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Students collaborate on a design project in the studio.

BA (Hons) Communication Design

Key information

Find out more about our 3 year honours degree option.

Level
Undergraduate
Delivery type
Full Time
Degree qualification
BA (Hons)
Mode of delivery
On-Campus
Duration
3-4 years
Location
Dubai
Start date
September

Communication Design is constantly evolving across a wide range of industry sectors and our BA (Hons) programme supports students to develop creative, critical and technical skills that reflect this change as well as anticipate the needs of future evolution in this sector. The programme structure allows students to undertake a cross-disciplinary path of study with a main focus on Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography.

The Communication Design programme develops three key areas of conceptual, applied and entrepreneurial forms of communicating information through a variety of media. The evolving technological components, growing ease of social media and globalisation of communication require the design and interpretation of information to transcend beyond existing industrial and capitalistic formats.

This new type of communication design deals with collaborative experiences, socially dynamic and inclusive agendas, and provides key forms for critical informational research. This programme enables studio cooperative learning within a life-centred design approach in four evolving areas: Graphic Design (inclusive illustration), photography, moving image/animation,  and interaction design (UX/UI).

This is further supported by courses in Art direction and Storytelling, Design Branding, Advanced practice and evaluation, Critical and Contextual Studies and Global Fashion Management. These courses also focus on the key element of entrepreneurship and will prepare students for a variety of roles within the design industry and beyond including film, media, and social enterprise. In the end, it promotes a new type of student for a new type of world, where the disciplinary divisions are erased to promote a transdisciplinary approach to design.

Why study Communication Design at Heriot-Watt University's Dubai Campus?

  • To develop socially-aware creatives in entrepreneurially engaged, evidenced-based communication design.
  • To encourage critical engagement with entrepreneurial social enterprise within and with creative industries.
  • To maintain strong industry connections worldwide particularly within MENASA (Middle East North Africa South Asia) and the European Union.
  •  To promote sustainable, life-centred, socio-political communication design, development, and research.

Creative Futures Award

Kick‑start your design ambitions through the Creative Futures Award, dedicated to supporting the next generation of creative thinkers at Heriot‑Watt University Dubai.

Learn more

Your student experience

Accreditation
Accreditation
Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in the United Kingdom.

  • Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE

Course content

September Intake

Disclaimer

The courses mentioned above may change between now and the time that you study. For more information, please view our Terms and Conditions.

Fees and funding

StatusFull Time
FeeAED 82,264
  • All tuition fees inclusive of VAT.

Entry requirements

We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.

Why Heriot-Watt

As the first British university to set up a campus in Dubai in 2005, we have established ourselves as a pioneer in the higher education market in the UAE. The three consecutive five-star ratings by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a testament to our reputation for world-class teaching.

The futuristic Dubai campus is designed to offer interactive and collaborative learning experiences with innovative classroom styles fostering group work and engagement like Collaborative lecture theatres, Digitally Classrooms and Seminar rooms. The campus also has dedicated cutting-edge laboratories and workshops that span various engineering disciplines along with Psychology, IT, Photography, Design and Architecture.

Our practical, leading-edge research combined with strong links to business and industry, have made our graduates highly employable and sought after by the best organisations worldwide, with over 90% in graduate-level jobs or further study within six months of graduation. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education through our Go Global programme.

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