Illustration MA (Online)
Make new strides as an illustrator.
Course overview
Immerse yourself in the diverse and evolving world of contemporary illustration on this stimulating online master’s course. Joining a global community of fellow creative change-makers, you will explore innovative approaches to visual communication, pushing creative boundaries and influencing new thinking on illustration.
Supported by a team of professional illustrators and academics, you will be encouraged to explore your own personal identity as an illustrator, placing yourself centre stage within your own culture of making while examining global perspectives and mastering the emergent skills required for your practice to thrive.
Whether you’ve recently completed an undergraduate degree in illustration or a related discipline, or if you’re an established illustrator looking to take on new challenges, you will gain the confidence and knowledge to stand out, whatever your creative and professional goals.
Why study this course at Falmouth?
- Join Falmouth’s renowned illustration community from wherever you’re located on an established course designed specifically for online study
- Explore the theoretical and cultural contexts of storytelling through a sharpened ability to research
- Refine your unique illustrative voice and create a compelling online presence
- Expand your learning and your professional networks at our optional in-person events
Top image credit: student work by Johnathan Scane
Start dates: January / May / September
(Three intakes per year)
Course details
On this online Illustration MA, you will develop a deeper understanding of your practice and its cultural significance through a combination of rigorous academic inquiry, industry-informed practice and research.
Designed to help illustrators with well-versed practical, drawing, and mark-making skills further develop their output, you will refine your interests as a practitioner through working on a series of projects, strengthening your technical and visual skills and developing your own independent, critical perspective.
As you interrogate approaches to mark-making and storytelling strategies, you’ll also get to grips with creative entrepreneurship, building a business, networking and self-promotion skills required to get your work in front of the right people. By the time you graduate, you'll have the confidence and skills to take bold strides into the creative industries.
Modules
The modules have been specifically designed to be studied in a non-linear order, with the order in which you’ll study the modules depending on when you begin the course.
MA
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit Major Project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details for the MA.
PGDip
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules (120 credits in total), and will not complete a Major Project.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details for the PGDip.
Module details
This module introduces the different contexts and applications of illustration today, with a view to positioning your own practice and developing your personal pathway.
You will expand your understanding of audiences and their differing needs. The module seeks to examine local and global perspectives of the subject and the emergent skills required to imagine and realise effective illustration for both regional and global audiences.
(30 credits)
To accelerate the development of your personal visual language, this module involves an in-depth exploration of the broad range of visual tools available to the illustrator.
This includes different approaches to the core mark‐making skills, both haptic and digital, relevant to illustration practice.
(30 credits)
In this module you will explore the fundamental role of storytelling within illustration practice and the wider visual communication industries.
You will analyse its theoretical and cultural contexts and critically evaluate storytelling strategies as appropriate for differing local and global audiences.
(30 credits)
This module focuses on the professional practice of illustration, its applications, procedures and networks within a contemporary global context, building your entrepreneurial skills to inform your career or business future.
You will consider your own ‘brand values’ and develop an appropriate strategy for disseminating them to the right people in the industry.
You will be required to identify a network of industry connections and prepare a coherent and coordinated marketing and self-promotion strategy. This will include acquiring an advanced understanding of social media strategy.
(30 credits)
During this module you will develop a comprehensive body of work that reflects your chosen pathway and expresses an original personal and professional identity.
It builds on learning from previous modules and allows you to position yourself and your work for next steps following the course.
(60 credits)
As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.
Meet your course leader, Barnaby Lickens-Richards
Hear from course leader, Barnaby Lickens-Richards, about his routes into illustration, the highlights of his commercial career and the value of academic nourishment.
Read moreStudent work
Connect on Instagram
"I felt supported through the whole experience and have learnt a tremendous amount from doing the MA."
