Illustration

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Illustration - BA (Hons) - 2027/28 Entry | Birmingham City University

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Undergraduate › Illustration - BA (Hons)

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Illustration - BA (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2027/28 Entry.

Illustration is a powerful tool for storytelling, whether it is through children's books, editorial pieces, visual narratives, or moving image.

On the BA (Hons) Illustration course you will learn how to convey authentic, innovative, ideas and messages that are impactful, thought-provoking, and publishable. Staying ahead in the field requires embracing technological advances....

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Undergraduate

Study mode

Full Time

BA (Hons)

Start date

September 2027

View course fees

Art and Design

Location

City Centre

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement year

Open to International Students

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Overview

On the BA (Hons) Illustration course you will learn how to convey authentic, innovative, ideas and messages that are impactful, thought-provoking, and publishable. Staying ahead in the field requires embracing technological advances. You will learn the essential knowledge and skills needed for industry, and will explore, experiment, and be encouraged to push the boundaries of traditional and digital illustration.

We celebrate the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our students through the exploration of different cultures and the effective use of interdisciplinary collaborations. This enriches creativity and will help you to become a well-rounded illustrator. We will also teach you to consider the ethical implications of your work and how to use your skills to raise awareness, advocate for positive change, and contribute to the betterment of our global community.

Located in the culturally diverse city of Birmingham in the West Midlands, the curriculum design and live industry briefs will reflect the needs and opportunities for our graduates to gain employment after university. By encouraging active learning and innovation, we prepare you for an exciting future, equipping you with essential creative skills and knowledge.

Rooted in a student-centred approach, the course prioritises personalised support and transformative learning experiences as part of a vibrant creative community. Within a dynamic studio teaching environment, you will focus on commercial application and transferrable skills, ensuring adept and employable graduates.

What's covered in this course?

Our challenging and exciting Illustration course will help you develop new skills and different ways of thinking, enabling you to find your own individual, visual language and prepare you for the ever-changing creative industry.

The course celebrates the synthesis between illustration and all the other visual communication subject disciplines, leading to the development of strong student collaborations that again aims to reflect industry practice.

We support a lively creative community, encouraging the value of peer learning. This learning is supplemented by an integrated workshop programme that provides the opportunity to work alongside, and be informed by, industry experts from a wide range of disciplines.

in the UK for career prospects in Interior Design, with 83% of our graduates in graduate-level jobs or further study after 15 months Guardian League Table 2026

Professional Placement year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

I took part in an internship with Moonpig and I’ve also worked for George Asda, as well as completing some design work for some festivals. The course gives you live briefs which gives you direct connections to the industry, as well as the opportunity for your work to actually be used and displayed somewhere.

Phoebe Munger

Why Choose Us?

There will be opportunities to exhibit at high-profile London graduate shows, such as New Designers.

You will receive industry insight from significant practitioners. Visitors to the course include Lawrence Zeegen, Aleesha Nandhra, Raj Dhunna Laura Carlin, Russell Cobb, Sarah Fanelli, Le Gun, NoBrow, Joel Millerchip, Luke Tonge, Jonny Hannah, Isabel Greenberg, Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, Paper Cinema, Fabric Lenny, Owen Davey, Lizzie Stewart and Jo Todd-Stanton.

Live project partnerships include Tiny Tree Books, Baxter and Bailey, Birmingham Design Festival, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, DanceXchange, Flatpack Film Festival, Playground Games, George at Asda, and Moonpig.

Professional practice and core business skills are delivered by outside agencies such as the Association of Illustrators and other external specialists.

of students rated the teaching on this course as good or very good. 95% of students said that academic support was good or very good and 93% of students rated the learning resources for this course as good or very good. NSS 2026

Illustration Instagram

Take a look at our latest posts on Instagram to get an insight into life as an Illustration student.

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Open Day

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explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Open Day: 21 November

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Course in Depth

First Year

Second Year

Professional Placement Year (Optional)

Final Year

With support from staff you will start to develop a real depth of knowledge of illustration practice, as well as other design related areas. Towards the end of your first year, and into the second, you will receive guidance helping you to select your chosen area of practice within illustration and possible career progression.

Your modules will cover the processes of production within the field of illustration. You will develop entrepreneurial and collaborative skills through the Introduction to Visual Communication module, as well as developing connections across the four different subject disciplines, preparing you for the life of an illustrator.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Fundamental Practice: Illustration 40 credits

The module will explore the core principles and techniques of illustration through research, sketchbook documentation, creative iteration and making processes.

