BA Illustration
About this course
BA (Hons) Illustration is a fashion design degree centred on creative image making and visual communication. Core topics include Research Methods. Students are allocated a dedicated space within an open-plan studio shared across all year groups. The first year introduces visual communication, cultural contexts, collaborative practice, the anatomy of an illustration project, and the fundamentals of drawing. The second year focuses on the illustrators toolkit, drawing, illustration projects, and the critical illustrator. The final year involves advanced illustration projects, an independent research paper, and an illustration showcase.
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
104-112 UCAS Tariff Points, You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table . Offers are tailored to the individual applicant and their circumstances and can be across the tariff range. Applicants who meet our contextual information criteria will be offered at the bottom of the range. A-levels: BCC-BBC. T-levels: P (C+) – M All subjects are accepted for entry to this course. Access to HE: 15 Credits at Distinction & 30 at Merit. Scottish Highers: BBBC - BBBA. Irish LC Highers: B1, B2x3 – B1x3, B2. Alternative routes: If you don't think you'll meet the criteria for direct application to this course, check out our Integrated Foundation Year. Selection criteria: As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any experience you have gained. All places are offered subject to successful interview and portfolio. Please prepare your portfolio carefully to show evidence of your creativity, drawing, idea development, design and technical skills. We also like to see expressive and experimental work. There is no one, ideal portfolio and we are used to looking at the work of students from many different courses and colleges. Although we want to see your work, we are more interested in meeting you and giving you the opportunity at interview to express your passion and commitment for illustration.
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What students say
Based on about 15 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 79%
- Learning opportunities: 76%
- Assessment and feedback: 83%
- Academic support: 89%
- Organisation and management: 75%
- Learning resources: 74%
- Student voice: 65%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 75%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 20%
What graduates do next
Based on about 9 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 85%
Most common jobs
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 20%
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 10%
- Caring personal services: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 60%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 80 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 14%
- North West: 62%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 9%
- East Midlands: 5%
- London: 1%
- South East: 1%
- South West: 3%
- Scotland: 3%
- Northern Ireland: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 75%
- Other HE qualification: 25%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introducing Visual Communication
- Cultural Contexts
- Collaborative Practice
- The Anatomy of an Illustration Project
- The Fundamentals of Drawing
- The Illustrators Toolkit
- Drawing
- Illustration Projects
- The Critical Illustrator
- Advanced Illustration Projects
- Independent Research Paper
- Illustration Showcase
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Illustration at University of Cumbria earn?
The median salary is £24,000 after 15 months, £17,000 after 3 years, £22,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £18,000 and £25,000. 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 University of Cumbria do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Illustration at University of Cumbria?
79% 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 University of Cumbria?
The typical offer is BCC at A level. The average entrant had 124 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Illustration at University of Cumbria?
75% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.