Illustration and Animation MA

Study level: Postgraduate
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The Illustration and Animation MA aims to expand digital and physical knowledge of your craft, helping you find your own ‘voice’ and style.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
16-24 months (with professional experience)

Course code

AHT037

Start date

May 2023

How to apply
Book an Open Day
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Course overview

The Illustration and Animation MA expands digital and physical knowledge of your craft, helping you find your own ‘voice’ and style.

If you are seeking to enhance your professional portfolio and understanding of emerging practice, we offer a vibrant creative community environment in which you should progress your personal research and practice to make your own unique contribution to the arena of illustrative and animated visual communication.

  • The course explores illustration, publishing, photography, image generation and animation. While you develop your talent, both conceptually and technically, we help you achieve a deeper understanding of your role as a visual interpreter and of the importance of adapting to market needs and to a developing field.
  • We will encourage you to develop a unique visual signature and a compelling visual voice that will help you to effectively communicate with intended audiences; both essential for success in professional practice.
  • You will have the option to apply for a ‘professional experience’ opportunity2, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
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Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
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Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should you study this course

  • Coventry School of Art and Design has taught art and design for over 150 years and our award-winning faculty will share the lessons learned from their significant experience of global academic, creative, industrial and commercial environments. We have a successful track record including Oscar nominee Chris Townsend, BAFTA winner Amy Dodd and Turner Prize nominee artist George Shaw.
  • Internationally acclaimed for their own creative practice, our faculty staff have exhibited in Berlin, Athens, Helsinki, Bucharest, Istanbul, Tokyo, Linz, Zurich, Zagreb, Gijon and London (staff are subject to change). This course provides illustrative and animated input into many areas of professional practice including the publishing, scientific, technical, marketing, publicity and advertising, medical and cultural arenas; all of which provide opportunities to help you stay abreast of emerging trends and the challenges of contemporary professional practice.
  • This practice-based course provides opportunities to develop a broad range of traditional and digital skills, including drawing, etching, screen-printing, typography, film effects, and working with sound; all using industry-standard practices and toolsets.
  • Your studies will take place in a studio environment with access to our range of specialist facilities, including laser cutters, 3D rapid prototyping, screen printing, computer suites and clay modelling to enable you to produce original informative artefacts4. We encourage you to creatively explore emergent and mixed media, considering these art forms in their broadest application: from films and games design to advertising, training videos and technical illustrations as used in science, engineering and medicine.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2022-23 intake. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the modules and on the Professional Development module web page.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.

What you'll study

Through practical exploration and reflection of digital and traditionally physical forms you will develop an appropriate synergy between practice and theory, establishing your specialist signature of work. Your final project will be tailored to your own area of professional practice and your personal creative passion, culminating with an exhibition of your work in the end-of-year MA Degree Show.

Modules

  • This module explores the nature and definitions of research in art, architecture and design-based disciplines. Students are introduced to interdisciplinary research methods and ethical practices from a range of perspectives.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to engage the students with the concept of time as a creative element. Students will be asked to address and to include temporal aspects of visual imagery within their project work. The nature of time as a viewing space throughout history, and as related to scientific and philosophical discussion, will be considered relative to creative artefacts that are filmic, literal and pictorial.

    Compulsory

  • This module allows you to develop a Final Project Plan. Research itself is taken to be a wide-ranging activity that includes visual, social, cultural and factual information gathering as well as investigating the potential practical outcome of your project.

    Compulsory

  • This module asks students to consider the professional contexts of their discipline. It explores the ways in which creativity, innovation, problem-solving and entrepreneurship intersect in creative practice. It employs real-world examples to enable student to think about their professional practice, employability, portfolio development and approaches to communication.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to engage the students with the concept of space, location, process and visualisation as creative elements. Students will be asked to address, to include, and to visualise aspects of the above within their project work. Relationships across physical, conceptual, personal and virtual spaces will be explored.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of this CMI accredited module1 is to give students the opportunity to critically assess entrepreneurship and to consider the skills required to become an entrepreneur in a range of contexts. Students will normally have the opportunity to work with students from other disciplines and or workplace settings, to facilitate an appreciation of entrepreneurship in different sectors and how they can learn and adopt or adapt solutions from other fields.

    Compulsory

  • This module requires students to implement the first part of the plan defined in the module 'Final Project Plan'. The outcome will be a personal project brief or initial creative directions inspired by the data, discourse or analysis.

    Compulsory

  • Within this module students encounter the opportunity to employ all previously acquired techniques and methodologies in the creation of a final project production that allows for personal and professional decision making, critical reflection and direction.

    Compulsory

With professional experience option

The professional experience opportunity2 enables you the opportunity to apply for optional professional experience in semester 1, which, upon successfully securing an opportunity, will extend the duration of your master’s to either 16, 20 or 24 months. The professional experience provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability.

