You’ll have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement of up to a year in length. Dependent on the duration of your placement, you could gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice.

Create a career-ready portfolio

Build a professional portfolio that reflects your creative identity and career ambitions. You’ll exhibit your work and share it with industry professionals throughout the course—online and in person.

Collaborate with real-world clients

Develop your professional skills through self-initiated work experience placements, industry competitions, collaborations with organisations and guest lectures.

Learn from working professionals

Connect with illustrators, agents, publishers and creatives through visiting lectures, masterclasses and portfolio reviews. Learn directly from those working in the industry—offering insight, advice and inspiration.

Illustration is a powerful creative language that shapes culture, sparks connection and inspires meaningful change. On our BA (Hons) Illustration course, you will explore the full breadth of contemporary illustrative practice and develop your own creative direction within it. This dynamic and multidisciplinary degree celebrates curiosity and experimentation and encourages you to become a confident visual communicator.

Throughout your studies you will work with both traditional and emerging digital media discovering how craft technology and conceptual thinking come together to produce work with clarity imagination and impact. You will examine the ideas stories and social issues that influence illustration today learning how to respond with insight and purpose.

You will take part in hands on projects, live briefs and industry-supported challenges that give you authentic professional experience. Our tutors, guest speakers and creative partners will support your growth every step of the way, helping you build the skills and knowledge that the creative industries value.

By the time you graduate you will have the adaptability critical insight and creative strength to succeed in established and emerging areas of visual communication.

What you will study:

Your learning begins with the fundamentals of visual communication. You will develop skills in drawing, image making, storytelling, and creative experimentation as you explore a wide range of analogue and digital approaches. This stage builds confidence and encourages you to develop a distinctive visual language.

As you move forward, your studies become more focused on context, meaning, and professional application. You will examine how illustration responds to social, cultural, ethical, and technological change, and you will learn how to transform your ideas into thoughtful, fully resolved outcomes.

Live briefs and industry projects will introduce you to real-world expectations and help you understand how to respond to different audiences. Our optional modules give you the opportunity to personalise your learning by shaping the course around your interests and career ambitions.

Your final year is dedicated to building a strong personal identity as an illustrator, supported by a refined portfolio and a clear understanding of where you want to position your practice after graduation.

In the UK for Art and Design in Complete University Guide 2026

Module information

A standard full-time BA (Hons) course is made up of 120 credits studied each year. Some courses may vary, however, and you can find information on the total number of credits achieved per module below.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the

Year OneYear TwoOptional placement yearFinal Year

Core ModulesExpand all +

Process and Progress

This module is designed to enable you to deepen your knowledge and skills through experimentation with a range of analogue and digital media to expand your creative possibilities.

You will develop practical skills, technical ability, and conceptual thinking skills that support the development of your personal visual language and foster confidence in exploring traditional and contemporary approaches in your illustration practice. Concurrently you will be able to consider the environmental, social or ethical implications of material choices.

You will be encouraged to use both traditional methods alongside emerging technologies to enable you to experiment with the potential of ideas. You will use equipment and processes that advance your knowledge and test out the capabilities of materials and tools. Alongside, you will develop technical and material knowledge through experimental making and testing.

You will increase the complexity and depth of your creativity through experimentation and play, creating work in 2D and/or 3D, considering scale and form, whilst using cutting edge technologies, as well as traditional methods of illustrative practice.

20 credits

Ideas, Imagination and Interpretation

In this module you will develop your understanding of the creative process of visual storytelling. Using relevant research methods and developmental practice, you will generate multiple ideas within specific creative contexts, that reflect the diverse nature of storytelling.

You will undertake projects that cover image making, idea generation, composition, and storytelling using single, sequential and moving image. You will learn how to develop robust ideas and capture these in a coherent illustrative process that visually communicates your concepts in clearly. Curiosity, experimentation and willingness to discover are key components to the course and this module helps you to create ideas on paper, utilise problem-solving skills, employ critical analysis, and exercise presentation skills crucial for future professional practice.

