Illustration

BA (Hons)

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

UCAS code

W220

Start dates available

  • September 2026

Hone your personal visual identity

Develop your creative voice, experiment, think creatively, and produce a memorable portfolio to prepare you to work in a range of sectors.

Learn in open plan studio spaces

Join the creative community. The design of our spaces encourages collaboration and experimentation, mirroring professional practice.

Top 5: for Student Satisfaction in Art and Design

Complete University Guide 2024

Our Illustration degree is ideal if you're interested in image-making, visual communications, printmaking, visual storytelling or animation.

You’ll become a versatile illustrator and will establish a personal voice and vision within an engaging portfolio of work.

With an emphasis on creative visual thinking and craft, this course reflects the rich and diverse nature of contemporary image-making, inviting you to challenge its boundaries through both digital and craft-based media.

We encourage you to collaborate, experiment and engage in a wide range of related visual practices. These include: mark making, digital and traditional image making, visual storytelling, editorial/book illustration, packaging and animation.

You will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of application techniques, with a variety of craft led workshops including printmaking and ceramics, as well as digital emerging technologies within animation and hybrid production techniques.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BA (Hons) Illustration

Duration

  • Full-time course runs for 3 years
  • Full-time with a foundation year runs for 4 years

Course content

Experimentation is key to developing your practice. You’ll do this alongside creative thinking to form meaning and content.

Working alongside Art and Design courses, including Graphic Design, Animation and Cartoon and Comic Arts, you’ll absorb a broad knowledge of the design and image-making process. You will explore how to problem solve through your visual language and undertake a programme of set projects, lectures, seminars, workshops, critiques and studio practice.

You’ll have access to tutorial and group designated zones and digital facilities including the latest Mac computers. Our workshop facilities include a dedicated life drawing studio, textiles, screen printing, letterpress and experimental print, photography, animation, digital suites/labs, laser cutting and 3D crafts and our SmartZone.

Our team of specialist and practising lecturers has strong links with industry. As we'll encourage you to engage with students from other disciplines, you’ll work in teams as well as independently.

As the course progresses, you’ll define your personal strengths, competition entry and professional practice. During your final year, you’ll focus on your professional portfolio of work with the chance to enter competitions, exhibit and work on live briefs.

Academic year

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. The modules are a mix of 20 and 40 credit modules. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.  The full-time course has one start point in September.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Animation Principles 20 credits
Drawing For Illustration 20 credits
Visual Exploration 1 40 credits
Visual Exploration 2 40 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Application And Narrative 20 credits
Illustration And Communication 40 credits
Research, Analysis And Context 20 credits
Sustainability, Society And Impact 40 credits
Year 3 compulsory modules
Co Creation 1 40 credits
Co Creation 2 40 credits
Creative Futures 20 credits
Research, Analysis And Communication Assignment 20 credits

Please note, we are refreshing our curriculum which means the module structure may be subject to change. These planned changes aim to further develop your professional skills to equip you for the careers of tomorrow.

Entry requirements

What do I need?

UCAS

96 UCAS points

A Levels

CCC

BTEC

MMM

Work out your estimated grades using the UCAS calculator

Other UK qualifications

96 UCAS Tariff Points

  • GCE A Levels- grades CCC or equivalent
  • Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma – grade MMM
  • Access to HE Diploma – Pass Access with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points. Applicants to Staffs who are taking the Access to HE Diploma receive a reduced tariff point offer as part of our access and participation plan activity
  • OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – grade MMM
  • T Levels - Eligible T Level applications will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of P (A*-C) or Higher Pass as a condition of offer

All applicants are individually assessed via a portfolio review. Read our portfolio advice for illustration applicants.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Facilities

Graphics and Illustration Workspace

Our spacious and open plan design studios are an exciting hub of creativity, equipped with iMacs and industry-standard software, creative learning zones and state-of-the-art digital printing.

Watch video

Industry Design Software

From Letterpress and Flash to Adobe Creative Suite our excellent computer suites are fully equipped with the latest digital tools of the design trade. Read more

Find out more about our computer workshops

Craft Workshops

Our craft workshops are brimming with top-notch equipment, including laser cutting facilities, screen-printing, letterpress and experimental print, photography and digital processing.

Careers

Our Illustration degree will prepare you for a career in a variety of fields, including: book arts and publishing, editorial, animation and printmaking. It will also act as a firm foundation for postgraduate study. Many of our graduates successfully run their own freelance businesses, work at in-house agencies, and use their critical thinking skills in innovative and exciting ways.

All students have access to  Careers, Placements & Employability, our dedicated careers team.