Please note that the optional professional experience modules incur an additional tuition fee, which for 1 semester of professional experience is £1,333.33, for 2 semesters of professional experience is £2,666.67, and for 3 semesters of professional experience is £4,000.

Professional experience may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the professional experience option.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching methods include:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Presentations
  • Group projects
  • Workshops
  • Practical laboratory sessions

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.

Teaching contact hours

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. Across the course of the week you will have non ‘taught’ time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This is particularly important in the school of art and design as it allows you to put into practice making in workshop and studio spaces.

This self-directed learning allows you to monitor and self-evaluate your development and how best to manage this time to best impact your creative work. SDL is key to designing and making as it is a process that takes discipline and repetition. This mode of learning under pins our community of practice approach.

A third of your time will be taken up with facilitated sessions whether that is group, seminar, lecture, 1-2-1’s and in the remaining 24 hours you will be applying that knowledge to your on going assignments. Every student is different and manage workloads differently so this can vary across students and times of year.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Portfolio
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Individual Assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Applicants should ideally hold a good honours degree 2:2 or above (or its international equivalent) in a Graphics/Design discipline.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Portfolio

No portfolio will be required if the academic qualifications in the subject area as define above are met.

If a portfolio is required it should feature a maximum of approximately 10-15 examples of work or 3-4 projects undertaken within the past 2 years, 3 or 4 of which should be major, substantial, in-depth projects which demonstrate ability to conceptualise solutions to creative problems, and to assimilate and combine written language or content with the visual. This will clearly demonstrate the level of creative, craft and production skills achieved, either in a previous course of study or in a professional design studio, as a freelance designer or during an internship.

Projects should ideally accompanied by a brief summary of the work or projects, notes on the software used, and dated. As a graphic designer a genuine, demonstrable interest in typography and good typographic skills is required beyond the basic level.

Applicants should ideally hold a good honours degree 2:2 or above (or its international equivalent) in a Graphics/Design discipline.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Portfolio

No portfolio will be required if the academic qualifications in the subject area as define above are met.

If a portfolio is required it should feature a maximum of approximately 10-15 examples of work or 3-4 projects undertaken within the past 2 years, 3 or 4 of which should be major, substantial, in-depth projects which demonstrate ability to conceptualise solutions to creative problems, and to assimilate and combine written language or content with the visual. This will clearly demonstrate the level of creative, craft and production skills achieved, either in a previous course of study or in a professional design studio, as a freelance designer or during an internship.

Projects should ideally accompanied by a brief summary of the work or projects, notes on the software used, and dated. As a graphic designer a genuine, demonstrable interest in typography and good typographic skills is required beyond the basic level.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. 

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

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2022/23 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £10,600 | £14,600 (with prof. experience) per year Request fee information
International £16,950 | £19,350 (with prof. experience) per year Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities is joining two of our school’s completely refurbished Art and Design buildings and adding a range of new facilities, which is planned to full open in 2023. These will include a hyper studio designed for cross-disciplinary projects; immersive studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies4. Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities in a unique environment.

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Games Technology lab

Our gaming lab is a technological paradise, equipped with high-end gaming PCs that have all of the industry-standard software necessary for your course4. It also houses virtual reality game development and motion capture technology.

A student working in a printing studio

Printing Studio

We have print pressers dating back to when we first started as Coventry School of Art and Design back in 1843. This studio consists of two studio spaces for all printing needs from screen printing to etching.

Faculty arts humanities new building illustration

Arts and Humanities Building

We are currently in the process of a major redevelopment of our Faculty of Arts and Humanities buildings. The building will be open to the public, as well as students, and will feature an expansive gallery space.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate through practice, an advanced understanding of the creative production of animation and illustration genres.
  • Analyse problems of a creative nature and provide appropriate solutions.
  • Describe, interpret and evaluate artefacts, artworks, designs and events from a range of critical perspectives, taking account of the context of their production, consumption and critical positioning.
  • Research and synthesise information to make presentations.
  • Prepare a working brief in keeping with the creative business practices associated with the field.
  • Apply with a high degree of confidence and mastery the conceptual and practical elements of hybrid techniques as appropriate.
  • Participate in, and engage with practice surrounding new and traditional media.
  • Engage creatively when applying differing and various media and techniques in the pursuit of a successful answer to client/brief requirements.
  • Engage with the needs of a client which aids both client and practitioner to create a successful brief.

National and international graduate career prospects are many and varied and include education, curation, film and television, games disciplines, print and publishing, animation, film, scientific and technical illustration, storyboarding and character generation in 2D and 3D for traditional and emergent media.

We help you develop a wide range of transferrable skills associated with the use of information gathering, communication technology, professional practice, time management, project management and self-promotion. This could open up career opportunities that include education, television production and web-based media. You may also wish to continue your studies at PhD level or to establish a freelance business.

Where our graduates work

Some of our recent graduates have gone on to work in games-based, scientific, televisual and educational areas.

How to apply

  • 1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2022/23 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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