BA (Hons) Illustration

When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

Do you want to develop your unique, personal voice through your drawing?
Are you keen on communicating your ideas to a wider audience?
Do you love drawing and experimenting with new and traditional media?
Do you have a passion for stories, sequencing and narrative?
Are you enthusiastic about current trends in style, design, media and the arts?
Would you like the opportunity to work alongside graphic designers and animation students in our dynamic visual communication studio?

About the course

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.

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

Your career

Students Emily Falconer and Catherine Sweetman were both Highly Commended in the recent Macmillan Prize for Children's Illustration. Read the full story...

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. Some students may also go on to postgraduate courses. 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.

What our students say

Charlotte Fowkes, a BA (Hons) Visual Communication (Illustration) graduate is now an established children's book illustrator for Random House. She has over a dozen published titles to date.

See more examples of student work.

"Studying illustration felt like a natural progression to make after school and college. It meant I could combine my passion for drawing with my love of telling stories through images as well as learning about new subjects every time you get an illustration to do. Since leaving University I've been working as a freelance illustrator and was taken on by the Advocate Agency in London."
Charlotte Fowkes, graduate

How you'll learn

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.

How you're assessed

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.

Fieldtrips

The programme has run many successful cultural field trips. Last year's trip was to Paris, where the students were investigating particularly the French Graphic Novel. Students also spent time drawing and visiting museums and galleries.

The course recognises the educational and cultural value of getting out and about, and there are also many day trips to exhibitions and events in the major cities of this country. In the past semester we have visited London to see 'Eyes, Lies and Illusions' exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, '26 Letters Illuminating the Alphabet' at the British Library and 'Gig Art' at St. Bride Printing Library, as well as Salts Mill and The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, in Bradford.

Work placements

There is no formal work placement. However, within the programme we have established strong links with companies and organisations outside the University. This has created opportunities for students to work to a "live" brief. These live projects have included; illustrations for 'The Ark' children's programme through Anglia Television, informative children's illustrations for Derbyshire Children's Hospital, promotional illustrations for Oasis, the fashion retailer and a series of illustrations for Amber Valley Housing, amongst many others.

Anything else?

Have you thought about taking our MDes, which is an undergraduate and postgraduate course combined. You'll study for four years and gain a masters degree in Graphic Design, Illustration or Animation, depending on the specialism you choose.

It means you don't have to worry about the expense and inconvenience of relocating for a separate postgraduate year. And you can get a student loan for all 4 years of the course. Find out more about the MDes...

Find out more about about applying for the second or third year of this course

Start dates

If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:

September 2012

If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:

September 2012

UCAS code

W220

Fees

This is a specialist course.

UK/EU students

Full time: £7,995 (each year)
Part time: £1,000 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total).

International students

Full time: £10,250 (each year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.