- Hayley Jane Smith, graduate
Resources and Support
- Dedicated easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE)
- Accessible online audio / visual content
- A Student Advisor to support you throughout your studies and access to our Student Support Services
- Access to our Employability Service
- 24/7 access to Falmouth's extensive online library of contextual books, journals and resources
- Access to online software tutorials at LinkedIn Learning
- Students' Union community
- Optional in-person events
- Invitation to attend alumni events
Although online students don't have access to on-campus facilities as part of the course, you can hire equipment and access facilities by paying a charge. Find out more about availability and prices here.
Is Online Study for Me?
The creative culture at our core is not confined to our Cornwall campuses; with our online degrees, ...
Online Learning Support
You'll have access to a range of support throughout your studies with us to help you thrive and deve...
Creative Writing BA(Hons) (Online) in-person event © Ellie Hope / © Mayn Creative
In-Person Events
As an online student at Falmouth, you’ll have the opportunity to attend in-person events throughou...
Parents & Carers Guide to Online Study
See how you can support a student considering an online degree at Falmouth.
How will I learn & be assessed
You'll learn through a blend of lectures, webinars, guest talks, tasks and discussion forums, which you'll access via our dedicated virtual learning environment. This is also where you'll find all key documentation, get course announcements and access extensive learning resources.
You'll refine dynamic practices, spending 20-25 hours a week working on your craft. We incorporate optional in-person events for all our online students. There will be up to two per year and will typically run over a long weekend, to fit around your other commitments.
You'll be supported academically by Online Tutors, who will also deliver weekly webinars and facilitate the online forums. If you need assistance with anything that isn't directly related to course material, a dedicated Student Advisor team will be on hand to help. You'll also have access to Falmouth University's excellent Employability Service.
Assessment methods for the masters degree in Illustration can typically include:
- Practical assignments, for example portfolios and online presentations
- Written assignments, for example writing a research journal
- Work-based assignments that are grounded in your existing practice where you will apply tools such as storytelling or market research.
Meet the team
Barnaby Lickens-Richards
Course Leader, MA Illustration (Online)
Barnaby is committed to the development of the illustrator’s personal and applied voice. His teach...
Shefali Wardell
Course Leader, Illustration BA(Hons) (Online)
I have been teaching on the online MA Illustration course as a final major project supervisor since ...
Merlin Evans
Module leader, Illustration MA (Online)
Merlin Evans is an award-winning Illustrator, Scribe, Educator, and Director of ‘Drawn to Medicine...
Kevin Ward
Online Tutor, Illustration MA (Online)
An experienced illustrator, writer and educator, Kevin has created editorial illustrations, com...
Robyn Wilson-Owen
Online Tutor, Illustration MA (Online)
Robyn is an illustrator and author of picture books. She mostly works with dip pens, ink, paint and ...
Staff
Designed with employer-focused learning at the core, our MA Illustration team works with global organisations, staff and alumni to provide you with the breadth of experience and networks needed to accelerate your career.
Guest lecturers have included:
- George Butler - reportage artist
- Sophie Herxheimer - artist, and poet
- Julian Posture - illustrator, and anthropologist
- Olivia Ahmad - artistic director of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
- Chisato Tamabayashi - paper engineer
- Hannah Berry - comics creator, scriptwriter, and campaigner
- Matthew Hodson aka Matthew the Horse - illustrator, and poet
- Pia Bramley - illustrator and author
- Oswin Tickler - graphic designer, and educator
- William Grill - book illustrator
- Isabel Greenberg - illustrator, writer, and graphic novelist
- Chris Moon - toy designer
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.
Careers
Our illustration community has a long history and reputation at Falmouth, with many graduates being internationally recognised for their work. Our expert team will help you identify potential opportunities in the UK or internationally, prepare for job interviews, advise you on starting up your own business, and more.
Alumni work as freelance illustrators, within advertising and design agencies, publishing, and the education sector, most typically. For some students, the MA helps them to develop work in current work-related roles.
Student outputs are diverse and include picture books, editorial, animation, murals, exhibitions, textiles, gaming and graphic novels.
