Art Schools Worldwide
Compare0

Subject · 210 verified programs

Visual Communication Design degrees

Degrees on designing messages across media, spanning graphic design, information design, interaction, motion and image-making.

Also called: Communication Design, Visual Design, Graphic and Communication Design, Information Design, Design of Visual Communication.

47 BFA · 45 BA / BA (Hons) · 43 Other bachelor’s award · 23 Other master’s award · 23 MFA · 17 MA · 7 BDes · 4 MDes · 1 Other research doctorate · 20 official concentration, 173 dedicated degree, 11 named major, 6 documented pathway

210 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About visual communication design study

Visual communication design is a broad name for the design of messages that are carried by images, type, symbols and layout. It includes graphic design but often reaches further into information design, wayfinding, interface and interaction design, motion graphics, illustration and photography. Degree study asks how audiences read, interpret and act on visual material.

Programs usually emphasize research, concept development and cross-media thinking. Students may move between print and screen, from static pages to sequences, systems and spaces. Teaching often includes semiotics, typography, data visualization, user research and critical writing alongside studio projects, and collaboration across disciplines is common.

The label is used differently by different institutions. Some treat it as a synonym for graphic design, while others use it for a wider, more interdisciplinary degree. It differs from fine arts, which is mostly self-directed, from industrial design, which concerns physical products, and from film or animation, which focus on moving-image production as a craft.

What study typically involves

  • Typography, layout and visual systems
  • Information design and data visualization
  • Branding, editorial and campaign work
  • Interaction, screen or motion design in many programs
  • Image-making through illustration or photography
  • Design research, theory and writing
  • Professional practice and portfolio development

Award titles. Visual communication design is commonly studied within BA, BA (Hons), BFA or BDes programs, and at postgraduate level within MA, MFA or MDes degrees. Some countries offer research degrees including practice-based PhDs. Titles differ internationally, so check the official program page.

Visual communication design may appear as a degree title, a major in a design school or a concentration within graphic design. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Applicants to visual communication programs are generally asked for a portfolio that demonstrates visual thinking, drawing, curiosity and any design or media work. Process material such as sketchbooks and research can carry weight, and prior software expertise is often not required at entry.

Requirements vary widely by country and program. Some ask for a design task, written response or interview; others use entrance exams. Postgraduate programs typically ask for a body of work and a statement describing interests and direction.

Confirm formats, limits and deadlines on each official admissions page. Admission is never guaranteed, and this directory does not prescribe a template.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, funding in some programs may include teaching assistantships, lab or studio roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no support. Verify details directly with the program and funding bodies.

Costs beyond tuition. Students commonly pay for software subscriptions, computing equipment, printing, prototyping materials and, in some programs, fieldwork or user-testing costs.