The combination of theoretical and practical sessions will enable you to formulate and express ideas, situating your own developing understanding of illustrative practice. Regular tutorials encourage you to discuss ideas with peers and tutors embedding critical evaluation and self-reflection, enabling you to improve your own learning and present ideas that reflect your understanding of illustration in the context it is intended.

40 credits

Making with Meaning

This module invites you to explore and begin shaping your personal approach, identity, and artistic voice within the practice of illustration. You will reflect on what it means to be an illustrator-both personally and professionally-and, through research and critical self-reflection, develop insights that inform how you interpret and respond to creative briefs. The themes explored and applied in this module align to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and will support you in recognising the wider context and impact of your practice. You will develop confidence and deepen your critical engagement, encouraging fresh perspectives and thinking, while strengthening the skills and knowledge you have developed throughout the year.

The module encourages you to look beyond predictable solutions and strive for creativity within both your process and outcomes. You will also be introduced to the expectations of professional practice, explicitly developing the attributes and skills essential to an illustrator and exploring how these translate within the wider creative industries. It will continue to expose you to the key theoretical concepts underpinning illustration as a discipline and will help you position your evolving practice within this context, preparing you for progression into your second year of study.

Observation to Imagination

Building on these foundations, the module challenges you to transform observed material into imaginative and concept-driven outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on creative interpretation, encouraging you to push beyond representation and explore narrative, symbolism and abstraction as tools for visual storytelling.

Alongside practical work, you will engage in historical and critical analysis of the evolution of illustration, examining influential practitioners and cultural contexts that have shaped the discipline.

Through theoretical sessions, practical workshops and independent research, you will develop an awareness and understanding of the social, political and technological contexts in which illustration has developed. This will inform your own critical opinions illustration’s roles, influences, and future direction.

Through regular tutorials, you will be encouraged to discuss your visual research with peers and tutors to promote critical evaluation and self-reflection, to improve your own learning, and to present ideas that consolidate your understanding of the discipline.

You will study one 20-credit Optional Module. There are a range of optional 20-credit modules - these options add personalisation to your course and cover content related to your course subject area. The Optional modules may change year on year and we purposely update these regularly to allow for industry input and innovations in the subject.

Articulate and Amplify

This module is an opportunity to challenge yourself and critically reflect on your creative values. You will enhance your understanding of the location of your practice, exploring how you can use illustration as a tool for social justice and commercial practice, creating work that develops an understanding of context and audience.

Illustration can be a powerful tool for change, and you will use your creative abilities to explore ideas and responses that challenge and innovate, with the purpose of raising awareness and eliciting change You will be encouraged to develop work that ignites conversation and debate, reflect on your ethics, core values and viewpoint, and begin to shape your personal and professional identity through the lens of your practice. You will explore current ethical debates and underpin your thinking using your critical insights to push boundaries, explore diverse perspectives, and create work that recognises the importance of effective visual communication for local, national, or global audiences.

You will further develop your digital and analogue skills through dedicated technical workshops, complemented by sessions focused on illustrative thinking, process, and creative development.

Live Projects

This module offers you the opportunity to explore and refine your personal and professional direction through engagement with industry live briefs. Delivered with the support of leading illustrators, design studios, and industry partners, you will respond to a series of live briefs that span social impact campaigns and commercial projects—enabling you to gain experience of ethical or market-driven contexts while benefitting from authentic feedback and collaboration.

You’ll have the flexibility to create work that reflects your personal interest while ensuring it meets the requirements of briefs designed to demonstrate professional viability. Themes explored align to relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UNESCO sustainability competencies relating to collaboration, critical thinking and self-awareness, and will support you in recognising the wider context and impact of your work.

You will develop an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an illustrator and be supported in identifying where you aim to position your practice within the wider creative industries, ensuring time for reflection and preparation for your final year of study.

Co Lab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking

Through active participation with team-based problem solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to the challenge or brief. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.

Optional ModulesExpand all +

Storyboarding: Visualising the Story, Enhancing the Narrative

Explore the creative potential of storyboarding in this optional module. Learn how to plan visual narratives for film, TV, and media using filmic language, script breakdown, and pre-production techniques. Taught in mixed-course groups, the module supports collaboration and personalisation. You'll develop storyboards from concept to final visuals, gaining practical skills and industry insight.