Students on this programme have the opportunity to enhance their studies with a placement year, gain valuable work experience, and take part in international activities—potentially supported by the Turing funding.

All students have access to Careers, Placements & Employability, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The teaching on this course is firmly rooted in studio practice. You develop your skills across a wide range of project-based activities, which take place within a studio setting appropriate to the subject.

You will undertake a variety of teaching and learning methods including:

  • Introductory Lectures
  • Seminars and Lectures
  • Guest and Specialist Lectures
  • Technical workshops / Academic workshops
  • Group tutorials / peer group discussion
  • Critique and Feedback sessions
  • Formative assessments and presentations
  • Independent study in support of your practical work

Assessment

You are assessed in this course by a range of different types of coursework and practical activities. The assessment task for each module will vary dependent upon its content but may include:

  • A portfolio of completed artwork, professionally presented in the format required by the assignment, project or brief.
  • Workbooks, sketchbooks etc., documenting the process of generating, developing and resolving thoughts/ideas, and demonstrating the influence of research on practical work.
  • Research books, folders, dossiers, etc. documenting the gathering, sorting and presentation of research material.
  • Technical Exercises demonstrating your skills and competencies using particular equipment and/or techniques.
  • Written essays or reports, in which you are exploring the contextual or professional background to a specific project.
  • An individual or group seminar presentation and/or the accompanying material which you have used to create the presentation.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include:

  • study skills such as reading, note-taking and presentation skills
  • written English, including punctuation and grammatical accuracy
  • academic writing and how to reference
  • research skills
  • critical thinking and understanding arguments
  • revision, assessment and examination skills
  • time management

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

Throughout the modules you take on your course you are provided with formative, developmental assessment opportunities, which are carried out in tutorial and critique situations. Feedback is usually provided to you orally, with a written record kept either by the tutor or by you. This is sometimes produced as the result of peer or self-assessment exercises.

All modules also included formal or “summative” assessment tasks and the grades from the formal assessments count towards your module mark. You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission.

Staff

You will be taught by an expert teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teaching training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

Please note, teaching team staff members may change during your studies.

Matt Buckingham

Senior Lecturer

Matt Buckingham is an internationally published author, illustrator, educator and designer with specialisms in children’s publications and picture books.

Matt's profile

Sarah Rushton

Senior Lecturer

Sarah is a Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design and Illustration

Sarah's profile

Molly Turton

Lecturer

Molly is a Lecturer on BA(Hons) Illustration at Staffordshire University and since graduating has been working as a freelance Illustrator as well as exploring work within education, feeding a passion for teaching

Molly's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 21 September 2026 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,790 per year of study £17,085 per year of study

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Included in the fees:

Travel, and accommodation costs incurred by compulsory trips and visits away from the University that are directly linked to the learning requirements of a specific module.

The use of all workshops, studios and specialist technical facilities and hire of equipment relating to the course of study.
Not included in the fees:

The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.

Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course.

The cost of materials for the development of a student’s individual practice and work. Additional costs vary dependent upon student’s own choice of materials and approach to their practice.

Optional personal insurance when borrowing equipment such as cameras, lighting equipment etc. for extended period of use off campus [Approx £50-£100]. It may be possible to add some items to home contents insurance.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by reading our additional funding web pages, or visiting www.gov.uk.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Our students

I can’t express how much I enjoyed my time on the Illustration course at Staffs. I was always excited to come into the studio and work alongside the friends I’d found on the course. The Degree Show was the best part for me, watching each project come together was really great to see.  

Amy Robinson

Illustration graduate

I’ve always enjoyed Illustration as I knew I wanted to have a career in this field in the future - but wasn’t sure if it would be possible. The lecturers here at Staffs really supported me with my projects and all the facilities are easily accessible. After winning the Briefcases Competition this year, it’s made me realise that I really can turn my once hobby into a real job.

Mai Duay

Student

The school has excellent facilities and there is constant encouragement to experiment with imaginative methods of image-making. Beyond graduation, there is also academic support and an active alumni community.

Katie Forrester

Completing a PHD in Printmaking at Edinburgh University

I have been designing and illustrating children's books, which is my passion and am looking forward to the books I have worked on getting published soon.I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for Staffordshire University and all of the great lecturers that helped me to achieve my dream job!

Jenny Addison

Now working at Usborne Publishing

Apply now to Illustration

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus BA (Hons) Full-time 21 September 2026 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

Illustration - Instagram

Have you considered?

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025

for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2026

in the UK for Games Education

Rookies Games Design and Development 2023, 2025

TIGA Best Games Institution 2024, 2025

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021