BA (Hons) Illustration

UCAS code: W220

Start date: September

Course length: full time: three years, or four years with Year Zero, part time: available by negotiation

Campus: Markeaton Street site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

‌Illustrators make sense of the world, they challenge, question, tell stories and entertain. This course will equip you with the breadth of skills a contemporary illustrator requires in order to become a creatively diverse, professionally distinct and unique illustrator in an increasingly visual world.

You'll explore the various roles of the illustrator as visual interpreter, storyteller, promoter, reporter, author, artist and educator, combining creative, theoretical and technical aspects of the discipline. You'll be encouraged to question and challenge ideas, working methods and solutions to problems developing a personal voice and innovative approaches to the subject.

Drawing is fundamental to developing practice in illustration and this underpins the programme. You'll explore sequential image-making, characterisation, respond to literature, arts, culture, fashion, creating books and illustrating for design, developing a cross fertilisation of ideas whilst experimenting with digital technology and our dedicated printmaking facilities. You'll graduate with a professional portfolio and self-promotional material to launch your career as an illustrator.

During the course you will meet innovative speakers from the illustration industry. Recent visitors have included international illustrators Russell Cobb and Mark Wigan. You will have study trips to museums, galleries and exhibitions plus opportunities to visit exciting locations. Our students have had success in competitions such as the Macmillan Children's Book Prize, Cheltenham Illustration Awards, Penguin Illustrated Book Cover, Lloyds/TSB 'Art of Nurture' and The Association of Illustrators 'Images - Best of British Illustration' competition, which was hosted in Derby in December 2011 and featured six Derby graduates.

You could also further enhance your skills by going on to study our MA Visual Communication.

You'll study a total of 120 credits per year. This will be made up of single or double modules.

Stage one

Studio briefs and workshops will encourage you to define your creativity, illustrative approach, software knowledge and critical analysis, while your lectures and seminars will focus on the culture, history and context of your subject.

You'll study modules such as:

• Visual Problem Solving
• Visual Exploration
• Animation Practice
• Visual Culture: History

Stage two

You'll focus on your skills in a project-based environment, exploring ways of thinking to excel in Illustration. You'll become increasingly confident with professional approaches and terminology, engaging with Illustration practitioners, global and national competitions and agencies.

You'll study modules such as:

• Directed Projects in Illustration
• Sequential Illustration (Specialist Illustration option)
• Design Strategies (Specialist Graphic Design option)
• Digital Moving Images (Specialist Animation option)
• Professional Practice
• Visual Culture: Theory

Stage three

The focus of your final stage will be on building original, distinctive Illustration outcomes based on strong ideas and technical skill, through developing a range of projects, in particular your own final major project.

You'll study modules such as:

• Negotiated Study in Illustration
• Destinations
• Specialist Practice in Illustration
• Visual Culture: Extended Essay year first

Our entry requirements are usually 260 UCAS points, of which at least 220 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application, your portfolio, and how you've done in your interview. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

General undergraduate entry requirements

Fees for 2013/14

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

• Full time: £8,250 (each year)
• £1,030 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total)

International students

• Full time: £10,225 (per year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

You'll learn through a range of teaching and learning methods throughout the programme, with the aims and emphasis on particular modules. This includes: project work, workshop practice, lectures, demonstrations, seminars, groups critiques, work checks, individual tutorials, field study, cultural visits, reports, and assignments.

The main vehicle for teaching and learning throughout the programme is practical project work, which integrates technical, analytical, intellectual and organisational considerations of practice.  Full time students will be expected to attend on a daily basis according to the schedule of sessions given to you by the module leader, with periods of time allocated to self directed study.

As the course progresses you're expected to take more responsibility for your study conclusion in the Independent Study module in the final stage. You'll be assessed by coursework, as relevant to each module. This may include; portfolios of artwork, exhibition, sketchbooks, research and background material, essays, reports and presentations.

This course will prepare you for an exciting career in illustration, with opportunities in newspaper and magazine editorial, education, television, publishing, children's books, graphic novels, advertising and the design industry.

You'll have opportunities to work on a live brief which will give you hands on experience valued by employers. Previous projects have included illustrations for London Transport, Royal Mail and the Association of Illustrators Images 'Best of British Illustration' competition.

We also provide support for graduates starting out in the creative industries, through our incubation unit - Banks Mill.  It offers studio workspace and business development activities, in a vibrant and thriving community of artists, designers and makers.