Experimental Animation

Explore frame-by-frame filmmaking through process-led animation in this optional module. Develop your creative and analytical skills using experimental techniques like pixilation and morphing. With opportunities to personalise your learning and collaborate across disciplines. You'll produce an innovative moving image piece, either individually or in a group and gain insight into animation's wider artistic and cultural contexts.

Publishing: Experimental Formats

Explore innovative approaches to publishing in this optional module, combining analogue and experimental formats with traditional processes. Acting as visual editors and makers, you'll interpret content creatively through workshops and independent practice. Studied in mixed-course groups, the module encourages personalisation and cross-course collaboration while developing industry-relevant design, craft, and communication skills.

Telling Stories

This workshop-based module introduces visual storytelling, exploring image-text relationships, audience, and narrative structure. You'll develop a personal project, applying these skills to your area of interest while meeting industry standards. Open to all Art and Design students, it encourages collaboration across courses, allowing you to personalise your learning and build a broader creative community.

Exploring Creative Coding

Explore the expressive potential of Creative Coding in this optional module, where you'll learn to write code using Processing to create interactive and data-driven visual work. Designed to complement your course, it offers the opportunity to personalise your learning and work alongside students from other disciplines, building new skills in an increasingly relevant area for artists and designers.

Drawing & Exploring with Natural Materials

This optional module explores sustainable creative practices using natural materials for colour, image-making, and 3D construction. Through hands-on workshops, you'll learn techniques like natural dyeing, eco-printing, and biomaterials while considering environmental impact and well-being. The module builds a foundation in sustainable design and results in a portfolio of innovative, nature-inspired visual research and experimental work.

Ecological Futures: A Creative Response

This optional module explores creative responses to ecological and environmental challenges across multiple creative disciplines. You will engage with contemporary environmental thinking and creative practices to develop works that address, document, or intervene in ecological systems. Through a combination of theoretical understanding and practical experimentation, you will develop projects that respond to local environmental contexts while engaging with global ecological discourse.

Prop Making

This Year 2 optional module introduces fantasy prop design for industries like film, TV, theatre, and games. You'll learn 3D CAD and traditional making techniques to create imaginative, functional props. The module covers concept development, digital modelling, prototyping, and final production, culminating in a tangible artefact and a portfolio developing both creative and technical skills for industry application.

Placement year routesExpand all +

Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

The additional placement year incurs a fee. For international students considering the transfer to the 4-yr SW route it's important to seek advice from the International Student Support team and the Home Office regarding any potential visa implications and costs. For UK students, advice should also be sought regarding SLC eligibility, if applicable.

* If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will need to apply for this course by using the full-time UCAS code.

0 credits

Study Abroad

If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.

This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).

Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.

Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).

Professional Possibilities

This module enables you to explore and realise the potential of your professional practice. You will engage with digital tools for self-promotion, identifying the relevant professional opportunities that align to your practice. You will negotiate your personal learning experience and adopt a strategic approach to your working process and produce professional outcomes

Your illustrative practice will be applied within a chosen context—either commercial or publishing—or directed toward socially responsible, community-focused projects. You will develop an independent, professional approach and tailor your work to a specific audience or client.

Locating Practice

In this module, you will locate your distinct personal voice in your practice and use appropriate platforms to showcase your outcomes, demonstrating how it is anchored within illustration's professional and academic paradigms.

Throughout the module you will continue to challenge your existing assumptions, refine your distinct visual identity and how this communicates with an audience. You will do this through investigative research, critical thinking and a reflective analysis of your working process and that of others, evidencing your intellectual engagement with your practice and creating proposed outcomes in response to illustrative/creative briefs.

You will relate your projects to the work of other illustrators—past or present—or to broader aspects of visual theory. This contextual understanding will inform your developing practice and be evidenced through a written Independent Journal: Critical Contextualisation.

