Illustration: Authorial Practice MA

Develop your unique authorial voice on this studio-based MA Illustration course. You’ll learn to see your work as an evolving practice, as you challenge and re-evaluate your personal visual language with the help of experienced practitioners.

Open book with illustration of yellow figure and coloured kite shaped object.

Key details

Location	Falmouth Campus
Course Duration	1 year / 2 years
Attendance	Full-time / Part-time
Contact	01326 213730

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Introduction

At the heart of this course is an examination of authorship and storytelling. Through hands-on workshops, you'll develop skills like screen-printing, creative writing and bookbinding, while working on longer-term projects in your choice of media. Taking an entrepreneurial approach, you'll develop your professional practice and consider outlets for your work.

You will:

Join the only MA Illustration course with a specific academic focus on authorial practice
Mount a professional presentation of work from your negotiated project
Access professional facilities, including a print room and dedicated MA studio space
Learn from high profile guest speakers and industry-savvy tutors
Benefit from our close relationship with independent publisher Atlantic Press, with opportunities for placements and internships
Study over one or two years

Covid-19 update

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates page

What our students do

Pink room with suspended squares with abstract imagery.

Pink book called "Book of Corbyn" on display with pink headphones.

Hand bound book stood upright and grey cloth rectangle with type laid next to it.

Books spreads with various illustrations.

Hand opening book with illustration of victorian couple kissing inside a red prism structure.

Storyboard style illustrations pinned up onto a board.

Figure with oversized arms stretched out in red mountain scene.

Many pages of black mounted text and images hanging on red strings.

A pair of hands protruding from a wall and holding open a book for display.

Pale pink and green book and spreads with structural diagrams.

Coloured shell like object on black background.

What our graduates do

Our graduates have harnessed their developed practice, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills to find success in a range of creative sectors including; publishing, reportage, e-learning, residencies, art collectives, film and theatre, self and independent publishing and education.

Alumni have produced work for the likes of MacMillan, Kingfisher, Polar Bear Music Prize, Fantagraphics, Blankslate and Editions Memo; offered art direction for Penguin and Little Brown; joined collectives such as We Colonised the Moon, Tara Books and Kekien Collective; taken up residencies with Women’s Studio Workshop, The Bauhaus Print Studio and The Full Dome (California); accepted teaching posts with universities, from Manchester to Tuluca; started independent publishers including Pirrip Press, Atlantic Press and Guillemot Press, and undertaken PhD’s.

Course details

What you'll learn

As the only course focused on authorial practice, we’ll cover every aspect of the profession. By researching, analysing and evolving your approach, and working with increasing independence, you’ll progress and grow as an experienced professional. On top of practical work, you’ll explore audience awareness and professional development by producing two analytical essays and delivering a presentation on subjects you find interesting.

We’ll help you get to grips with entrepreneurial approaches as you identify your audience and look into the channels and opportunities for your work. And by taking on various longer-term projects, you’ll have the chance to work on things like children's books, graphic novels, digital work and screen-based productions.

Your workshops will cover subjects like creative writing, composition, visual narrative, book design, and networking and entrepreneurship, while the Illustration Discourses lecture series looks into authorial positions, theories and contexts. At the end of the course you’ll put on a professional presentation of your work.

You’ll also learn from our relationship with a local publishing house. Offering insights and experience across the entire publishing process, from concept to finished product, you’ll gain expertise in printing, distribution and marketing. This is also where many of our students gain real-world experience through internships.

The annual Falmouth Illustration Forum explores various aspects of authorial illustration, and is your chance to see internationally-renowned guest speakers like Lorenzo Mattotti, Sue Coe, Linda Rogers, Jonny Hannah, Lauren Elkin, Graham Rawle and David Shrigley.

Modules

Negotiated Project 1
Critical Publication
Negotiated Project 2
Research Presentation
Negotiated Project 3 & Extended Essay

The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details:

How you'll learn

The course takes place over three semesters, covering 45 or 90 weeks, depending on whether you choose to study one year full-time or two years part-time.

You’ll produce three practical projects based on personal work, supported by lectures, seminars, group critiques and workshops, as well as talks from industry professionals. You’ll also record and reflect on your studio work with a research journal.

Staff

You’ll be taught and supported by practising illustrators and published writers with experience in areas like exhibiting work, running publishing houses, leading poetry festivals, and working with companies like Puffin, Macmillan, Heinemann, Scholastic and the Sunday Times.

Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.

Staff profile

Hugh Frost

Course Leader

Hugh is the Course leader for MA Illustration Authorial Practice at Falmouth. He is also an Editor...

Staff profile

Mat Osmond

Senior Lecturer MA Illustration: Authorial Practice

Mat’s a writer and visual artist with an interest in the arts’ role in helping us to understand and...

Staff profile

Hannah Waldron

Senior Lecturer

Hannah joined the MA Illustration team in 2018, having worked as a freelance illustrator in the...

Facilities

Individual studio space
Full IT facilities
Print room
Comprehensive library

Take a virtual tour

Work by Ubahang Nembang

How to apply

Talk to us

To find out more about this course, how you'll learn or what funding is available, get in touch with our Course Advisors. Click below to submit a form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Get in touch

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Ready to apply for postgraduate study? You can apply online by clicking the button below.

Apply to study full-time

Apply to study part-time

After applying you'll then need to send us a study proposal and either samples of work or a link to your website or blog. Your study proposal should describe the kind of project you'd like to undertake and how you want to develop your illustration practice.

At the interview we'll look for authorial illustration potential or capabilities, illustration ability, graphic skills, drawing skills, creative writing/storytelling potential, ideas and concepts. We can also hold a telephone or Skype interview if this isn't possible.

Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive a Falmouth Applicant Portal login, where you’ll find more details about these requirements.

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from those with relevant equivalent Level 6 qualifications, or relevant equivalent experience, and a demonstrable interest in the subject.

We’ll also welcome your application if you have formal or 'certified' learning (such as training courses not run by universities or colleges) and learning from work experience or self-study. This is called Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL), and should have been gained within the last five years, and be equivalent to the learning outcomes of our minimum entry qualifications.

APL applicants using experience to apply should note there is a £200 application fee for entry with advanced standing or with exemption from specific modules or credit.

Language requirements

If English isn’t your first language, you'll need to demonstrate English language skills that are sufficiently developed for successful completion of your studies. We accept a range of recognised English language qualifications that are equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic minimum score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

International applicants who require a student visa to study in the UK must take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. Our Applicant Services Team can help with any questions you may have about study visas or suitable language tests.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) Policy (383.68 KB)

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) Procedure (364.26 KB)

Fees, costs & funding

Tuition fees

Tuition fees 2021-22

£8,500 per year - full-time UK (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees).

£4,250 per year - part-time UK (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees).

£16,950 per year - full-time EU/international (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees).

£8,475 per year - part-time EU/international (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees).

Tuition fees 2022-23

£9,900 per year - full-time UK (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees).

£4,950 per year - part-time UK (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees).

£19,300 per year - full-time EU/international (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees).

£9,650 per year - part-time EU/international (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees).

Find out more about our Graduate Loyalty Discount for Falmouth Alumni, which offers a reduction in course tuition fees.

Typical course costs

£280 - Recurring annual costs

If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

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

Postgraduate funding

There are loans, awards and alternative funding sources for postgraduate studies. Read about them on our Postgraduate Funding page.

Find out about funding

Ask a student

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From course details, our facilities and the local area to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

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Falmouth School of Art