Year In Digital Design
What is a Year In Digital Design?
The Year in Digital Design is a great opportunity to develop your understanding of content creation and user experience design and gain skills that will help you stand out to potential future employers.
Why study a Year In Digital Design
Are you keen to learn the tech and design skills that will enable new career opportunities? The Year in Digital Design will give you a strong foundation in creative problem-solving, user-centred design, and in a range of tech skills.
You’ll create 3D and digital content and discover how to create immersive and interactive user experiences, applying design thinking. The course blends hands-on projects with the theory behind them. You won’t just talk about ideas, you’ll actually design and build them! Our Industrial Panel endorses the processes, software, and technology we teach, aligning with industry trends to give you an edge in today’s digital-first job market.
A digital design background is not necessary. The course is taught on the Canterbury campus. You can take the Year in Digital Design either before or after Stage 3. Once completed you'll be able to add the bolt on “with a Year in Digital Design” to your degree title.
Modules you'll study
Below are the modules you'll study during your Year In Digital Design. Each module is worth 20 credits:
3D Fundamentals - Autumn term
Digital Content Creation - Autumn term
Virtual Environment Design - Spring term
Immersive Experiences - Spring term
Interaction Design -Summer term
Programming for Interactivity - Summer term
You'll study two modules in each of the autumn, winter and summer terms.
Watch our video
Our students at work
Our video gives you some examples of the type of work our final year BSc Digital Design students produce. With a Year In Digital Design you’ll start to grow both your design and technical skills, so you can turn your ideas into impressive content.
How to apply
To apply, please email progadmin@kent.ac.uk giving your student number.
Application deadlines
- For current stage 3 students - applications close March 27th 2026 (students with a visa should check eligibility)
- For current stage 2 students - applications close 31st July 2026
Please note that if you are in your final year, there is an earlier deadline to enable graduation. It is important to apply as soon as possible.
For more information, please see our FAQs or contact Rocio von Jungenfeld (Course Lead)
Specific entry requirements
The Year in Digital Design is open to University of Kent undergraduate students who are currently in Stage 2 or Stage 3 of their degree, and averaging 50% or above in their current stage (at the time of application).
Students studying towards a BSc in Digital Design are not eligible.
If your degree is accredited by a professional body, you will need to confirm with your home School that this can include the option of a Year in Digital Design.
FAQs
Due to the practical nature of the subject, all modules in the Year in Digital Design are assessed via coursework. Deadlines are spaced throughout the module.
Students who successfully complete the Digital Design year and their home degree will graduate ‘with a Year in Digital Design’. The full transcript of your degree results will include your marks for the Year in Digital Design, as evidence of your achievement for potential employers.
Your degree classification will depend on your main degree subject and not the Year in Digital Design which is a pass/fail year. If you pass the year, you will get ‘with a Year in Digital Design’ added to your degree title. If you fail, you will drop back to your current degree. You do not risk your current degree classification by doing the year. Please talk to staff in your home School about whether adding a Year in Digital Design will affect your accreditation or not.
Digital design skills are valuable in tech, automotive, and medical fields, making this programme also relevant to STEM students and beyond. With tech and the creative industries constantly evolving, this course sets you up with the confidence and well-rounded skills employers want.
International students wishing to add the Year in Digital Design course will be approved on a case by case basis in accordance with UK immigration regulations and the University’s Student (Tier 4) policy on Academic Progression and Change of Course. You also need to be aware that you may need to return home overseas to apply for a new visa to add the year to your degree.
The Year in Digital Design should be viewed simply as an additional year of study, making a three-year degree into a four-year degree. If you pay your own tuition fees, then you will have to pay for an extra year. For those eligible, student loans should normally be available for all four years. However it is your responsibility to check with the Loan Authority that they will continue to give you financial support on the new programme.