What can this course lead to?
Just some of the future careers for graduates after completing the course include:
- App Designer
- Website Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Illustrator
- Photographer/Videographer
- 3D Modeler
- Creative Director
BA (Hons) Creative Digital Design
- Course Type: Undergraduate Degree
- Institution Code: P56
Who is it for?
Are you a creative thinker who wants to develop professional skills for the fast-growing creative and digital industries? This degree equips you with the technical, conceptual, and professional expertise to work as a Creative Digital Designer in roles across design, media, and technology. You’ll explore a wide range of digital design practices — including UX and interface design, film and stills production, 3D modelling and visualisation, and data-driven design — while developing your understanding of how design operates across emerging platforms such as immersive, virtual, and augmented reality.
You’ll engage with central debates in contemporary digital art and design and gain a deep understanding of the creative industries. Through live briefs, industry collaborations, and integrated projects, you’ll learn to apply your skills to real-world challenges and develop a professional portfolio that showcases your talents to employers. The course concludes with your Undergraduate Major Project, where you’ll produce a major digital design project that demonstrates your creativity, technical ability, and professional readiness. Throughout your studies, you’ll be supported in developing your professional identity, entrepreneurial mindset, and industry network to ensure a smooth transition into employment or further study. Students will also benefit from small class sizes and close support from lecturers who are active professionals in the creative industries.
This qualification is awarded by The Open University and delivered by University Centre Peterborough.
To view the course specification, click here.
You can view The Open University regulations here.What is covered?
YEAR 1- Level 4
- Digital Asset Development (30 credits)
- Photography (15 credits)
- Digital Animation (15 credits)
- Critical Theory in Art and Media (15 credits)
- Graphic Design (15 credits)
- Introduction to the Creative Industries (15 credits)
- Web Design and Authoring (15 credits)
YEAR 2 - Level 5
- Computer Game Design (30 credits)
- Critical Practices in Art and Media (15 credits)
- App Design (15 credits)
- Integrated Advertising (30 credits )
- Professional Practice and Development (30 credits - with 120 hour Work Placement)
YEAR 3- Level 6
- Undergraduate Major Project (60 credits)
- Developing Ethical and Professional Skills (15 credits)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
88 UCAS Points and 5 GCSE grades C/4 or above including English and maths.
Mature students or students who do not have the above qualifications can contact our admissions team on 01733 214466 or admissions@ucp.ac.uk to discuss equivalent qualifications or relevant work experience. For more information on EU and overseas qualifications, UCAS, accreditation of prior learning and failure to meet the entry requirements please visit www.ucp.ac.uk
When studying this course at University Centre Peterborough, we will timetable your lectures as two full days a week over two semesters per year (part-time will be one to two full days a week over two semesters per year).
We are able to offer this convenient timetabling to our students as we are a smaller institution so we can timetable our staff and resources more efficiently.
Over the duration of your course, teaching will be delivered by the following methods:
Year one for full-time students (Level 4)
- 25% Lectures
- 75% Workshops
Year two for full-time students (Level 5)
- 25% Lectures
- 75% Workshops
Final year for full-time students (Level 6)
- 25% Lectures
- 75% Workshops
There are two semesters per year and each semester is up to 15 weeks which includes up to 12 teaching weeks and 3 assessment weeks.
If studying full-time you will be in classes, seminars and tutorials for approximately 15 hours per week and will spend the rest of your time in independent study and extra-curricular activities including work placement if not embedded in your course. We recommend that full-time students allow an additional 30 hours per week for additional study.
The campus is open Monday to Friday throughout the year and you will also have 24/7 access to a virtual learning environment (VLE) with e-books, journals and abstracts plus teaching resources and interactive tools.
Timetables are available at least 6 weeks before registration and you can refer to the academic calendar for examination weeks and resit periods.
The days of the week you study may change each year and in some circumstances one of the full days might have to be split into two half days, but we aim to keep these as full days where possible.
Throughout the duration of your course you will be assessed by the following methods:
Year one for full-time students (Level 4)
- 100% Coursework
Year two for full-time students (Level 5)
- 100% Coursework
Final year for full-time students (Level 6)
- 50% Coursework
- 50% Major Project
Your final degree classification is calculate as an average of all Level 5 and Level 6 credits with the Level 6 credits given twice as much weighting as the Level 5.
Visit our published documents and policies page for The Open University regulations.
Students will need to pay for transport, stationery, trips (non-mandatory), sportswear/kit and art based materials. Black and white photocopying is available, but students will be required to pay for colour copies and posters for presentations.
In your second year as part of the Professional Practice and Development module, you will undertake a 120 hour (three week) work placement with a design agency or media organisation and/or work on an industry commission.
As the course is timetabled as full days during the week when studied full-time, this also gives you the flexibility to find a work placement, internship or volunteering opportunity which will improve your employability after you graduate. This may also provide time for you to undertake private and freelance work alongside your studies. All students are encouraged to identify work experience in addition to their work placement to aid their career development.
Grace Theunissen is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Creative Digital Design at University Centre Peterborough. She holds a BA (Hons) Digital Arts and a Foundation Degree in Digital Arts, both awarded by Anglia Ruskin University. Grace brings a strong combination of creative, technical, and pedagogical expertise to her role, underpinned by professional experience in digital media, design, and visual communication. Before joining the academic team, she worked as a Creative Media Officer at University Centre Peterborough and as a Graphic and Web Designer for private clients, where she developed skills in branding, user experience, and digital storytelling.
Her teaching covers a wide range of contemporary design subjects, including Digital Design Skills, 3D Modelling and Visualisation, Introduction to Rapid Prototyping, UX Tools and Techniques, App Design, Film and Stills, Data-Driven Design, Integrated Advertising, Critical Theory in Art and Design, and Creative Futures. Grace’s teaching approach focuses on creativity, innovation, and applied learning through live briefs and collaborative projects.
She supports students in developing both technical competence and creative confidence, ensuring they graduate with professional portfolios ready for the industry. Her research interests centre on digital design production, branding, user experience, and immersive technologies, with a particular focus on how digital media and user-centred design enhance engagement, creativity, and communication in professional and educational settings.
Course information
Ucas Code
DARB
Location
Peterborough
Start Date
September
Fees
Tuition fees are £9,000 per year for full-time students and £6,750 for part-time students, which is lower than many other universities.
Duration
Full-time: 3 years (2 full days a week over two semesters per year)
Part-time: 4 years (1-2 full days a week over two semesters per year)
Validated by
The Open University
Tariff points
88
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01733 214466
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