Illustration BA(Hons)
Become adept at problem solving and creating your visual language on a course renowned for its professional practice and its connection to the illustration world. From day one you’ll have your own desk space, and be encouraged to embrace the studio culture of creative communities.
Key details
| Location | Falmouth Campus |
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Attendance | Full-time |
| UCAS code | W221 |
| Contact | 01326 254350 |
Apply
Introduction
You’ll maximise your employability in the visual communications industry through learning about marketing, copyright and tax. Our academic team have experience covering every aspect of the industry, meaning you’ll benefit from different staff specialisms.
You will:
- Create your own portfolio website and have your third year work showcased in our in-house professional publication Wunderkammer.
- Develop your professional practice with work placements and internships.
- Participate in study visits to places like Bristol, London, Bologna and New York, attending conferences, visiting agencies and organisations and, in the third year, exhibiting your own work.
- Attend guest lectures from alumni and industry leaders such as Graham Black and Graham Rawle.
- Work on live briefs and meet clients.
What our students do
Illustration Student Highly Commended for MacMillan Children’s Book Prize
For the second year running, Alfie Steveson-Kelly, one of our third year...
Illustration Students Smash iJungle Awards
Four ambitious third year Illustration students...
Students Shortlisted for World Illustration Awards
With two students and three graduates being shortlisted across a variety of categories, Falmouth...
Stephen Fry Lends Voice to Student Conservation Film
Comedian, author, writer and frog enthusiast Stephen Fry has lent his voice to an emotive new...
Top Ten Tips from Professional Illustrator
Tilly McKerrow, one of our Illustration tutors...
Four Students Shortlisted for Coveted Design Award
Four Falmouth students have been shortlisted for this year's Penguin Random House UK Student...
Illustration Students Visit Bristol Studios
For the third year running, second-year students from...
Tate Partnership Commences with Peer Leader Training
First year Fine Art, Drawing and Illustration students have just spent four days working with...
Street Draw Raises Awareness of Homelessness
Work created by Illustration students and staff during #streetdraw24...
Riko's Reflections
We sat down with this year's Carmelite Picture Book Prize winner, third-year ...
What our graduates do
Our graduates have won awards like the Kate Greenaway Gold Medal, the Guardian Clearing Cover Illustration, and the Pushkin Press Student Illustration Award. They’ve also gone on to work in areas like graphic design, branding and packaging, tactile imagery, and book design.
Illustration Alumnus Part of Team That Has Won $100K in NASA Competition
A degree in Illustration can take you much further than book covers, editorial pieces and...
Illustration Graduate Commissioned by VOGUE
Sophie Melissa, 2017 BA(Hons) Illustration graduate, has been commissioned by British VOGUE...
Illustration Graduates Listed at Blue Peter Book Awards
Two Illustration graduates, Lauren Humphrey and Joe Lillington, have been recognised at the...
Advertising Award for Illustration Graduate
Illustration graduate Charlotte Jones has...
Illustration Graduate Publishes First Book
Illustration graduate Ella Kasperowicz has written and illustrated...
Award-winning Illustrator goes Global
Every artist has a dream. For actors, it's their name in lights on Broadway, for writers, it's...
Alumni Illustrate Winning Talent
Illustration talent has again been recognised by the country's most prestigious children's book...
Alumni Win Prestigious Publishing Prizes
Two Illustration graduates are amongst this year's Bologna Ragazzi Award winners for their...
Course details
What you'll learn
You’ll cover everything from drawing and visual studies to historical and cultural studies - developing peer and self-evaluation skills for the professional world. We’ll teach you core business skills in licenses, copyright and tax, and essential technical skills in Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver. You’ll learn to analyse a text, come up with strong ideas, compose an image, and properly market yourself when you enter the industry.
Beginning with visual problem solving, you’ll develop your conceptual skills as you explore a range of thinking strategies. You’ll also take part in life drawing and other themed visual studies sessions, and learn about critical theory and illustration’s historical contexts.
Travelling to London, you’ll learn about illustration in the design industry from influential art directors and illustration agents, and take part in a major illustration forum.
Modules
Visual Problem Solving
Visual Studies 1
Applied Illustration
Visual Studies 2
You’ll start with a series of applied illustration projects, covering advertising, book cover design, editorial illustration, children's book illustration and information illustration.
Putting your knowledge into practice, you’ll then manage and develop your own projects - finding a unique direction and focusing on a certain area of the industry.
Modules
Contextual
Visual Language 1
Negotiation 1 (Development)
Visual Language 2
You’ll develop a physical and digital portfolio of work, write a dissertation and produce a portfolio website. There’ll also be opportunities to participate in industry placements.
