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Illustration

Entry requirements


We welcome A Levels in a wide range of subjects, especially in those relevant to the course for which you apply.

We may consider a standalone AS in a relevant subject, if it is taken along with other A Levels and if an A Level has not been taken in the same subject. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you do not have a standalone AS subject as we will not ordinarily use them in our offers.

60 credits (with a minimum of 45 credits achieved at level 3) in a relevant subject.

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

24

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points

T Level

P-M

P (Pass) grade must be C or above, not D or E

UCAS Tariff

104-120

A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points, primarily from Level 3 equivalent qualifications, such as A levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma, or current, relevant experience. Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE English Language, or equivalent, is a minimum language requirement for all applicants. Due to the creative nature of our courses, you will be considered on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen course. Please contact the Applicant Services team for advice if you are predicted UCAS points below this range, or if you have questions about the qualifications or experience you have.

a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points, when combined with a minimum of 64 UCAS tariff points from the Supporting Qualifications

You may also need to…

Attend an interview

Present a portfolio

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Illustration

Follow in the footsteps of award-winning alumni on this renowned Illustration degree.

Develop a unique visual language by experimenting with new technologies and processes on this Illustration degree. Enhance your traditional craft skills while learning to apply critical and theoretical thinking to your practice. Join this Illustration course and gain first-hand professional experience through interactions with clients, art directors, designers and creatives of all kinds, building a standout portfolio that will set you apart in industry.

You will:
Be part of a thriving and immersive studio culture that embraces innovation, champions risk-taking and encourages creative collaboration
Create your own digital portfolio and marketing campaign using digital platforms to reach global audiences
Get your work seen by art directors, editors and designers around the world by engaging with a range of professional platforms
Attend guest lectures from alumni and industry leaders that have previously included Dave McKean, Owen Davey, Harriett Lee Merrion and Edel Rodriguez
Learn vital professional practice skills by working on engaging industry briefs
Participate in our industry feedback week, gaining personalised portfolio feedback from agencies, publishers and design houses
Explore illustration as a tool for positive change, in response to environmental, ethical and moral challenges

Modules

During your Illustration course, you’ll develop an authentic visual language by experimenting with a broad range of media and processes, as well as established and emerging technologies. You’ll learn to communicate conceptually using visual problem-solving strategies and techniques combined with ongoing reflective analysis and research.

You’ll also build strong project management and collaboration skills, learning to translate briefs and see a project through from ideation to research and development to final output. Further industry insights and experience will be gained through our programme of internationally renowned guest speakers.

Year one
In your first year, you’ll be supported to explore, question and disrupt new processes and practices. Through project briefs, workshops, collaborative projects, lectures and presentations, you’ll be introduced to a range of creative processes: from critical thinking to practical hands-on skills across different mediums. You also begin to engage with a wider industry context, connecting with art directors, publishers, designers, advertising agencies, illustration agencies and freelance illustrators.

Modules
Visual Problem Solving
Practice & Purpose
Media & Methods
Context & Audience

Year two
Exciting briefs, workshops, lectures and presentations will introduce you to in-depth learning that includes a growing awareness of audience, refining practical skills, critical research, project management, history and theory and collaborative practice. Working both independently and in groups, you’ll also embrace challenging subjects and explore the environment around us to investigate how illustration can be used to inform and implement change.

As you progress through this stage of the Illustration degree, you’ll begin to develop your own self-initiated projects as well as a range of collaborations. As more industry facing experiences begin to be introduced through live briefs and lectures, you’ll be challenged to question convention, disrupt, innovate and maintain risk and courageous thinking throughout.

Modules
Refine & Apply
Challenging Subjects
Introduce & Negotiate
Collaboration

Year three
The final year allows you to refine your approach and to test and challenge your emerging fields of interest, culminating in a final digital portfolio of work and an industry feedback contextual report. 

The modules are designed to help you define your creative future beyond the course. You’ll continue to build core skills while reflecting critically on your strengths and exploring alternative models of practice.

Modules
Define & Realise
Research & Extend
Connect & Transition
Professional Practice

The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

Assessment methods

Assessment will take place at the end of each semester, and you'll get feedback and evaluation throughout the year. You'll be assessed through visual, verbal and written assignments, including your portfolio, as well as a research proposal.

The Uni


Course location:

Falmouth University

Department:

The Falmouth School of Art

Read full university profile

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.

78%
Illustration

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.

Design studies

Teaching and learning

84%
Staff make the subject interesting
88%
Staff are good at explaining things
83%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
82%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

72%
Library resources
89%
IT resources
81%
Course specific equipment and facilities
63%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

91%
UK students
9%
International students
16%
Male students
84%
Female students
78%
2:1 or above
15%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
B

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.

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.

£18,000
med
Average annual salary
99%
high
Employed or in further education
62%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

45%
Design occupations
20%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
7%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

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.

£14k

£14k

£19k

£19k

£20k

£20k

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...

Higher entry requirements
University of Plymouth | Plymouth
Illustration
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 96-144
Nearby University
University of Plymouth | Plymouth
Illustration with Foundation
BA (Hons) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 32-48
Same University
Falmouth University | Falmouth
Illustration (Online)
BA (Hons) 2 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 104-120

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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 the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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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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Course location and department:

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here