Illustration: Authorial Practice MA
| Location | Falmouth Campus |
|---|---|
| Course duration | 1 year / 2 years |
| Attendance | Full-time / Part-time |
Course overview
At the heart of this Illustration MA 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 Illustration master's 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
- Develop collaborative and public-facing print and digital publishing projects with staff and peers
- Study over one or two years
Course details
As the only Illustration 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 Illustration MA 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 Illustration MA 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.
Hugh Frost
Course Leader
Hugh is the Course leader for MA Illustration Authorial Practice at Falmouth. He is also an Editor /...
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 ...
Hannah Waldron
Senior Lecturer
Hannah joined the MA Illustration team in 2018, having worked as a freelance illustrator in the indu...
Nigel Owen
Senior Lecturer
Having performed the roles of both Head of Illustration and also Course Leader since 2011, I decided...
Emilia Wharfe
Senior Technician
Emilia Wharfe is a Senior Technician in digital skills for predominantly BA(Hons)/MA Illustration, h...
Dr Carolyn Shapiro
Associate Professor of Visual Culture
Carolyn Shapiro has been teaching at the Falmouth College of Art, University College Falmouth, and F...
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Facilities
- Individual studio space
- Full IT facilities
- Print room
- Comprehensive library
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
£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).
£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.