Finally, you’ll get the opportunity to show your portfolio abroad. This is your chance to get real feedback on your work from the best designers and art directors in the business.
Modules
Negotiation 2 (Consolidation)
Dissertation
Negotiation 3 (Completion)
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
Balancing creativity with professional practice, you’ll gain hands-on knowledge and experience through project work, live briefs and client meetings. Supporting this will be lectures, seminars, tutorials and optional study trips.
Our visiting speaker series has seen our students learn from Dave McKean, Noma Bar, Laura Carlin, McFaul, Nobrow, Sue Coe, Paul Slater, Sara Fanelli, Russell Cobb, Graham Rawle, Matthew Richardson, Posy Simmonds, Jason Ford, Kai & Sunny, Owen Davey and John Vernon Lord.
How you'll spend your time
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
1 | 31% | 69% |
2 | 36% | 64% |
3 | 18% | 82% |
How you'll be assessed
Year | Written exams | Practical exams | Coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
2 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
3 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Assessment methods
Assessment will take place at the end of each semester, and you’ll get feedback and evaluation throughout the year. You'll be assessed through visual, verbal and written assignments, including your portfolio, as well as a dissertation or final-year project.
Staff
Our teachers are practising illustrators with experience working for the Wall Street Journal, the Lancet Medical Journal, United Airlines, and Varoom. They’re often key in helping our students find work connections and opportunities.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.
Keryn Bibby
Keryn Bibby is qualified with a BA(Hons) in Graphic Information Design from the Falmouth School...
Nicholas Mott
Nick Mott is a musician and founder member of the cult experimental music group Volcano The Bear...
Nigel Owen
Having been Head of Illustration at Falmouth University since 2011 I decided to step back...
Sue Clarke
Graduating from St Martin's School of Art in 1989, Sue Clarke has been a highly successful...
Hugh Frost
Working mostly on the 2nd year of the illustration course as a studio-based tutor....
Rachel Dunn
Rachel Dunn's background is as colourful and varied as her artwork and illustrations. She has...
Linda Scott
Linda joined Falmouth University in 2004, relocating from London where she worked as a freelance...
Dr Carolyn Shapiro
Dr Carolyn Shapiro received her MA and PhD in Performance Studies from New York University (2004...
Dr Caroline Pullee
Caroline is currently academic lead for Quality Assurance and Enhancement and senior lecturer in...
Cally Gibson
Cally Gibson works at Falmouth University as a senior technician, solving software queries and...
Laurence North
I have worked at Falmouth University for almost 25 years, during this time I have worked ...
Ashley Hold
BA(Hons) Fine Art, PGCE, MA 20th Century Art & Design
Academic interests/teaching...
Facilities
- Dedicated open plan studios and seminar rooms.
- Dedicated desk space for every student.
- Printmaking workshop.
- Life drawing studio.
- Range of IT facilities with full software and printing facilities.
- Access to over 140,000 books, comprehensive electronic journal resource and DVD library featuring over 17,000 titles.
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? If you're applying through UCAS Apply and Track, you'll need to reference the university and course codes below.
- University code: F33
- Course code: W221
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.
We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.
As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.
For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.
If you need a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK, you’ll need to take an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
UK/EU applications: 15 January 2020 (for equal consideration)
Late applications will be considered if there are places available.
International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
Interview information & application advice
How to Apply
Get application information including personal statement advice, interview tips and what to include in your portfolio.
Portfolio Advice
What is a portfolio and how do you make one? Read our guide.
Personal Statement Guide
How do you write a personal statement and what should you include? Read our advice.
Interview Information: Illustration BA(Hons)
Find out what to expect at your Illustration interview.
After You Apply
Find out what happens after you apply to Falmouth and what you'll need to do.
What we're looking for
We want someone who:
- Has visual problem-solving skills, with a specific focus on generating ideas.
- Shows development of visual language in drawing, life drawing, media, mark-making experimentation, reflective analysis and finished pieces.
- Has a good contextual understanding of what illustration is.
- Is confident in their abilities and prepared for the challenges of higher education.
- Can communicate effectively.
- Has a theoretical understanding of visual arts issues.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees 2020-21
£9,250 - full-time UK/EU
£16,000 - full-time international
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.
Typical course costs
£250-£550 - Recurring annual costs
£100 - One off costs for the course duration (compulsory trips, final portfolios or shows, etc)
£1,400 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration
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
Funding
For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page
Ask a student
What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?
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.