edinburgh | 17 April, 2025 | £13,000 in a year (₹15,26,000) |
Edinburgh College of Art EU Scholarship Scheme (PGT) by the University of Edinburgh | - | £17,500 (₹20,53,150) |
Academic Excellence Scholarship | - | £3.500 (₹4,10,830) |
India Scholarships | - | For the 1st year, it is £1,500 (₹1,76,069) |
Career Scope After Masters in Graphic Design in UK
After completing Masters in Graphic Design in UK, students will be able to develop visual branding, magazines, brochures, adverts, product packaging, website designs, and displays. The job designations, along with the salary package after doing Masters in Graphic Design in UK are.
Title of the job | Annual salary on average (£) | Average yearly salary (₹) |
Junior graphic designers | 20,575 | ₹24,11,995 |
Graphic Design Manager | 33,667 | ₹39,48,462 |
Senior graphic designers | 32,956 | ₹38,61,110 |
Animator | 24,910 | ₹29,17,853 |
Graphic Designer, Web | 23,798 | ₹27,87,613 |
UX Designer | 33,807 | ₹39,62,369 |
Masters in Graphic Design in UK: Top Recruiters/Placement Companies
In UK, London and other main cities offer placement opportunities to students who have completed Masters in Graphic Design in UK. The animated films that come along with television shows have a major portion of animation labor with 90%. This creates a huge demand in the UK to include graphic designers who can engage in diverse job opportunities in storytelling, design, and VFX. Most of the organisations hire the students who have pursued graphic design in UK to provide them so that they can achieve their career goals. Refer to the table below that will help the students completing Masters in Graphic Design in UK to know the salary range provided by the top companies to the graphic designers, however, this might vary.
Salaries | Top Recruiters | Average package (Highest and Lowest) |
£36,405 (₹42,31,000) | Pentagram Design |
|
£41,379 (₹48,09,000) | Accenture | |
- | ||
£28,000–£50,000 (₹32,55,000 – ₹58,11,000) | Microsoft |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques: What is the qualification needed to apply for Masters in Graphic Design in UK?
Ans: Candidates should secure a minimum of 60% in a bachelor’s degree in a related field with a CGPA score of 8 out of a 10-point scale. Moreover, their strong English proficiency should be highlighted by getting 6.5 or more in IELTS and 90 or more in TOEFL.
Ques: Which companies offer placement to the students after completing Masters in Graphic Design in UK?
Ans: Accenture, Pentagram Design, Google, and Microsoft and other UK-focused creative agencies provide placement opportunities for jobs who have studied Masters in Graphic Design in UK.
Ques: Is it worth studying for a Masters in Graphic Design in UK?
Ans: Yes, it is worth studying for a Masters in Graphic Design in UK because the students get huge career advantages, networking, global exposure, diverse engagement, and sector connections in global creative industries.
Ques: What is the salary package offered to the Indian students who have done Masters in Graphic Design in UK?
Ans: ₹23,24,000 to ₹46,48,000 is the average salary package provided to the Indian students who have completed Masters in Graphic Design in UK. However, the range of the salary is based on the industry of employment, region, reputation and experience levels.
Ques: What are the top universities that provide Masters in Graphic Design in UK?
Ans: University of Edinburgh, Loughborough University, Nottingham Trent University, Middlesex University, Anglia Ruskin University, and the University of the West of England are considered the top universities to provide Masters in Graphic Design in UK.