Illustration and Animation
Entry requirements
A level
Typical offer of grades BBC (112 UCAS points), one of which must be from a relevant subject.
Access to Higher Education Diploma in a relevant design subject is acceptable for entry. You will need 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3. QAA accredited course required.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
A minimum of 15 points at the higher level and a minimum of 4 points in English.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DMM with portfolio interview
Scottish Higher
A minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of four passes at Higher level at grade C or above.
UCAS Tariff
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Why study this course?**
Our Illustration and Animation BA degree is industry-focused, it will help you develop your creativity and hone the skills you'll need to practise as an illustrator and animator. With an emphasis on digital platforms, as well as more traditional forms of illustration, the course embraces ongoing developments in the way illustration is practised, no longer confined to the page, but inhabiting a dynamic, three-dimensional digital world.
**More about this course**
Built on a foundation of narrative, drawing and image-making, the fundamental skills of illustration and animation are taught through a variety of mediums. You’ll benefit from studio-based learning, industry partnerships and be encouraged to publish your work throughout your studies.
You’ll study in our School of Art, Architecture and Design's unique studio system in East London and make use of an unrivalled range of creative facilities to make your work — including photographic studios, printmaking, ceramics and woodworking studios, and technology including 3-D printing, Risograph printing and laser-cutting.
Whether you're creating a zine, a narrative for a start-up or a short film for digital publishing, this course is about telling stories and connecting with a variety of audiences.
A defining feature of the course is its focus on cross-disciplinary projects, allowing you to use a huge range of different mediums.
You'll typically work on several client-led briefs throughout your studies. You'll be encouraged to move between conventional illustration, animation and modern graphic technologies, with an emphasis on communicative and expressive drawing, screen-printing, printmaking, bookbinding, letterpress, drawn and stop motion animation, projection mapping, as well as digital and 3D illustration, using the latest industry-standard software.
The course prides itself on producing versatile makers in both artistic and commercial work. A typical destination for graduates may be in the field of illustration, animation, advertising, film & television, publishing, immersive theatre, visual effects, and art installation.
You’ll learn through our dedicated studios, curated by leading practitioners such as Nous Vous, Rachel Gannon, Emily Evans, Studio Cecilie and Gilles. We can provide excellent links to the industry and anticipate new developments in the field while also maintaining a respect for tradition. A high-profile lecture series – the Hothouse Talks – offers you the chance to engage with visionaries in the field of illustration and visual communication.
**What our students say**
"Intellectually stimulating. I have learned new techniques and my understanding of the subject has broadened. I have made some really good connections."
"Tutors are the highlight of the University. You can see the passion they have for art and design, as well having the passion to teach us."
"My dissertation tutor put me at ease and helped me a lot with writing."
"The new studio idea is really successful and my studio leader is absolutely amazing."
"An incredibly diverse cross section of students. A real incentive to want to work hard and produce a stunning range of work through dialogue with tutors... The opportunity to find myself, and despite having different career motives now, be fully supported by all staff in and around the subject area. A vast library spanning three different buildings. A university-wide ethos that stands for true social equality."
"Excellent tutors and lecturers. A good range of facilities were available, all of which are well supervised by helpful technicians and tutors."
"I have definitely learnt a lot over my three years, gained confidence in my work and met some brilliant people."
National Student Survey
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through project work, essays, individual practice and a final portfolio project including a dissertation. There are no examinations.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Aldgate
School of Art, Architecture and Design
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Cinematics and photography
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Design studies
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Cinematics and photography
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Design studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Cinematics and photography
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£13k
£19k
£22k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Design studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£13k
£19k
£22k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...
This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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