Programme Overview - Degree: Bachelor of Art (Honours) in Contemporary Creative Practice: Graphic Design/Illustration/Photography (Awarded by Staffordshire University)
- Programme duration: 3 years (Full-time)
- Intake: January and September
British standardised programme
Broad, practical and open-minded approach
High-end technical facilities
Personal portfolio after graduation
What is unique about the Contemporary Creative Practice (CCP) programme is the creative flexibility and options offered to students. The programme is taught with a very broad and open-minded approach, which allows, and encourages, students to ‘try out’ different creative and visual approaches.
In the first year of the Contemporary Creative Practice programme at BUV, students will be set a wide range of different project types. Nearly all the projects are practical so that students can gain the most experience in creating artwork and visual work. The variety of project styles during year one also helps students to learn about the different subject areas of graphic design, illustration, photography and to make choices about which area of the industry they would like to work in when they graduate. The CCP programme also teaches extensive skills in digital techniques and the latest Adobe software, as well as workshops from practicing designers, photographers, creative practitioners and industry professionals.
In the final year of the programme, students focus their skills in one subject area (from the three pathways of graphic design, illustration, photography) and undertake projects that allow them to develop a highly specialised and professional portfolio of work. This is supported with industry research and live briefs that enable them to build contacts and links with industry and potential employers.
Course structure 
Year 1
Year 1 – Study Skills for Creative Practitioners
– Visual Studies
– Practical Contemporary Art Practice
– Art Practitioners in Historical and Contemporary Context
– Professional Issues for Contemporary Art Practitioners
Year 2
Year 2 – Creative Influences
– Visual Communication
– Exploring Contemporary Art Practice
– Major Project for Arts Practitioners
– Professional Development for Arts Practitioners
Year 3
Year 3 - Graphic Design
– Practical Contemporary Practice in Graphic Design
– Creative Enterprise in Graphic Design
– Industry Investigation
– Negotiated Final Major Project
– Professional Practice in Graphic Design
- Illustration
– Practical Contemporary Practice in Illustration
– Creative Enterprise in Illustration
– Negotiated Final Major Project
– Professional Practice in Illustration
– Industry Investigation
- Photography
– Practical Contemporary Practice in Photography
– Creative Enterprise in Photography
– Negotiated Final Major Project
– Professional Practice in Photography
– Industry Investigation
– Study Skills for Creative Practitioners
– Visual Studies
– Practical Contemporary Art Practice
– Art Practitioners in Historical and Contemporary Context
– Professional Issues for Contemporary Art Practitioners
– Creative Influences
– Visual Communication
– Exploring Contemporary Art Practice
– Major Project for Arts Practitioners
– Professional Development for Arts Practitioners
- Graphic Design
– Practical Contemporary Practice in Graphic Design
– Creative Enterprise in Graphic Design
– Industry Investigation
– Negotiated Final Major Project
– Professional Practice in Graphic Design
- Illustration
– Practical Contemporary Practice in Illustration
– Creative Enterprise in Illustration
– Negotiated Final Major Project
– Professional Practice in Illustration
– Industry Investigation
- Photography
– Practical Contemporary Practice in Photography
– Creative Enterprise in Photography
– Negotiated Final Major Project
– Professional Practice in Photography
– Industry Investigation
Programme outcomes At the end of your studies you should be able to:
Knowledge & Understanding
Demonstrate a coherent knowledge and understanding of key aspects of creative professional practice, including the acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge of specific contemporary practices and their historical, theoretical, cultural and professional contexts
(Art and Design Benchmark statement: 2.4, 5.4, 6.3, 6.5, 6.8, 6.9)
Enquiry
Accurately select and apply a range of research and investigative processes to identify and address – theoretically and practically – working practices that develop and support the production of academic, professional and self-initiated projects in the pursuit of your professional development.
(Art and Design Benchmark statement 2.6, 5.5, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8)
Analysis
Apply a range of evaluative techniques to undertake the critical analysis of working practices and products in relation to major debates and the development of a personal position within the contemporary contexts of the Creative Industries. Describe the influence of historic precedents on current practice through the exploration of other people’s ideas and research.
(Art and Design Benchmark statement 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10)
Problem Solving
Develop appropriate inquiry to identify and predict problems, in order to explore alternative possibilities and to apply the most appropriate solutions in a professional and creative manner.
(Art and Design Benchmark statement 2.3, 2.6, 5.6, 6.4, 6.8)
Application
Apply, to a professional level, appropriate methods and techniques of enquiry and analysis to the design process, and in the development and production of practical or written projects in creative practice, considering the underlying theories and principles.
(Art and Design Benchmark statement 2.4, 2.7, 5.6, 6.3, 6.7, 6.8)
Reflection
Demonstrate the ability to be evaluative, analytical and critical of the approaches about professional, practical and contextual issues in creative practice and have the ability to exercise autonomy, initiative and self-direction in preparation for professional life.
(Art and Design Benchmark statement 2.3, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10)
Employability As well as providing the opportunity for students to learn discipline specific skills, CCP programme at BUV also develops multi-disciplinary appreciation and transferable skills that allow them to work across areas, as well as advancing through the industry. This is typical of working in the Creative Industries, where collaborative and cross-discipline activity is expected, enriching the environment and helping to generate new ideas and ways of working.