Future Facing, Future You

By the end of the module, you will have built a coherent visual identity and produced a professional portfolio of work, utilising an appropriate platform relevant to your practice. Your work will be finished to a professional standard and will demonstrate your personal creative investigation into the context, practice and theory of your subject matter, and will prepare you for your future professional ambitions and/or further academic study.

After identifying your goals for future career progression, you will cultivate a proactive and motivated working ethos. This includes strengthening transferable skills and embracing lifelong learning, enabling you to thrive within the creative industries. These experiences will build confidence in meeting professional standards and provide practical insights into industry practice.

Your portfolio will consist of a diverse range of outcomes created in response to briefs. These may include competition briefs from established professional bodies, live client briefs set by partners and practitioners, alongside staff and self-initiated briefs. You will be required to realise your Independent Journal, Critical Reflection on Practice which will demonstrate your ability to meaningfully reflect on your own process and practice, detailing in both written and visual form, the research, process and development of a project.

60 credits

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Student experience

Isaac Meardon

Illustration student

“As a creative, I have never felt short of inspiration while living in Nottingham, even the historical architecture is such an inspiration!”

Read Isaac's profile

Eve Moore

“My favourite thing about my course is how lovely and hardworking all of our tutors are. It’s a really accepting environment, they are understanding to the worries that come with developing as a creative and are so helpful whenever you need them.”

Read Eve's profile

David Morrissey Talhadas

“I’ve started exploring photography and film, illustration and animation, and then choose the format that best suits the project. If one approach doesn’t work, I try another and keep developing it until the final outcome is achieved.”

Read David's profile

Jas Martin

“The tutors are really good at nurturing your ideas and your own unique voice into something that's professional and ready for the industry.”

Read Jas's profile

Student Work

Raffa Baldo BA Illustration

Anna Nilson, BA (Hons) Illustration

Emily Helsdon BA Illustration

Toby Woodruff BA Illustration

Harley Sindall BA Illustration

Isobelle Farrar BA Illustration

Jack Howe BA Illustration

Muping Zhao BA Illustration

Tom Smith BA Illustration

Wing Leung BA Illustration

Discover Illustration at NTU

BA D&DA Showcase 2024

How you're taught

Your learning experience is practical collaborative and connected to the creative industries. You will work through a blend of studio workshops technical demonstrations, seminars, tutorials and lectures, all designed to develop your confidence and versatility.

Regular critiques encourage open discussion and allow you to test ideas gather feedback and develop your ability to present your work with clarity and purpose.

You will also learn from practising illustrators, design studios and creative organisations through live briefs, guest speakers and industry focused activities that reflect contemporary practice.

Independent learning is central to your development, and you will be supported in exploring new techniques, experimenting with materials and understanding the wider impact of your creative choices. Our community-focused approach ensures you feel supported and included as you grow into a reflective adaptable professional.

By the end of the course, you will have developed the skills behaviours and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-changing creative landscape.

Want real-world experience alongside your degree? Co Lab is your opportunity to work with peers from different disciplines on live projects set by industry partners. Embrace collaborative practice as you explore how creativity can make an impact in society and develop the skills employers want to see in the creative industries.

Find out more

Exchange opportunities

If you’re thinking about studying part of your degree abroad, the course has exchange agreements with a number of institutions around the world.

Exchanges take place in Year Two of the course. You’ll receive guidance from the University about where you can study, and help in completing your application and arranging your exchange.

Showcase

You will be given the opportunity to exhibit your work during your time at NTU to members of the creative industries. Visit our ‘We Are Creatives’ showcase to take a look at the work of this year's graduating students’.

Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Illustration

The course integrates emerging and evolving tools and technologies such as Ai to ensure our students are equipped with the knowledge and skills required for the future. Students are encouraged to be experimental and tangential with new technologies in our state-of-the-art facilities in the Design and Digital Arts building. Through exploration in workshops, lectures and industry collaborations they investigate and evaluate the impact and opportunities in the creative process and reflect on the ethical considerations related to their practice.

