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BA (Hons) - Illustration (with integrated foundation year)

Have alternative qualifications or don't quite meet our entry criteria? Our introductory year will help develop your skills and confidence in a supportive environment.

Want to become a great illustrator? One who takes a line and conjures worlds that compel and transfix? Technique is important. Courage is needed. But individuality is demanded. That’s why we’ll give you the space, resources and inspiration to find your voice. That’s why, with our help, you’ll make art that makes a difference.

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Carlisle - Brampton Road All

Illustration (with integrated foundation year) cover image

Course Overview

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.

On this course you will...

Learn within an institute recognised by the industry as a course provider that engenders strong drawing skills. Through doing so, we provide our graduates with the backbone of a long career.
Be encouraged to develop an individual approach to illustration - allowing you to develop a personal style that stands out from the crowd.
Have regular and meaningful contact with tutorials, workshops, and discussions - reinforcing your practice with the support of tutors and peers who know you and your work inside and out.
Be included in deciding what direction the course/module/brief should take. Small group sizes mean a supportive and open community of practice.
Have access to a large professional studio space that is open plan and shared across all-year groups. Stock up on supplies with our in-house shop and experiment in our reprographic department.

Apply

Book an Open Day

Carlisle - Brampton Road All

Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationCarlisle - Brampton Road
UCAS CodeW222
Delivery StyleBlended Learning
Course DurationFull-time: 4 Years
Study Options Illustration
Illustration with Placement
Course Start PointSeptember
AwardBA (Hons)
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysCarlisle - Brampton Road
All

Minimum entry requirements

UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

£9,250

UK | year

£13,575

International | year

Tuition Fees Policy

Course Structure

What you will learn

In a professional sense, the word ‘lllustration’ represents an exciting and very varied discipline that ranges from self-authored graphic novels and comic art, through concept art for film, TV and games, to the more traditional work for magazines, books, advertising, animation, and much, much more. What links all of these disciplines is the ability to connect audiences with ideas, information, or products through engaging and memorable illustrative communications.

On our illustration degree course, our aim is to inspire you to become an innovative, individual illustrator. We’ll help you develop strong drawing skills as a firm foundation for your life as an illustrator, but our uniquely-designed course will also expand your design skills to give you an insight into one of the major markets for illustration work.

Year one

In your foundation year, you will develop the core skills needed to progress onto our BA (Hons) Illustration course. During this time, you will work with students from across artistic disciplines, exploring your place in the wider creative community.

Making Images
An introduction to a wide range of conventional and unconventional image-making processes.
Making Objects
Examine a wide range of 3D processes in relation to a specific project brief.
Visual Enquiry
Develop your knowledge and understanding to enhance your research methods, contextual awareness, and an evaluative ability.
Environment
Explore your local environment using a range of inter-disciplinary practices such as graphic processes, drawing, 3D, photography, moving image, and collage/montage.
Portfolio and Progression
Produce a professional and substantial portfolio of work.

Year two

In your second year, you will gain fundamental knowledge and practical experience of visual communication, the building blocks of visual language and professional attitudes and practices. During this time, you will work closely with first year graphic design students.

Introducing Visual Communication
Develop effective working practices and habits.
Cultural Contexts
An introduction to the cultural, historical, and social contexts in which creative work from a range of disciplines.
Collaborative Practice
Work with other students to explore and practice the skills involved in creative collaboration.
Multi-Dimensional Illustration
Explore multiple forms and formats, from traditional print to the latest digital platforms, simple symbols to complex information and ideas, ephemeral to iconic.

Year three

The Illustrators Toolkit
Develop and refine your image making techniques, both digital and analogue.
Drawing
Explore the surrounding area to improve your drawing and mark-making skills.
Illustration Projects
Utilise the technical skills developed previously to create appropriate, targeted illustrative communications.
The Critical Illustrator
Develop your understanding of the role of the illustrator in contemporary society.

Year four

Advanced Illustration Projects
An opportunity to work within a design brief and explore a particular area of interest.
Independent Research Paper
Develop specialised and focused knowledge and understanding of a subject of your own choice.
Illustration Showcase
An opportunity to show-off the skills, knowledge, and professionalism developed throughout the course to potential employers and the wider world.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

A key feature of this IFY programme is the opportunity, at Level 3, to work closely with a range of specialist creative staff, as well as alongside students studying fine-art, graphic design and photography.

