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Illustration BA (Hons)
Study level: Undergraduate
Turn your passion for art and creativity into a professional career in illustration.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Course code
W225
Start date
September 2026
The information on this page is for 2025-26 entry and should be used as guidance for 2026-27 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.
Course overview
Ideal for creative individuals passionate about illustration, this course is designed to help you develop your unique style, build a tailored portfolio and gain the skills and industry insight needed to launch a successful, flexible career in the creative industries.
- Explore diverse illustration techniques and media.
- Engage in projects that reflect personal interests and career goals.
- Collaborate with peers across creative disciplines.
Rated Gold Overall
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2026Why you should study this course
- Focus on your individual creative development.
- You will have opportunities to tailor your portfolio for specific career paths.
- Study in an interdisciplinary learning environment.
- Gain access to experienced illustrators and industry professionals.2
- Prepare yourself for a career in publishing, advertising, illustration or digital media.
About the School of Arts and Creative Industries
- Our hands-on, practitioner-led approach is rooted in project-based learning. This creates opportunities for cross-disciplinary working and engagement with external collaborators. Where appropriate, you may work with peers from other courses—bringing specialist skills to interdisciplinary projects in ways that reflect the collaborative nature of creative studios and agencies in the creative industries.
- Our learning and teaching mirror the needs of the creative industries, so our graduates have the opportunity to develop the skills and attributes needed to become industry specialists, leaders and innovators.
- Our studio culture seeks to ensure you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and making processes.
- Our global initiatives aim to give you skills to become a collaborative communicator and make you culturally competent.
- Our industry links typically enable us to host an exciting programme of guest speakers covering topics such as children’s book illustration, games design and editorial illustration.2
- Past students have worked on projects such as large-scale murals, live drawing and character-based creations.
Graduate Showcase 2025
Check out what our School of Arts and Creative Industries students produced for their final projects to showcase at Coventry University's Graduate Festival.
Attended by hundreds of industry professionals, family and friends, across multiple weeks, our students' work was showcased at our very own Phoenix Film Festival, live performances from our theatre and music students and an on-campus exhibition.
What you'll study
This course has a common first year.
The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.
If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements.
Common first year courses
- Fine Art BA (Hons)
- Illustration BA (Hons)
- Photography BA (Hons)
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 and learning methods may include:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- presentations
- group projects
- workshops
- practical studio sessions
- practical workshop sessions.
Teaching contact hours
As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.
Teaching hours
Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.
Guided and independent study
Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.
Online learning
As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.
Assessment
This course is assessed using methods that vary by module. These approaches are intended to prepare you for the complex and evolving contexts of professional practice.
Assessment methods may include:
- artefacts
- practical coursework
- digital coursework
- individual work
- group work
- live/video presentations
- reports
- projects
- 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.
Transform your natural creativity and passion for drawing and art into an exciting professional career in illustration. Our course is taught by successfully practising artists and illustrators who develop students’ individual skills and portfolios toward a wide range of potential future career paths.
Andrew Spackman, Assistant Professor and Course Director, BA (Hons) Illustration, 2024
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements:
Fees and funding
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | 2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year |
Not available |
| EU | 2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary** 2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary** |
Not available |
| International | 2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £19,850 per year |
Not available |
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
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 UK (home) students, if Parliament permits 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.
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above 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.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
**EU Support Bursary
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
Facilities
The course facilitates learning and production of innovative design solutions through access to specialist facilities4 including: PC and Mac suites running the latest industry standard software, traditional print-making and making workshops (etching, silk-screen printing, relief printing, woodwork, laser-cutting) as well as a generously stocked letterpress room.
You will be encouraged to use our spaces and facilities to explore multiple materials, techniques and equipment. Teaching and learning on the course incorporates these into module activity and project work enabling students to work toward developing these skills to the highest possible level and to industry standards.
You will be taught by dedicated software demonstrators on our up-to-date Apple Mac studios industry standard Adobe Creative Suite software.
You will have access to workshops such as print workshops, wood and metal workshops, 3D workshops, Print Bureau, and rapid prototyping and laser cutting.
You will have access to the media loan shop where you can hire out professional cameras, video and lighting equipment ( all equipment is subject to availability).
Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders4.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion of this course, you will:
- Develop your understanding of illustration from a professional and historical standpoint
- Develop your ability to originate ideas that effectively communicate to specific audiences
- Be given the opportunity to experiment with both traditional making techniques and contemporary technology as means to innovate within the field of illustration
- Embed a philosophy of continued independent learning, critical reflection, and fluid engagement in multi-disciplinary activities, resulting in the acquisition of valuable transferable skills
- Produce a portfolio of professional work relevant to your chosen career aspirations
- Develop contacts and become part of a global community of practice
- Be equipped with the entrepreneurial skills and resilience to turn your passion into a sustainable career.
The university's careers team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries. It aims to provide specialist careers information, advice and guidance to all our students from their first year through to final year and beyond graduation, helping them receive the opportunities to reach their desired career outcome.
The course offers a creative and exciting range of employability destinations in illustration, as well as underpinning many other creative professions. After studying, our students have gone on to work as freelance illustrators, comic book artists, graphic designers, games designers, children's book writers and illustrators, animators, marketing professionals, textile and homewares designers, printmakers, artists, as well as working in associated creative professions such as fashion editorial, advertising and marketing, tv and film production, arts management, self-publishing, teaching, and study at postgraduate level.
Where our graduates work
Previous graduates have gone onto post-graduate study, internships, freelance work and commissions, creative design and visualisation. These have included working for some prestigious employers, including:
- Codemasters Gaming, Warwickshire
- Design-by-Touch toy and app design agency, Leamington Spa
- Nettl Web Design, Birmingham
- Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
- McCann creative agency, Birmingham
- HanSpringett Ltd, Bucharest Romania
- Armstrong Wolfe, Cheltenham
- 22 Digital Ltd, UK
- Havas Design, London UK
- Uncrowd, Germany
- Hutch, UK
Our students have been shortlisted and won various national and internationally recognised competitions including: D&AD, The Silent Book Prize, The House of Illustration, Macmillan Prize for Children’s Picture Book Illustration, Adobe Championships, the Creative Conscience Awards, and ‘The one to watch’ Award at New Designers.
The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.
Further study
You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with:
- Design Management MA
- Digital Marketing Management MSc
- Graphic Design MA
- Illustration and Animation MA
- International Marketing Management MSc
- International Marketing MBA
You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.
Tutors do everything they can to give you an engaging and interesting course with all the help and support needed.
Georgia Baldassarra, BA (Hons) Illustration graduate and Digital Designer at TwentyTwoDigital Limited, quoted 2023
Discover Phoenix+
Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.
Learn more about Phoenix+How to apply
UK students
International students
Disclaimers
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