You will begin with a dynamic transitional project that emphasizes individual development, fosters creative thinking, and builds confidence in a supportive learning community. You will be able to work alongside your peers, witness visual skills different from your own, and develop group-defined ground rules for learning, ensuring a collaborative and respectful studio environment.

Professional Futures: Communication (Illustration) 20 credits

Professional Futures: Communication equips you with the initial skills and knowledge necessary for your future career. The module explores the role of effective communication in the context of your emerging design practice. You will engage with theoretical frameworks and practical exercises to develop your contextual understanding of the subject, recognising their relevance in research, development and communication of key themes and ideas.

Moving Stories 20 credits

This module is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of narrative processes in the context of illustration. It combines theoretical and practical learning to help you comprehend narrative construction and its application to single, sequential, and moving images.

The module includes theory sessions and technical workshops that will instruct you about visual storytelling and introduce you to various visual approaches and potential solutions to enhance your creative skills. Additionally, you will work on individual and communal tasks designed to foster creativity and encourage exploration of storytelling strategies before completing a collaborative group project that can be delivered in various formats.

Discuss and Distribute 40 credits

This module offers a reflective exploration of contemporary approaches to illustration through critical analysis and connected production of creative outcomes rooted within a broad contextual framework. This will empower you to develop a unique voice as an independent image-maker while developing work for a public facing outcome.

Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

In your second year of study you will develop your practice, producing successful commercial outputs through a wide range of different projects and context. Your studies will focus on contextualising your chosen discipline within specific aspects of contemporary practice.

Live projects, industry links and competitions form a key part of the curriculum from this stage of the course onwards. We will encourage you to reflect upon your strengths and weaknesses and advise you to build upon achievements in order to improve your performance. Active participation through various workshops and masterclasses are a key part of the second year.

During your second year you will begin to focus on a specific area of illustration, preparing you for your final year of study. Working alongside a specially assigned tutor, as well as small groups you will identify and research a specific area of illustration practice. This will be supported by seminars and lecturers from industry experts.

Audience & Context 40 credits

This module aims to deepen your knowledge and skills in contemporary illustrative practice. It will help you develop your visual language and direction by creating work that explores different audiences and contexts.

You will get the chance to choose projects from a range of established illustration discipline areas. The projects will be either live, simulated, or a competition brief, but in all cases, they will reflect the demands of real industry briefs. By working on these projects, you will gain a deeper understanding of how your skills can be used to raise awareness, solve problems, and communicate effectively to local, national, or global audiences. Each project brief will provide a starting point, but you will be encouraged to go beyond it and find new, experimental, and innovative ways to reach your audience. You will be encouraged to take creative risks to challenge your practice.

Professional Futures: Collaboration 20 credits

‘Professional Futures: Collaboration’ is designed to equip you with the essential skills for success in the diverse and collaborative field of design. With collaboration and communication as central themes, you will learn to navigate interdisciplinary teamwork and understand different design processes, methods and outcomes.

The module provides an opportunity to tackle real-world challenges through a cross-disciplinary collaborative project. This allows you to have a shared and reflective learning experience contributing to a shared task, preparing you for the demands of your future career. You will learn to convey ideas, concepts and project narratives with clarity and impact.

Defining Practice 40 credits

The aim of this module is to develop your critical, reflective, and analytical skills to define your practice. You will get an opportunity to explore your interests further and broaden your knowledge of potential career pathways and the wider context of illustration. The module comprises three interdependent phases that work together to comprehensively investigate your practice and prepare you for Level 6 study.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules.

Work Placement 20 credits

Industry Project 20 credits

This module provides an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills to an external, professional brief. The brief will be ‘real’, set in negotiation with an external client/agency/community, or it may be a simulation, inspired by a typical professional scenario you might experience in a work situation. The brief will enable you to apply your discipline-specific skills broadly, collaborating with your fellow students and, where relevant, across disciplines and with other stakeholders. Your project should consider sustainability and address relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals as a key aspect of contemporary creative industries work.

