Colourful floral illustration. BA (Hons) Illustration

UCAS code

W220

Mode of Study

Full-time, Full-time sandwich with work placement

Duration

3 years full-time, 4 years sandwich with work placement

Start date

September 2023, September 2024

Overview

Redefine the world with a pencil or stylus on this BA (Hons) Illustration degree course.

You’ll challenge convention in all spheres: from inspecting illustration from new perspectives, to delving into its social, political and historical significance. You'll discover traditional and contemporary illustration techniques and the business essentials of the art form – and you can gain extra professional experience through a one-year placement, client projects, and entering design competitions. Come explore your individual vision through experimentation and engage with a range of professional applications.

At the end of this course, you'll become an all-encompassing illustrator that stands out among competitors in the creative industries. 

Course highlights

  • Explore a rich array of traditional and digital media—including print, paint, sculpture, 3D printing, laser cutting, spray paint, Cintiqs, VR drawing, and Risograph printing.
  • Raise your professional profile by taking on live projects with local and international clients such as Anglepoise
  • Catch potential employers' eyes by exhibiting your work at national exhibitions and our annual Graduate Show
  • Have the chance to win eminent awards by entering international competitions like Design & Art Direction (D&AD), The Macmillan Prize, and the V&A Illustration Awards
  • Enrich your practical and industry experience by taking an optional one-year placement – either with a company or by setting up your own
  • Showcase your Adobe expertise to industry peers by gaining Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) qualifications

90%

of graduates in work or further study 15 months after this course

(HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018/19)

Graduate profile: Dani Hackett

Dani Hackett graduated in 2021 with an Illustration degree from the University of Portsmouth. She is now an Illustrator, Print Designer and Fashion Designer. Find out what Dani’s role entails and how she’s applying the skills she learnt during her time at Portsmouth.

My name is Dani Hackett and I am an illustrator, print designer and fashion designer.

My love of illustration started literally as soon as I could pick up pen and draw. Since then, I always knew I wanted to be an illustrator. I think it wasn't really a choice either. I think if I don't do anything creative, I'm miserable. It's just purely a necessity for me.

I wanted to study at the University of Portsmouth because the illustration styles are so varied. I think they really catered and nurtured people's individual styles. I took every opportunity basically that they gave me at Portsmouth. One of these was Adobe accreditations. I also worked on film sets. I entered competitions with Anglepoise. They gave us the opportunity to do 'New Designers' in final year. This is an exhibition where loads of industry professionals come and find the newest talent. That is actually how I got my first job in fashion. I got scouted by River Island when I was there. I think about two weeks after I finished uni, I ended up working full time for them. It was an amazing opportunity and a really good insight into how the fashion industry works. It's insane, but it was definitely eye opening. 

I wanted to go freelance purely because I wanted to drive my work into the direction that I really wanted to take. I came up with the brand name Eyeland Paradise when I was at River Island, actually, because I was doing a lot of cutesy designs and very clean designs, I just wanted to come up with something completely different. It mixes elements of my interest in horror and cult. It's sustainable, we use vintage items and people's own clothes that we customise. Basically, I just make stuff that I want to wear and people seem to like
it.

I think my time at university changed my perception of how good I was, actually. The beautiful thing about illustration is you can create a world that doesn't exist, and I think that's really magical. It's kind of like playing God, but with a canvas.
 

Entry requirements

BA (Hons) Illustration

Typical offers

  • A levels – BBB–BBC
  • UCAS points – 112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
  • T levels – Merit
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) – DDM–DMM
  • International Baccalaureate – 25

You may need to have studied specific subjects – see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept

Selection process

All shortlisted applicants will need to attend an interview with a portfolio of work.

For more information on how to put together your portfolio, read our Illustration creative portfolio guide.

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Typical offers

  • A levels – BBB–BBC
  • UCAS points – 112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview with a portfolio of work (calculate your UCAS points)
  • T-levels – Merit
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) – DDM–DMM
  • International Baccalaureate – 25

You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept at UCAS.

Selection process

All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview with a portfolio of work.

For more information on how to put together your portfolio, read our Illustration creative portfolio guide.

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Your facilities

CCI Facilities; June 2019

Printmaking and Letterpress

Use our traditional lino-printing, wood-cutting and monoprinting equipment for all your design and print needs.

CCI Facilities; June 2019

Print Workshops

Use our screen printing and screen coating rooms for your graphic materials, artwork, and fabric printing, with a host of traditional and digital equipment.

MUSIC FACILITY AND BAL B ROLL 2022

3D Workshops

Our Workshops are ideal for model-making, with high-grade kit for crafting wood, metal, plastics, polyurethane, concrete and plaster works.

Helen Yates - B roll Day 3

Eldon Art Shop

Whether you're studying a creative degree or want to pick up some supplies, our Eldon Art Shop has the materials you'll need for your coursework or project.

CCI Facilities; June 2019

CCI Open Access Suite

Our open-plan space includes PCs and Macs equipped with Adobe Creative Suite and other professional software.

Browse Illustration student work

Click on an image below to see more detail and read students' statements.

If you want to see more student work, browse our Graduate Show 2021 Illustration showcase

For use only in Net Native's International Stories campaign 2018.

