Illustration BA (Hons)
Key Information:
Start date: September
Institutional code: O10
UCAS code: I61N
Duration: 3 years
Course type: Full Time
Fees per year 2024/25 entry: £7500 Full Time
Fees per year 2025/26 entry: £8000 Full Time
Additional costs per year: May include equipment such as a computer, portable storage, art and design materials, sketchbooks and cost of colour and specialist printing. Non-residential trips and gallery visits may require travel costs and entrance fees. Student membership of a professional body: You may wish to join the Association of Illustrators (AOI) through a student membership. This will give you access to a network that may help you throughout your course. The requirements and costs for AOI student membership can be found following this link https://theaoi.com/membership/
Entry Requirements
112 UCAS points.
Entry onto the BA (Hons) Illustration course will be via a successful portfolio interview and relevant design qualifications; either AS and A2 level, BTEC National Diploma, or GNVQ (Level 3) or an equivalent qualification in relevant areas.
Students are also accepted who have appropriate non-standard entry qualifications and/or relevant experience. Please contact the Admissions Tutor for more information.
Award
BA (Hons) Illustration, franchised via the University of Central Lancashire
Our Illustration degree can open doors to a wide variety of careers from freelance illustration and design, to work in media and advertising, publishing and much more.
From book covers to greeting cards, album artwork and advertisements, the images that are part of our everyday lives are nearly always the work of a highly-skilled illustrator. Through our links with practicing illustrators, publishing and design commissioners, and agents, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of what it is like to work as an illustrator and will be well equipped to take your skills into the workplace.
This is a studio-based course where you can make use of the very latest digital and printing facilities. You’ll get to unleash your creativity through drawing, painting, collage, print, photography, animation, 3D materials or digital media – the choice is yours.
If you have an enthusiasm for drawing and practical creativity of all kinds, our Illustration degree course will help you hone and develop your design skills through the communication of ideas with pictures.
Course Content- Level 4
Creative Thinking
Design Context 1
Communication Craft Skills
Introduction to Graphic Communication
Course Content- Level 5
Applied illustration
Design Context 2
Professional Practice
Graphic Communication in Context
Course Content - Level 6
Illustration Set Project
Design Context 3
Illustration External Project
Illustration Self Initiated Project
Placements and Work Experience
Opportunity for external visits will be utilised as well as inviting external guest practitioners to deliver lectures and workshops.
Students are encouraged to seek out placements and work experience and are supported with this as part of their studies. Live and competition briefs are a key element of course content throughout all levels.
What careers can the course lead to?
Creative students are recognised as having highly transferable skills, and could expect to find employment in a wide range of sectors. As an illustrator your work could be used for publishing, editorial, advertising or packaging. You might also specialise in 3D or animation.
Upon completion of the course, students may choose to further their education and progress to a PGCE or MA.
Teaching and Assessment methods
Skills acquisition will be developed throughout the programme using practical briefs as a vehicle for both delivery and assessment. Basic skills development will be the focus of level 4 modules and you will be encouraged to develop and enhance these skills further at level 5. You will take part in individual and group critiques evaluating the work you have done for each brief.
Lectures and seminars will introduce you to historical and contemporary theory and contextual themes. You will be able to apply this learning to your own work maintaining a continuous link between theory and practice. The VLE will support your learning at all levels as a portal for information and resources and through online discussion forums.
At level 6 a more independent ethos is fostered; you will be expected to plan your own learning with support from module tutors culminating in final work being exhibited in a Graduate Show.
Facilities particular to the course
A vibrant creative environment, including studios equipped with industry standard software and hardware, will help you to effectively communicate information and ideas appropriate for the modern digital and creative workplace. Illustration students have access to Apple Mac and PC suites, printmaking facilities and photographic equipment.