By learning as an integrated member of this creative community you will experience, first-hand, the methods and techniques used by other visual practitioners. This will foster an appreciation of how your work fits into the wider world of the visual arts and provide you with greater confidence, knowledge and skills as you progress to Level 4 of the programme.

Most of your studies will be centred around practical projects that have been designed to not only help you practice and improve visual skills, but also develop your study skills, methods of research, critical and analytical abilities, and your ability to manage your time and plan your work.

Some examples of other ways you will learn is through:

Lectures are hosted by both studio and theory tutors using a variety of media as support. You will be expected to take notes, ask questions and contribute to any group discussions that ensue.
Seminars, Presentations, and Discussions will explore issues in greater depth with both tutor and student-led formats. These will require you to engage in research and background reading and will consider the relation of theory to practice and help develop wide-ranging transferable skills.
Practical Workshop Sessions will provide the opportunity for you to develop specialist technical skills and knowledge. They normally take the form of tutor-led studio workshop demonstrations, designed to allow you to focus on, experiment with, develop and personalise specialised skills, media, techniques, and concepts.

How you will be assessed

Throughout the course, you will be continuously involved in the assessment of your own work and that of your peers to help in the development of critical, interpersonal, and team-working skills that are vital to gaining confidence and independence as a creative practitioner.

Examples of assessment opportunities include:

Crits (short for ‘critique’) - these lie at the heart of education in Illustration. These take place at the end of a project and will normally comprise a small group of your fellow students, and up to two members of staff, where you will be expected to present your work to the group. The effectiveness of your work and presentation will then be discussed by all present and you will receive a large amount of verbal feedback.
Projects are the usual vehicle by which you develop your design knowledge and expertise. The evaluation of project work is central to this degree programme. The project work you undertake during years two and three will form the content of the professional portfolio of work you will take with you when pursuing employment at the end of the course.
Portfolio/s Two things make up the ‘portfolio’ – the qualities of the work itself (is it good design / contemporary / fully resolved); and the manner in which that work is presented on the portfolio pages (visual narrative / flow / sequencing / attention-to-detail).

The range of learning, teaching, and assessment methods used enable different aspects of your learning to be developed and tested. As well as testing what you know and can do at the end of a module (Summative Assessment) you’ll get regular advice and guidance while your work is in progress (Formative Feedback) through one-to-one, peer-to-peer, and group tutorials.

Overview

48 UCAS Tariff Points. You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

A-levels: A

T-levels: P (D or E) All subjects are accepted for entry to this course.

Access to HE: 45 Credits at Pass.

CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: D

OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: PPP

Scottish Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.

Irish LC Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.

Other experience: Pearson Level 3 National Diploma MP.

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

When we review your portfolio, we are assessing your ability to benefit from the course you have applied for. Any offers are based on your whole application and the review of your portfolio of work

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any experience you have gained.

All places are offered subject to successful interview and portfolio. Please prepare your portfolio carefully to show evidence of your creativity, drawing, idea development, design and technical skills. We also like to see expressive and experimental work. There is no one, ideal portfolio and we are used to looking at the work of students from many different courses and colleges. Although we want to see your work, we are more interested in meeting you and giving you the opportunity at interview to express your passion and commitment for illustration.

The Integrated Foundation Year programme supports your return to education and are specifically designed for students who have the ability to study for a degree but may not have all the necessary qualifications, skills or experiences to join the degree in Year 1.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here) and care leavers, offers will be made at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply)

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.

Language requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this programme here.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2024 - 2025

£9,250 - UK
£13,575 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

Funding

For information about funding, please visit our undergraduate funding page.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Sample student work

An illustration of a man making a coffee.

An illustration of two people holding hands.

An illustration of Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders

An illustration by student Rachel Tunstall

Controls for the spotlight carousel

Location
Carlisle - Brampton Road Campus
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.
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BA (Hons) - Illustration (with integrated foundation year)