Independent Creative Entrepreneur 20 credits

Creative careers often lead individuals on unexpected journeys, traversing diverse paths. Recognizing and seizing opportunities becomes pivotal in shaping a fulfilling portfolio career—one that harnesses your creative abilities while sustaining your livelihood. Whether you’re crafting artistic artifacts, performing, providing services, or offering consultancy, the art of promoting and pitching ideas lies at the heart of an independent, entrepreneurial journey.

In this module, we delve into the essential facets of an entrepreneurial career. Whether you see yourself as a designer-maker, actor, musician, illustrator, artist, writer, filmmaker or a blend of any number of roles within a portfolio career, we’ll equip you with the tools to articulate your experiences and work confidently. Expect surprises along the way—opportunities that may reveal themselves unexpectedly!

In order to qualify for the award of BA (Hons) Illustration with Professional Placement Year a student must successfully complete the following module.

Professional Placement Year 120 credits

You will develop sustained and original work which will demand a lot of independent study. This will culminate in a Major Project, where you will develop and refine your specialist knowledge of a particular area of practice.

Your final year focuses on your professional future, ensuring your project work provides you with the research, skills and portfolio you need to prepare yourself for after graduation.

You will have the opportunity to showcase your final year project at our graduate degree show, as well as having the chance to exhibit at New Designers in London.

Advancing Practice 40 credits

Having developed and defined your direction of study throughout Level 5, you will now advance your practice as you enter your final year of study. This module will provide you with the opportunity to adopt an increasingly autonomous commitment to your individual direction. At this stage, a focused attitude is essential in developing an informed and contextualised approach to your thinking, ongoing project development, and outcomes.

Independent Enquiry 20 credits

The key aim of this module is to build upon the work undertaken in previous modules and contextualise this within a written assignment or its equivalent, that frames both your work and identifies possible future direction. You will look to achieve this through the collection and use of both primary and secondary research. This should be used to support a deeper understanding of your discipline and practices, with further analysis used to help shape your on-going development as a successful creative.

Professional Futures: Presentation 20 credits

Professional Futures: Presentation provides final-year students with essential skills and strategies for navigating the design industry. With a focus on ‘presentation’ and employability, the module provides you with guidance on refining your skills, whilst preparing you for the next stage of your design journey.

Major Project 40 credits

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. It is important that we can support you appropriately, so you will be guided towards choosing a research topic which is relevant to your discipline and in which your lecturers have expertise. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practice-based portfolio.

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Course structure

During this course you will gain hands-on experience and produce relevant, innovative work. We encourage you to challenge yourself and produce work that sees you step outside your comfort zone. You’ll also experience high-level industry engagement through creative, practice-based learning.

Classroom projects and activities

Duplicate Publishing Fair: Duplicate is an annual celebration of printed zines, comics, artists books and alternative publishing. Students are involved in the organisation and marketing, and have the opportunity to sell their work in a commercial setting alongside more established artists.

Emma Press: Emma Press are a vibrant independent publisher who have run live projects with our students. Students have been commissioned by Emma Press as a result of this collaboration.

Birmingham City Council: Students responded to a live brief from the Council, illustrating one of their annual reports. This was run with an incredible amount of support from the council. An excellent industry experience for students, leading to five pieces of published paid work. This is an exciting ongoing collaboration.

Greeting Card Association: We host a yearly collaborative project with the GCA culminating in student placements and publishing.

Student work

Helen Green

Helen specialises mainly in portraiture - particularly in relation to music - with a varying yet distinctive style. Since 2011, she has produced work for Lady Gaga, becoming part of her Haus collective, working on projects for her and the Born This Way Foundation.

She has since enjoyed work for a wide variety of clients such as Elton John AIDS Foundation, Warner Music, Tumblr, Hollywood Reporter, Sky Arts, TS3 (France), Refinery29, Esquire, ESPN FC, The Stranger (Seattle), airberlin, Economy (Rethinking Economics), American Express Essentials, Entrée Libre (France 5), StudioCanal UK and Skype.

For more information, visit Helen's website.

Josh Patterson

Josh is an award-winning freelance illustrator. The majority of his work is conceptual and editorial based as this allows him the freedom to express abstract and contemporary thinking. Josh's clients include BBC Sport, Computer Arts, Bulletin and Quarto Children’s Books.

For more information, visit Josh's website.

Sonny Ross

Sonny creates quirky characters and has a very personal and diverse visual language. He applies his designs to children’s books, self-publishing, editorial, fashion and surface pattern.