A number of students have also gone on to PhD study on completion of the course.
Meet graduate Dante Gabriel Hookey
We chatted to graduate Dante Gabriel Hookey about their career highlights, their time as part of Falmouth’s creative community, and their love of illustration as a vehicle for exploring human communication.
Read moreHow to apply
Speak to us about the course
If you'd like to talk to an Advisor about this course or your application, get in touch with us via the form below.
Apply now
Ready to apply for postgraduate study? We have three start dates a year: January / May / September. Select the start date you'd like to apply for in the drop-downs below and then click the relevant apply button to begin.
You can apply to begin your studies in September 2024 by selecting the relevant course route below:
You can apply to begin your studies in January 2025 by selecting the relevant course route below:
You can apply to begin your studies in May 2025 by selecting the relevant course route below:
How to apply for our Online Degrees
Find out moreQualifications
An honours degree or Level 6 equivalent qualification is desirable. However, candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply. If you'd like to discuss our entry requirements, speak to an advisor.
Portfolio
A digital portfolio of your current illustration practice. The portfolio should indicate both your technical aptitude and the quality and sophistication of your practice.
If you'd like to talk to us about your application, get in touch.
If your first language is not English, you'll need to take an English Language test. We accept:
- IELTS - minimum overall score of IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening
- TOEFL iBT (online test) - minimum of 88 overall and at least 21 in all 4 components
- LanguageCert (online test) - a High Pass from the ESOL B2 Communicator test in reading, writing, speaking and listening (2 parts)
We also accept a range of other recognised English language qualifications. You can visit our English Language Requirements page for more information.
For more information about equivalent international qualifications or English language requirements please contact our friendly Course Advisors.
This course has three intakes per year: January, May and September.
| Academic start date* | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| 23 September 2024 | 2 September 2024 |
| 20 January 2025 | 8 January 2025 |
| 26 May 2025 | 6 May 2025 |
Please note:
*Virtual Welcome Week begins the week before the academic start date. During this time, our Student Advisor team will host Welcome Webinars and be in touch with practical information on how to study online.
An Early Bird discount is available for early applications. Currently the scheme offers up to £600 off MA tuition fees: £300 if you apply by the Early Bird discount submission deadline, and a further £300 off your tuition fees if you receive an offer and within two weeks you accept the place and pay the acceptance fee. Both these payments would be applied to your final fee instalment. Please note the discount amount is subject to change for future intakes.
| Early Bird discount submission deadline | Academic start date |
|---|---|
| 5 August 2024 | 23 September 2024 |
| 25 November 2024 | 20 January 2025 |
| 31 March 2025 | 26 May 2025 |
To discuss all our discount opportunities, contact an advisor.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
£12,150 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - 2 years part time - MA/MSc course
£7,921 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - PGDip course
£12,150 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - 2 years part time - MA/MSc course
£7,921 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - PGDip course
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.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Typical course costs
As part of studying MA Illustration (Online) you will require:
Laptop/computer
You will need a laptop or computer with a webcam, microphone and speakers/headphones. You'll also need a good internet connection and data allowance capable of supporting video meetings and streaming.
Resources and materials
Although all assignments will be submitted digitally, you will need to manage your own resources and materials. This will depend on the technology, equipment and consumables that you use for your practice, or would like to experiment with, as MAs are designed to develop established practices. These will vary from student to student, but you should be prepared to be making practical work on a weekly basis throughout the course.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Depending on the mediums you choose to work in, you may require access to Adobe Creative Cloud. You may be eligible for discounted licenses through Adobe's education pricing and Falmouth University seeks to provide further discounts when possible. If any discounts are available, we will communicate these to you.
For more information, please visit Adobe Creative Cloud.
Optional in-person events
You will be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation and subsistence costs to attend these events. Where ticketed activities are part of the event, such as festivals and fairs, you will also need to meet these costs.
Early Bird discount available
Request information