The graphics course will support you in researching on the most effective ways to apply your skills and knowledge into a highly competitive marketplace. Through a programme of investigation and evaluation into the contemporary industry environment, your digital and hand-originated work may be utilised in the production of supporting advertising and branding campaign production, working to design, lay and set book jackets, creating artwork for magazines, corporate reports, or brochures. You might be developing logos and illustrations for websites or advising clients on visual communication strategies for specific audiences. The skills you develop will support your work towards achieving your aspirations, which may be to work as a freelance graphic artist, to set up an agency, to work as a graphic designer in a larger company etc.
If you select this course, you will be combining your skills in art, design and creative practice to explore options for earning your living within the field of illustration, whether that is through traditional or contemporary media and methods. You’ll be working to produce images through hand and / or digital methods that will have identified clients and routes to market. You will have the opportunity to explore various career options and plan a career route accordingly: as an illustrator, you might be considering work as a freelance illustrator for images for clothing companies, developing images to support magazine articles or children’s books, working on technical images for manuals or pursuing a career as a medical illustrator.
This award will support those who wish to build a career within the competitive world of photography, whether as a freelance photographer or working for a studio or a larger business with photography requirements. You might be choosing to work primarily with artificial or natural light, developing your image capture skills and perhaps focusing on a specific area that you wish to specialise in completing your degree, such as wedding photography, portraiture, landscape work, wildlife, science-based, corporate photography etc. The course also gives you the opportunity to network with creatives in other disciplines, and use your photography skills in their areas, such as fashion and online media, which will support a wide variety of career possibilities.
The graphics course will support you in researching on the most effective ways to apply your skills and knowledge into a highly competitive marketplace. Through a programme of investigation and evaluation into the contemporary industry environment, your digital and hand-originated work may be utilised in the production of supporting advertising and branding campaign production, working to design, lay and set book jackets, creating artwork for magazines, corporate reports, or brochures. You might be developing logos and illustrations for websites or advising clients on visual communication strategies for specific audiences. The skills you develop will support your work towards achieving your aspirations, which may be to work as a freelance graphic artist, to set up an agency, to work as a graphic designer in a larger company etc.
If you select this course, you will be combining your skills in art, design and creative practice to explore options for earning your living within the field of illustration, whether that is through traditional or contemporary media and methods. You’ll be working to produce images through hand and / or digital methods that will have identified clients and routes to market. You will have the opportunity to explore various career options and plan a career route accordingly: as an illustrator, you might be considering work as a freelance illustrator for images for clothing companies, developing images to support magazine articles or children’s books, working on technical images for manuals or pursuing a career as a medical illustrator.
This award will support those who wish to build a career within the competitive world of photography, whether as a freelance photographer or working for a studio or a larger business with photography requirements. You might be choosing to work primarily with artificial or natural light, developing your image capture skills and perhaps focusing on a specific area that you wish to specialise in completing your degree, such as wedding photography, portraiture, landscape work, wildlife, science-based, corporate photography etc. The course also gives you the opportunity to network with creatives in other disciplines, and use your photography skills in their areas, such as fashion and online media, which will support a wide variety of career possibilities.
Entry requirements Academic Requirements:
- Aged 17 or over
- One of the following qualifications:
– Vietnamese High School Diploma and Pathway to Staffordshire University Programme
– Pass 2 subjects at Advanced GCE (A-Level)
– An access programme passed at the required QAA-recognised standard for entry to Higher Education
– An award of the European Baccalaureate Diploma, with at least 60 percent overall; English at 60 percent
– An award of the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 24 points; English at 4 points
English Language Requirements:
One of the following:
- A proficiency test within the last 2 years:
– IELTS (non UKVI): 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component; or
– TOEFL IBT: Listening: 17; Speaking: 20; Reading: 18; Writing: 17
- A proficiency test within the last 5 years:
– International Baccalaureate (taught in English) Pass in English B at Standard Level grade 5 or High Level grade 4; or
– IGCSE English: IGCSE English as a first or second language: Grade C; or
– Cambridge International English GCE O-Level/GCSE: English Language grade A – C
If you have not met one of the above requirements you need to complete IELTS Upper-Intermediate Course at BUV or equivalent.
You don’t need to provide evidence of English language proficiency if any of the following conditions apply: If you’re a UK national; If you’ve completed a full degree from a UK university.
What do our students say? 
1810 Contemporary Creative Practice Cohort
The thing that has impressed me the most at BUV until now is the application of knowledge in the process of learning. All the theories can somehow be applied as fast as possible to personal projects. This is a very strong factor when studying in a creative major, because balancing between knowledge and practice is not easy at all. Besides, absorbing general knowledge through the learning process could be a huge strength for different specialists in the field. For instance, knowing basic drawing and printing can help even when the student chooses to become a photographer.
Programme pass rate The pass rate for Contemporary Creative Practice programme is 100%.
Fees and financial aid Fee
For the course starting on 1st January 2023 the tuition fees are:
| Tuition Fee | Other Fees* | Total Fee | |
| Pathway to SU | VND 76,210,000 | VND 13,340,000 | VND 89,550,000 |
| Degree | VND 625,254,000 | VND 156,342,000 | VND 781,596,000 |
*Other Fees include Educational Resource Fee and Student Affairs Fee.
Tuition Fee & Fee Policy
Financial aid
The British University Vietnam (BUV) scholarship fund was established in 2018 with the goal of giving students the opportunity to study UK undergraduate and graduate programmes in an international learning environment. With an aim to improve and increase accessibility to high-quality education, BUV has officially launched the fund valued at 46 billion VND in 2022 with hundreds of scholarships and financial aid made available.
You can visit our Scholarship page to find out more and check your eligibility.