For more information, visit Sonny's website.

Raj Dhunna

Raj is an Illustrator/ Image maker based in West London. His practice focuses on mark making, digital and print making techniques. As well as illustrating, he also works as digital designer & Illustration lecturer. Clients Include: Netflix, BBC, Adidas, Nike, Umbro, The Face, The Guardian, Empire, Wired UK, Inter Milan, Liverpool FC, Spurs, The FA, Olipop, Merky Books and more.

For more information, visit Raj's website.

Harry Jones

Harry is an in-house illustrator for Vivienne Westwood in their London studios. He has focus on fashion illustration, editorial, animation and advertisement. He uses multiple techniques with a love for experimentation and the combination of analog, digital, and 3D processes.

For more information, visit Harry's website.

Trips and visits

While you study the course you will be offered opportunities to go on group excursions both in the UK and abroad. There are usually three overseas trips a year, which we offer to Venice, New York and Berlin.

Locations do alter each year to allow for students to experience a range of cities. We always put on UK study trips to places such as London, Manchester, Oxford and Liverpool. Where possible, UK trips are free or heavily subsidised.

As an Illustration student, you’ll be encouraged to take advantage of these trips as we see them as adding extra value to your course and they do offer additional research opportunities.

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2027/28.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

112-72 UCAS Tariff points. Applicants will also need to submit a good portfolio.

The offer we make you takes into account the creative potential illustrated in your portfolio, along with your individual circumstances, predicted grades, achieved qualifications and potential to succeed at university.

If you are not studying a creative subject at Level 3, you can still apply for this course. Our portfolio guidance information includes alternative options for how you can show us your passion for art.

GCSE and other level 2 requirements

This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.

A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements

Qualification

Entry requirements

A Level / AS Level

A Level: 112-72 UCAS Tariff points / BBC-CDE (or equivalent)

AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels

A maximum of four subjects will be considered

Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate)

112-72 UCAS Tariff points

Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances and may be equivalent to a Merit or Pass overall grade

All subjects accepted but Digital Production, Design and Development and Craft and Design preferred.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3

Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered

OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications

NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications

WJEC Level 3 qualifications

Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)

Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers)

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects

Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved from three Advanced Highers or two Advanced Highers plus two Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate

112-72 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances and may be equivalent to a Merit or Pass overall

Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media)

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances

If you're applying with an International Baccalaureate Diploma or international qualifications, please see further information below.

Mature students

Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.

International qualifications

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Obtain 28-24 points overall

EU / International students

Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.

If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information on pre-sessional English courses.

Meeting our entry requirements

If you do not meet our academic or English language requirement, or have been out of education for some time, you may wish to consider joining Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC). BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to undergraduate study at Birmingham City University.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student

International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2027

Duration

£10,050 in 2027/28

Apply via UCAS

International students

£19,220 in 2027/28

Apply Online

Included in your course fees

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Specialist software

You will be able to access free licences for specialist software such as Blender, Capcut and Cinema 4D.

Free Adobe Creative Cloud licence

Students studying on this course can request a free licence to install the entire suite of applications on up to two personal devices.

Not included in your course fees

Project materials (mandatory)

This course includes project work that requires you to develop and produce a portfolio or collection. You'll be expected to provide the materials for use in your individual major projects. Costs will vary depending on the materials selected, but we recommend you budget £200.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Competition fees (optional)

If you choose to participate in some external design competitions you may need to cover submission fees, which can vary from £10-50.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy. We suggest budgeting approximately £5-100 for this.

Personal equipment (optional)

Whilst not essential, it is advised you own a computer or laptop with a decent memory, capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud and software such as Blender.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

Register with UCAS

Login to UCAS and complete your details

Select your course and write a personal statement

Get a reference

Pay your application fee and submit your application

Guidance for International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS.

Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

Portfolio guidance

If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio. We ask that this is submitted within four weeks of receiving your offer.

Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.

Personal statement

The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the three areas you’ll need to address:

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Here’s where you explain what makes this course exciting to you. Think about your motivations for studying the course and your future plans. If you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to show what you’ve learned at school or college. You should include the skills and knowledge you’ve gained from education or training and how this will help you succeed in your chosen course.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Not everything you’ve learned comes from the classroom. Life experience counts too! You might want to talk about work experience, employment, or volunteering and how they’ve helped you develop the skills needed for your chosen course or future career.