What really stood out was how [the BA course] mixed creativity with the business of art… Because it’s all well and good having incredible work, but if you can’t find a client to pay for it, then where’s your career going?

Bo Sun Lam, BA (Hons) and MA Illustration alumnum

Travel with Bo on their uni journey

Careers and opportunities

The creative and technical abilities you develop on this course – in sequential storytelling, character animation, and visual storytelling – could lead to a variety of creative roles in design and media.

You can also continue your studies at postgraduate level.

Graduate areas

Areas previous graduates have included:

  • animation
  • artist book making
  • children’s book illustration
  • editorial illustration
  • graphic novels, comics, and zines
  • narrative illustration
  • print making
  • art direction
  • teaching

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Placement year (optional)

After your second year, you can take an optional year-long placement to gain on-the-job experience in industries needing illustrators and designers. You can work for a company or organisation, or start up and run your own business. Together with your peers – or by yourself – you'll build and launch a successful venture.

In either case, our Creative Careers team is on hand to assist.

Creative Careers

Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.

They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:

  • Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
  • Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
  • Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
  • Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route

The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.

Placement roles

Our students have been successful in a variety of placement roles, including:

  • Creative Media Technician
  • Art Facilitator
  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustration and Production Intern

Placement destinations

Our students have completed their placements at companies such as:

  • MCI UK Ltd
  • Zpos
  • Arty Farty Retreat
  • Wildern School
A student wearing a red jacket and smiling

What you can do on a placement year

If you're thinking of doing a placement but not sure what role to take or where to go, we can steer you in a direction that fits your aspirations.

Check out our Creative Careers team's blog to find out where fellow art, design and performance students have interned during their studies.

Read our blog post

What you'll study

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

Modules

Core modules in this year include:

  • Illustration Level 4 Event – 0 credits
  • Introduction to Professional Practice – 20 credits
  • Introduction to Visual Culture (Illustration) – 20 credits
  • Line, Colour and Development – 40 credits
  • Research and Narrative – 40 credits

There are no optional modules in this year.

Core modules in this year include:

  • Book Arts – 20 credits
  • Graphic Medicine – 20 credits
  • Illustration Level 5 Event – 0 credits
  • Sequential Illustration – 20 credits
  • Social Awareness – 20 credits

Optional modules in this year include:

  • Comic Book Industries – 20 credits
  • Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice – 20 credits
  • Modern Foreign Language – 20 credits
  • Professional Experience – 20 credits
  • Professional Skills Development – 20 credits
  • Student Enterprise – 20 credits
  • Visual Culture: Cult, Taste and Collecting – 20 credits
  • Visual Culture: Performing Identity – 20 credits
  • Visual Culture: Technology and the Image – 20 credits
  • Visual Culture: The Body in Practice – 20 credits

On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry.

We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

Core modules in this year include:

  • Applied Illustration Practice – 20 credits
  • Illustration Level 6 Event – 0 credits
  • Illustration Professional Practice – 20 credits
  • Illustration Project Review – 20 credits
  • Illustration Self-directed Project – 40 credits

Optional modules in this year include:

  • Visual Culture: Dissertation – 20 credits
  • Visual Culture: Research Project – 20 credits

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

  • workshops
  • lectures
  • seminars
  • drawing field trips
  • collaborative work

There's an emphasis on hands-on practical sessions, with a strong studio culture.

You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

  • written coursework
  • creative design group projects
  • self-led projects from initial concept to finished product
  • project presentations
  • sketchbooks and portfolio

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

You can also use many of the facilities and get support from Faculty staff in the evenings and weekends.

Your working hours may be different when you're on work placement, being up to 37.5 hours a week.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

Supporting your learning

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you’ll also have access to a Faculty student support advisor. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing and refer you to specialist support services.

You'll have help from a team of faculty academic skills tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

  • improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
  • delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques
If you need support with software and equipment or you want to learn additional skills (including skills not covered on your course), our creative skills tutors provide free workshops, activities and one-on-one tutorials. Skills you can learn include life drawing, film camera operation and video production.
Computing support staff are always available to give technical support in the Faculty's computer suites during normal working hours. There's also some support available from 5.00pm to midnight at busy times of the year.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (2023 start)

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase) 
  • International students – £17,200 per year (subject to annual increase)

Tuition fees (2024 start)

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £18,100 a year (subject to annual increase)

You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Costs breakdown

Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.

You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.

You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.

We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.

 

If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

You'll need to pay extra printing costs of around £100–£600 on portfolio work.

Material and production costs are around £100–£500 a year.

Any study trips are optional and you will be expected to pay full cost. Optional study trips abroad will cost in the region of £200–£800. UK trips, where offered, will be £50–£150.

If you take a placement year or study abroad year, tuition fees for that year are as follows:

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £925 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £925 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £1,800 a year (subject to annual increase)

Apply

How to apply

To start this course in 2023, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

  • the UCAS course code – W220
  • our institution code – P80

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

  • Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
  • Speak with lecturers and chat with our students 
  • Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

  • the UCAS course code – W220
  • our institution code – P80

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

  • Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
  • Speak with lecturers and chat with our students 
  • Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

How to apply from outside the UK

See the 'How to apply' section above for details of how to apply. You can also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section. 

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.