Find out more about AI, Creativity and Innovation at the Nottingham School of Art & Design | Nottingham Trent University

How you're assessed

Formative assessment points take place across the academic year. These are where you will receive an indication as to how your work is progressing in relation to the learning outcomes for the module. The final summative assessment occurs at the end of each module.

All portfolio work completed on BA (Hons) Illustration modules work will be assessed. Two key elements influence the assessment process on this course. The first is to recognise that effective illustration is produced through a process of research, analysis, development and evaluation. The focus of assessment is therefore on the entire process. This is reflected in the Course and Module Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. The second is the immense value placed on reflective learning. Self-evaluation of your learning and development is therefore a regular aspect of tutorials and assessments. All sketchbook work that demonstrates the evolution and development of final idea presentation is required for assessment, they should also demonstrate the sequential and contextual nature of your learning.

Advice and feedback on your work and progress on projects is given at regular group tutorials, and also at formal review points during the module. This is called Formative feedback, and is designed to help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your work and what you can do to improve it.

All module assessments are based on course work, and there are no separate assessments such as examinations. At the end of each module you receive a mark together with summary feedback on your achievement. This is called Summative Feedback. You will be provided with written Summative Feedback on all of your module assessments (at the end, half or full year depending on your module schedule).

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Who will teach you?

Dr Emily Strange

Principal Lecturer

Dr Emily Strange is Senior Lecturer in the School of Art & Design and Course Leader for BA Fine Art.

Visit Dr Emily Strange's staff profile

Luke D Waller

Senior Lecturer

Luke Waller is a Senior Lecturer in Illustration and practising illustrator, combining teaching and research with an active interdisciplinary creative practice.

Visit Luke D Waller's staff profile

Ellie Wild

Ellie Wild is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Illustration.

Visit Ellie Wild's staff profile

Helen Merrin

Helen Merrin is a Senior Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Illustration course.

Visit Helen Merrin's staff profile

Kristian Jones

Lecturer

Kristian Jones is Course Leader for MSc Creative Technologies at Nottingham Trent University, specialising in creative technology, AI, immersive media and interdisciplinary creative practice. His teaching and research explore the relationship between emerging technologies, digital culture and creativity, helping students develop innovative, ethical and future-focused approaches to contemporary creative challenges.

Visit Kristian Jones 's staff profile

Vivien Chan

Hourly Paid Lecturer (Design and Digital Arts)

Vivien Chan is a Lecturer in Illustration for NTU's School of Art & Design.

Visit Vivien Chan's staff profile

Isabel Story

Dr Story is currently supervising PhDs on Northern Irish Artist-led collectives, archiving Tehran's protests, functional aesthetics, and meme environments.

Visit Isabel Story's staff profile

Rikus Ferreira

Rikus Ferreira, Senior Lecturer in Illustration at NTU, teaches on BA and MA Illustration and leads the first-year Exploring Illustration module.

Visit Rikus Ferreira's staff profile

Maëlle Daub-Laurent

Lecturer (Teaching)

Maëlle Daub-Laurent is a lecturer in Visual Communication and Course Leader for the FdA Graphics and Digital Design at NTU’s School of Art & Design.

Visit Maëlle Daub-Laurent 's staff profile

Andrew Conroy

Associate Lecturer

Andrew Conroy brings together his experience as an artist, curator, and educator to guide students through the critical and creative foundations of illustration at NTU.

Visit Andrew Conroy's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Other requirements

a portfolio

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

Additional requirements

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Contextual offers

We consider every application in the context of your individual circumstances and educational background. This may include information about where you live, the school or college you attended, or experiences that may have shaped your educational journey. This is known as a contextual offer, and we use information provided through UCAS to help inform our decisions. By considering achievement in context, we can better recognise academic potential and ensure applicants are assessed as fairly and fully as possible.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Other qualifications and experience

NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.

We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.

Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional international requirements

Additional requirements for international students

If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City campus.

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students - see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£10,050 per year

Year abroad - £1,507

Placement year - £2,010

If you choose to do a placement year or year abroad, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year. Please be aware that you will be charged the fee set for the year this takes place, rather than being fixed at the rate applicable when you start your course, and any increases are subject to Government approval. As a guide, the fees above are for the 2027/28 academic year.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students - see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

£19,150 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Graduate Festival - Graphic Design & Illustration

In Final Year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Showcase. If you’re selected to showcase your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of the exhibition stand and of transporting your work to the show.

