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Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Illustration (with Professional Practice Year)
University for the Creative Arts
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Illustration (with Professional Practice Year) course at University for the Creative Arts.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
112 UCAS tariff points from A-Level qualifications. As this course requires an audition, you are not required to have a performance-related subject.
You may also need to
Submit a portfolio
Tuition fees
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £9,535 per year (provisional) |
| Scotland | £9,535 per year (provisional) |
| Wales | £9,535 per year (provisional) |
| Northern Ireland | £9,535 per year (provisional) |
| Channel Islands | £9,535 per year (provisional) |
| Republic of Ireland | £9,535 per year (provisional) |
| EU | £17,500 per year (provisional) |
| International | £17,500 per year (provisional) |
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: W222
Here's what University for the Creative Arts says about its Illustration (with Professional Practice Year) course.
Playfully creative. Experimental. Commercially relevant. These are all ways to describe our exciting BA (Hons) Illustration degree course at UCA Farnham.
This course has a strong sense of purpose – we want you to test what the language of illustration means to today’s audiences, make (and learn from) mistakes, research and generate ideas, and learn how to be entrepreneurial.
By placing experimentation and play at the forefront of what you'll do, you'll be challenged to take risks with your work, try new ways of working and be adventurous.
You'll get to work on exciting projects that are a combination of client-focused live briefs and external competitions with partners, such as leading restaurant chains, hotels, magazines and local and multinational businesses. You'll also be given the opportunity to present your portfolio to illustration agencies, design houses, and art directors.
Everything on this course is practice-based, with theory, context, and research all ploughed into the studio where you’ll create your work. And you’ll be part of an amazing community, where staff – who are all practising illustrators and artists – will push you to be the best you can possibly be.
Related courses
-
BA (Hons) Animation (with Professional Practice Year)
-
BA (Hons) Comic & Concept Art (with Professional Practice Year)
-
BA (Hons) Graphic Design (with Professional Practice Year)
-
BA (Hons) Visual Communications (with Professional Practice Year)
Source: University for the Creative Arts
Course details
Qualification
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Department
School of Communications
Location
Farnham | Farnham
Duration
4 Years
Study mode
Full-time with year in industry
Subjects
• Illustration
Start date
14 September 2026
Application deadline
14 January 2026
The modules you will study
In Year 1 we’ll help you to develop an open-minded, flexible approach – not only to your work but also about what illustration is and could be. This will be alongside the development of essential skills in idea development, printmaking, drawing, digital software, storytelling and bookmaking. In Year 2, with additional skills workshops, the emphasis will change to give you greater freedom to develop your work more uniquely, reflecting your own interests and enthusiasms. We’ll also encourage you to be more proactive and entrepreneurial, culminating in a student-led external exhibition. In Year 3 your focus will be on the resolution of your personal approach to content and style, developing your creative skills and production to a high standard and preparing a professional portfolio. You’ll also participate in external competitions and shows, produce promotional work and develop an online presence, reflecting your ambitions for professional practice.
University for the Creative Arts reviews
Showing 19 reviews
2nd year student
I believe the student union is quite active. I receive regular updates on what's going on with them via email.
2 years ago
2nd year student
There is little social engagement between students except on Discord app where it is quite lively. The students tend to be younger than me so I do not mix so well with them there.
2 years ago
2nd year student
Support faltered during the pandemic as people worked from home. I haven't had much cause to contact OCA admin or student services recently so do not know wit has been much improved. I know things are not as bad as they had once been.
2 years ago
2nd year student
The course is well structured with a series of briefs to follow. These are open to interpretation and students are encouraged to do just that. Feedback on the whole has been prompt and informative. The tutors are knowledgeable about the subject matter and appear to care about student participation ...
2 years ago
2nd year student
The course is well structured and the tutors are responsive on the whole. If I have questions I can pose these via email and be confident of a response- either with a solution or links to find one. During the pandemic things were not quite so smooth, but things are largely back to how they were bef...
2 years ago
1st year student
Two stars: Could be better
2 years ago
National Student Survey (NSS) scores
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from University for the Creative Arts students who took the Illustration (with Professional Practice Year) course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
85%
med
Teaching on my course
85%
med
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
88%
med
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
92%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
85%
med
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
75%
med
Learning opportunities
83%
med
Learning opportunities
83%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
84%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
83%
med
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
83%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
88%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
78%
med
Assessment and feedback
83%
med
Assessment and feedback
83%
med
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
88%
med
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
85%
med
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
85%
med
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
79%
low
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
79%
med
Academic support
87%
med
Academic support
87%
med
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
84%
low
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
89%
med
Organisation and management
68%
low
Organisation and management
68%
low
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
71%
low
How well organised is your course?
65%
low
Learning resources
86%
med
Learning resources
86%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
85%
med
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
94%
high
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
81%
med
Student voice
77%
med
Student voice
77%
med
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
71%
med
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
81%
med
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
80%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
63%
low
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?
93%
high
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
84%
med
Student information
See who's studying at University for the Creative Arts. These students are taking Illustration (with Professional Practice Year) or another course from the same subject area.
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Fine Art | B | |||||
| Graphics | B | |||||
| Media Studies | B | |||||
| Art and Design | A | |||||
| Photography | B | |||||
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
Facts and figures about University for the Creative Arts graduates who took Illustration (with Professional Practice Year) - or another course in the same subject area.
Graduate statistics
57%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
81%
In work, study or other activity
64%
Say it fits with future plans
42%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
21%
Web and Multimedia Design Professionals
8%
Design occupations
8%
Elementary occupations
6%
Business and public service associate professionals
Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from University for the Creative Arts graduates who took Illustration (with Professional Practice Year) - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£19.3k
First year after graduation
£22.6k
Third year after graduation
£25.6k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Illustration (with Professional Practice Year).
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
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about University for the Creative Arts on The Student Room.
University for the Creative Arts open days
Are you thinking of applying to this university?
Before you do, it's a good idea to go to an open day. You can have a good look around campus, getting a better idea of what it's like to study there. You'll meet current students and staff and get the chance to ask them questions.
Universities will list upcoming open days on their websites. Most will also have virtual open days; these are a great alternative if you really can't get there in person. For tips on preparing for open days, check the advice section here on The Uni Guide.
