Whether you're dreaming of bringing stories to life through children's book illustration, shaping worlds with concept art for games and film, or helping make bold statements with editorial work, our BA (Hons) Illustration with Integrated Foundation Year course is here to help turn your creative ambitions into a thriving career. We’ll support you in developing a strong, versatile practice in illustration—one that’s rooted in drawing, communication, and visual thinking.
Your journey begins with an introductory foundation year, designed to develop your skills, confidence, and core knowledge in a supportive and creative environment. This year helps you build strong artistic and academic foundations, ensuring you’re fully prepared to progress smoothly into the undergraduate degree.
On our illustration degree, we will help you build strong drawing, composition, and colour skills that will underpin your personal visual language, allowing you to develop a unique voice as an artist. We are unique amongst illustration courses in that we also give you a thorough grounding in graphic design, which is highly regarded and recognised by industry.
You’ll receive extensive feedback, support, and advice throughout your studies and have access to professional facilities and equipment, as well as the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, including ‘live briefs’ to develop and hone your skills.
You'll be allocated a dedicated space within our open-plan Illustration and Graphic Design studio, which you can personalise to suit your creative needs. Students across all year groups work within this larger professional space, so you'll also get the chance to meet and collaborate with your peers, share feedback, and discuss ideas.
Your foundation year will give you the technical expertise and knowledge to progress to our highly respected undergraduate programme.
We will help you develop strong drawing, composition, and colour skills that will underpin your personal visual language, allowing you to develop a unique voice as an artist. You’ll gain the experience, confidence, and advanced technical skills you need to succeed. And once you find your voice as an artist, your personality, passion and the quality of the work in your portfolio will get you noticed. You’ll receive extensive feedback, support, and advice throughout your studies and have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, as well as the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, including ‘live briefs’ to develop and hone your skills.
We are unique amongst illustration courses in giving you a thorough grounding in graphic design. You’ll have the necessary skills and experience to stand out from the crowd.
Located just outside the city, right on top of Hadrian's Wall, the Brampton Road campus is full of history, buzzing with excitement, creativity, and a sense of endless possibility. The home of creators, entertainers, rule breakers, and change-markers.
Find out moreAn Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.
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