BA Illustration
About this course
BA (Hons) Illustration is an undergraduate degree within the fashion design subject area, focusing on visual communication and image-making. Core topics include Research Methods, Fieldwork, Project Management, Accounting, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Ethics & Professional Practice, and Design & Creative Practice. Students can choose to study over three years, add a foundation year, or complete an optional placement year. The first year introduces foundational skills through The Illustrator's Toolkit, Drawing for Illustration, Critical and Contextual Studies 1: Think, Play, Learn, Illustration Practice, Print and Process, and Into ARU. Year 2 expands technical abilities with The Curious Illustrator, Narrative Printmaking, The Illustrated World, Critical and Contextual Studies 2: Creativity and Context in Dialogue, and the Ruskin Module, alongside optional choices such as Reality Checkpoint – Socially Engaged Practice and the Public Realm, Reportage, Time Based Media, Exhibitions in Context, and Archive: Creative Futures. The final year centres on professional preparation through Portfolio and Professional Development and Launchpad - Major Project Illustration, with optional study options including Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Creative Inquiry and Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Working in the Creative Industries.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
112-96 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, OCR, Access to HE and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff. Preferably to include an Art, Design or Media subject at A level or equivalent level. 3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English. You will be asked to provide a digital portfolio for review and will be given the option to book a meeting to discuss this with us. 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.
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What students say
Based on about 23 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 96%
- Assessment and feedback: 92%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 87%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 93%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Unemployed: 20%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 45%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 150 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 66%
- London: 8%
- South East: 11%
- Scotland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 50 students who started
- A levels: 90%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- The Illustrator's Toolkit
- Drawing for Illustration
- Critical and Contextual Studies 1: Think, Play, Learn
- Illustration Practice
- Print and Process
- Into ARU
- The Curious Illustrator
- Narrative Printmaking
- The Illustrated World
- Critical and Contextual Studies 2: Creativity and Context in Dialogue
- Ruskin Module
- Reality Checkpoint – Socially Engaged Practice and the Public Realm
- Reportage
- Time Based Media
- Exhibitions in Context
- Archive: Creative Futures
- Portfolio and Professional Development
- Launchpad - Major Project Illustration
- Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Creative Inquiry
- Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Working in the Creative Industries
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University earn?
The median salary is £24,000 after 15 months, £18,500 after 3 years, £22,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £17,000 and £28,000. The £22,000 median after five years is £4,000 less than the UK median for Design studies.
What do graduates of BA Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University do next?
75% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University?
The average entrant had 132 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.