Become a professional Illustrator with a unique approach to creative problem solving.
Find your distinctive approach to communicating messages and meaning through diverse media in our supportive and vibrant studio culture. You’ll have your own desk space in our light and airy Illustration studios with excellent access to our printmaking, 3D, animation suites and life-drawing facilities. You’ll also work closely with illustrators in other years and with students from across our creative community. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get time, guidance and support from our team of professional illustrators, dedicated to your creative development.
At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll experiment, make mistakes, find solutions, discover, develop and create. Our Design & Crafts courses ranked 8th in the UK for 'Satisfied with Course' and 3rd for 'Satisfied with Teaching' in The Guardian University Guide 2020 reflecting how our students value their experience at Cambridge School of Art.
Our BA (Hons) Illustration continues a 150-year tradition of drawing at Cambridge School of Art. You’ll follow in the footsteps of acclaimed illustrators such as designer and war artist Edward Bawden, and satirist and illustrator Ronald Searle.
We’ll support you to enter national and international competitions, undertake live industry briefs (recent briefs have been set by Doc Martens, Stansted Airport and Cambridge Corn Exchange), take up internships and attend professional practice talks and discussions, giving you an awareness of the ‘business’ of illustration and what it takes to work as a professional illustrator, as well as a chance to make important contacts for your career. Recent speakers on the course have included Mellissa Castrillon, Angus Greig, Jonny Hannah, Olivier Kugler, Laura Carlin, George Butler and Graham Rawle.
You’ll go on group drawing/reportage trips in the UK and overseas, as well as visits to museums and galleries. These will assist your own visual research and help you understand how illustration intersects with cultural, environmental and ethical issues, which play an important role in editorial illustration. You’ll find lots of visual inspiration in Cambridge from the Botanic Gardens to the Museum of Zoology as well as natural and architectural beauty.
You’ll find opportunities to exhibit at local venues in Cambridge and further afield and, when you graduate, you’ll showcase your work to the public and professional commissioners at our Cambridge School of Art Degree Show and, optionally, New Designers in London.
As well as our dedicated illustration studio, you'll have use of a printmaking workshop; letterpress studios; 3D workshops; a digital photography lab; photography studios and darkrooms; and all our other facilities. Our expert technicians will always be on-hand to give you training and guidance on all equipment.
**Careers**
We work with employers to make sure you graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.
Our past students have found success in many creative industries, often as a direct result of making contacts at our end-of-course Degree Show or New Designers in London. Past employers and commissioners have included Sky TV, Oxford University Press, Katana (creative media design agency), Eljo's Haberdashery, Moonpig Greetings Cards, The Mill (post-production company), Wilkinson (for work on a luggage range), Hallmark Cards, Tigerprint and Tesco.
Our recent graduates include Bethan Woollvin, winner of the Macmillan Prize 2014 and New York Times' Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2016.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for our renowned MA Children’s Book Illustration. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
Course Details - Modules
Year 1 Core modules:
Digital and Moving Illustration
Drawing for Illustration
Illustration Practice
Print, Process and Page
Year 2 Core modules:
Sequence and Narrative
The Illustrated World
Year 3 Core modules:
Launchpad
Course Details – Assessment Method
This is a hands-on, practical course and our assessment is based on the coursework you complete for each of your modules. This includes completed project work as well as accompanying material such as sketchbooks.
We’re looking to see how you research, analyse and develop your work – in other words, how you think as an illustrator.
You’ll also attend lectures and produce written material. We’ll look at these when we’re reviewing your progress.
Assessment is ongoing and includes one-to-one feedback, group crits and class presentations, so you can be sure you’re receiving structured, insightful feedback throughout your degree course.
Modules are subject to change and availability.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
W225
Institution code:
A60
Campus Name:
Cambridge Campus
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
96 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 2 A Levels (or equivalent), including Grade C in Art, Design or Media subject.
UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 2 A Levels (or equivalent), including Grade C in Art, Design or Media subject.
UCAS Tariff Points accepted.
2020 Entry requirements are under review for the next cycle and have been published using the current cycle information. Please check back when apply opens for the exact requirements.
If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.0 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