Material Costs

Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget a further minimum of £150 (Year One), £250 (Year Two), and £250 (Final Year) to cover the other production costs associated with your course. Of course, you may spend less or more than this depending on the nature of your studies.

Year abroad

If you choose to study abroad for a year, you may need to consider additional costs such as visas, vaccinations, accommodation and travel expenses.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

From the very start of the course, you will be encouraged to identify with the world of work and your future beyond graduation. The course has a dedicated employability tutor and the School Employability team support Illustration students with drop-in session and advice.

This course will equip you with skills and experience needed to work as a professional illustrator, as well as a range of transferable skills that can be applied to a number of roles within the creative industries.

Connecting with industry

Our BA (Hons) Illustration course was created in consultation with leading industry bodies such as the Association of Illustrators (AOI), whose knowledge and expertise informs our approach and ensures that the course is aligned with the most current industry needs and expectations.

Some of our other industry connections, clients or partners include:

Hachette

Harper Collins

Penguin Random House

Usbourne

Scholastic

Folio Society

Carmelite

Nobrow Press

Throughout the course you will work with industry on live briefs and hear from visiting speakers. You will also be supported and encouraged to enter national and international illustration competitions such as The World Illustration Awards (AOI), The Batsford Prize, The Macmillan Prize, V&A Illustration Awards, and the YCN, Creative Conscience.

Creative Industries Federation

We are members of the Creative Industries Federation (CIF), which means students in the Nottingham School of Art & Design have the opportunity to sign up to free student membership. Creative Industries Federation are an organisation that represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries and membership grants students exclusive access to their selection of resources and events to help advance your career and connect with industry.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll be based in our new Design & Digital Arts Building. Our new Design & Digital Arts Building will place Nottingham as a UK hub for film, television, animation, UX design, games design, graphic design and more.

You'll have access to industry-standard facilities which include a virtual production studio, an in-camera VFX studio and a black box studio, as well as collaborative studio spaces, future technology suites and exhibition spaces.

Step inside Studio 1 in 360°

Tour the Digital Print Hub in 360°

Graphic Design, Illustration and Motion Graphics Facilities

For more information visit the Graphic Design, Illustration and Motion Graphics Facilities page.

Bonington Art Shop

For more information visit the Bonington Art Shop page.

Design & Digital Arts Building

For more information visit the Design & Digital Arts Building page.

Take a virtual tour

Applying

We will ask you to provide a digital portfolio. Visit our webpage which has some advice on what to include to help make your portfolio stand out. After you have submitted your portfolio, we may also invite you to an online interview to help us make our final decision.

Please be aware that all enrolments onto the Course will initially be for the full time 3-year route. There is however an opportunity for you to internally transfer to the 4-year SW route if you secure a placement. The placement would need to be confirmed and transfer agreed during your 2nd year to enable you to commence the placement in year 3. It is important that you seek advice regarding any funding and financial implications before making any changes to your course structure.

Apply through UCAS

Your portfolio

If your initial application is successful, you may be asked to upload a portfolio of your work and you may also be asked to attend an interview.

Portfolio advice

Please be aware that you will need to apply for the three-year full-time course. There is however an opportunity for you to internally transfer to the 4-year SW route if you secure a placement. The placement would need to be confirmed and transfer agreed during your 2nd year to enable you to commence the placement in year 3. It is critical to consult with the NTU International Student Support Team and the Home Office for updated visa regulations and requirements before making any changes to your course structure.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised for your country.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply through NTU portal

Personal statement guidance

You’ll submit a personal statement with your UCAS application – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

Graphic Design

BA (Hons)

Photography

Fine Art

Animation BA (Hons)

Graphics and Digital Design

More from this subject

View more courses on the Graphic Design and Illustration subject page

Further study

View Graphic Design and Illustration postgraduate courses

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