Entry requirements
A level
Required subjects: A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.
Scottish Higher
ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.
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About this course
"To make clear, to explain or elucidate by means of pictures, to cast light upon..."
These words seek to define illustration, which is an element within the architecture of the page. Illustration encompasses form, colour, line, composition and pictorial space. The idea of the page embraces a variety of actual and virtual formats, and it reflects the evolving nature of the contemporary art, design and publishing industries.
Illustrations are seen in many settings, illuminating a range of printed material, advertising, graphic and web design, packaging, periodicals, books and more. Contemporary practice includes the theatre, music, television, museum-related work and exhibitions. We teach drawing and image-making from a broad methodology including observation, perception and literary interpretation.
You will be guided through a range of themes and briefs, to visualise your ideas and texts towards individual ways of seeing. An illustration philosophy includes intellectual and aesthetic sensibilities, allied to practical methods within evolving disciplines of the graphic arts. As such, this builds upon the energy and application of those who study, teach, and instruct students in reaching their full potential.
As a part of this process, we collaborate with publishers, designers and writers. You will experience both academic and live briefs. Our studio environment is a vital and creative space in which to explore perception, imagination, and the visual interpretation of texts.
Our illustration students study a challenging academic programme which encapsulates contemporary practice, its historical contexts, and aspects of professional applications. Illustration provides an education as well as a preparation for professional life.
A series of projects will enhance your awareness of the above elements, and will introduce collaborative working and interdisciplinary connections.
Integrated with the practical studio work, Design and Screen Cultures courses provide a contextual and theoretical understanding of the holistic nature of contemporary design.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Central area campus
Edinburgh College of Art
What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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Illustration
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
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Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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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.
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The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£14k
£17k
£19k
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.
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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).
We calculate a mean rating of all responses to indicate whether this is high, medium or low compared to the same subject area at other universities.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
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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