Worried about Personal Statements?

If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.

Get personal statement advice

Financial Support

We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.

View fees for continuing students

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

Throughout the course you will discover and refine a portfolio of practice which best suits your motivations and aspirations. Through this you will develop as a creative individual, equipped not only for a career within the illustration spectrum, but with the transferable skills to benefit a whole range of professional contexts.

This degree is designed to enhance your skills and aptitude, preparing you for a career within a landscape that is continuously changing. You’ll develop specialist knowledge and understanding within the field of illustration. As a creative practitioner and graduate of this course you will be able to generate a range of potential ideas and visual solutions. You will have the ability to produce creative work that demonstrates sound judgements in accordance to the theories and concepts of illustration and visual communication subjects, responding to the demands of industry.

You will develop an in-depth understanding of the relationship between theory and practice through research, allowing you to create meaningful, well-informed work and preparing you to take on further study. You will gain an understanding of the underlying concepts and established principles that govern creative practice.

Alongside this you will establish a range of working strategies, methods and materials, learning how to apply these to production. You will also discover, and respond to, the influence of audiences, clients, markets and other participants in relation to visual communication practice.

Placements

As an Illustration student you will be encouraged to develop your professional networks. We strongly believe that creating relationships with industry will enable you to develop your profile and enhance your professional networks. Networking is vital to furthering your opportunity to undertake work placements and paid jobs.

While placements are not a compulsory aspect of this degree you will be encouraged to engage with industry, incorporating this throughout your work. Engagement with industry is a core focus throughout this programme.

You will also be presented with the chance to attend trips and visits which will widen your insight into the working-practices of industry. In addition to this, we have multiple working-relationships with organisations, allowing our students to take on professional roles and gain experience. Take a look at how students have worked with industry.

Graduate jobs

We offer a broad education as well as specific subject skills, so we see many graduates working in the creative industries but also in a variety of employment such as management, education, tourism, marketing and freelance business.

Industry demands are constantly changing, so it’s important that we prepare you for all eventualities. The internationalisation components mean you are aware of global expectations and the possibilities of work outside the UK. All modules have transferable skills built into the teaching, meaning you are able to apply your knowledge to a variety of tasks and challenges.

Our students have gone on to work in jobs such as:

Freelance Illustrators

Designers for Publishing

Fashion Illustrators

Graphic Designers

UX / UI Designers for web

Art teachers

Art and Design or Print Technicians

Animators

Some of these companies include:

Vivienne Westwood

Wondrous (creative and digital agency)

Bright Agency

Make Believe Ideas (publisher)

Facilities & Staff

Art and Design facilities

Take a look around the facilities available to you as an Art and Design student at BCU.

See our Art and Design facilities

Our staff

Ian Dodds

Course Director BA (Hons) Illustration

Ian has had work published nationally and internationally for clients such as The Japan Times, Radio Times, The Guardian, Cycling Plus, The Economist, Financial Times and The Independent on Sunday. Working as a freelance illustrator since 2002, his style is a blend of painting, drawing, photography, found objects and printmaking that are fused...

More about Ian

Helen Wheeler

Senior Lecturer BA (Hons) Illustration

Helen is a commercially successful artist, working with the BBC, Paperchase, Waterstones, House of Fraser, WH Smith, Boots and Next. Within her work as a freelance illustrator, she has expanded her practice to character development for CBBC.

More about Helen

Gareth Courage

Gareth is an experienced educator, illustrator and designer. He has over 15 years of experience devising, designing and delivering creative learning projects for compulsory education and arts-based organisations. These have been produced in various settings across the UK and have involved participant-led outcomes as diverse as...

More about Gareth

Rachel Oldfield

Lecturer in Illustration BA (Hons)

Rachel has worked as a successful freelance illustrator for over fifteen years. Her work has been commissioned for use on a wide range of formats including room decor, wall art, book covers, wrapping paper, greeting cards, commercial murals, surface pattern design, including seven published children’s books.

She has taught illustration both...

More about Rachel

Chloé Masi

Senior Lecturer in Illustration BA (Hons)

Chloé graduated from the Royal College of Art in Communication Art and Design (Illustration) and gained academic experience in a number of art schools including London College of Fashion, Arts University Bournemouth, and the University of the West of England.

More about Chloé

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E: International enquiry form

T: +44 (0)121 331 5389

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