Course Overview
Course summary
On our Illustration BA you’ll find your distinctive creative voice and gain the skills you need to transform your passion for design into a successful career.
Develop your unique creative voice and transform your passion into a successful visual arts career. Experiment with various production practices, combining traditional drawing with emerging digital techniques. Access facilities for Printmaking, Metalwork, Casting, Laser-cutting, Textiles, 3D Printing, Digital software, and interactive AR/VR/MR technologies.
Join our tight-knit creative community at Harrow campus. Converse with leading Illustration professionals about your work and develop confidence as an Illustration practitioner. Participate in critical discussions on the future of Illustration and engage with London's vibrant creative culture. Benefit from our course membership with the renowned Association of Illustrators.
Build your credentials and identity with flexible opportunities for short-term or year-long work placements to gain valuable industry experience. Work with clients through our award-winning employment network, WeNetwork. Showcase your talent at the Degree Show and the New Designers’ creative talent London showcase.
Your creative career starts here!
Top reasons to study with us
- We see you. Our course community’s objective is to inclusively support individual learners wherever their ambitions take them.
- Advanced, accessible and spacious facilities supporting drawing, printmaking, photography, animation, 3D fabrication, textiles, interactive, film, and digital processes. Futureproof your career with critical and practical understanding of new technologies. Network with students from other creative courses in these spaces.
- Conversation with active, supportive, practitioners across the creative industries to give you feedback on your work and expand your thinking about the future of Illustration and your opportunities.
- Harrow campus, the dynamic creative hub of the University of Westminster is also just 20 minutes from London’s expansive cultural experience of galleries, museums, creative institutes and entertainments. ·
- Build your employment intelligence and confidence with our award-winning employment network WeNetwork, our Careers and Employability Service, and our course membership with the renowned Association of Illustrators.
- Be seen by industry and future employers at Harrow Campus’ purpose-built Gallery West and London’s creative talent showcase New Designers.
Course structure
Each year you’ll study core modules and choose from a varied range of optional modules. You’ll learn through a dynamic mix of formats including individual tutorials, student-led studio classes, group work, presentations, technical sessions, online training and lectures. In project work, you’ll collaborate with students from your course and others, helping you to build vital teamworking skills.
You’ll also get to hear talks from visiting artists, take part in workshops led by industry experts, and go on frequent trips into central London to exhibitions and design fairs.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.
Explore, and experiment with, a variety of techniques and conceptual approaches in image-making and Illustration. With a focus on drawing and image-making to develop your visual and critical skills, play with and reflect on ranging techniques and applications: digital art; printmaking; animation; design and graphic mark-making.
Study Modules:
- Creative Technology and Design
- Documentary Illustration
- Illustration: Contexts and Cultures
- Visual Messaging and Communication
- Drawing Exploration
- Your Choice of one Option Module from: Typography, 2D Games Development, and 2D Computer Animation.
Credit Level 4
Begin to identify possibilities for your own creative direction. While continuing to improve your visual and critical skills you will work on projects which reflect the kind of briefs you’ll find in industry. With guidance begin to customise your learning through self-defined projects and optional modules to further direct and develop your own creative identity and career choices. This includes considering the option for your next academic year as ‘study abroad’ or ‘work placements’.
Study Modules:
- Visual Storytelling
- Contextualised Practice
- Image-making Systems
- Collaborative Practice
- Your Choice of one Option Module from: UX/UI Design, Brands, Extended Reality, and Concepting for Games.
- Your Choice of either one more Option Module or a University Elective Module.
Credit Level 5
As an extra option to your degree you can choose to take advantage of either: studying abroad or completing relevant work placements. Either choice is credited as an extra full year of academic study.
Study Module:
- Work Placement: Gain industry experience as part of your degree. Support is given from the ‘Work-Placement’ staff team in Year 2 to help you identify and apply for relevant work placements. These extra credits entitle you to the degree award of ‘Illustration with Work Experience’.
or
- Study Abroad: Gain international experience as part of your degree. Support is given from the ‘Study Abroad’ staff team in Year 2 to help you identify and apply for relevant study programmes at one of our Exchange Partner Institutions. These extra credits entitle you to the degree award of ‘Illustration with International Experience’.
Credit Level 5
Focus on the direction of your graduate occupation by proposing, developing, and completing a self-defined Major Illustration Project. Complement your learning programme with optional modules that build on your creative strengths and professional direction. Showcase your talent at Gallery West for your Degree Show at Harrow campus and again at the ‘New Designers’ London Exhibition of emerging creative talent.
Study Modules:
- Professional Practice
- Sustainable Illustration Practice
- Illustration Major Project (double credit module)
- Your Choice of one Option Module from: Digital Arts, Entrepreneurship, Designing Narrative Environments, and Contextual Research.
- Your Choice of either one more Option Module or a University Elective Module.
Credit Level 6
Illustration at Westminster
For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).
To request an accessible version please email [email protected]
Get your copy of the University of Westminster prospectus and browse the range of courses on offer.
Contact us for general course enquiries:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm BST)
Live chat with us
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm BST)
Open days
Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.
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Careers
Illustration offers a wide range of career paths. You can work as a freelance artist, providing illustrations for clients across different professional sectors or you can join a company or agency where you collaborate with other creative professionals. Opportunities continue in publishing, advertising, packaging, fashion, design, gaming, film, animation, TV, music, and more. Our graduates work across diverse sectors including educational, therapeutic, curatorial and editorial roles, in fact anywhere an image is needed. New roles and career prospects appear as communication and digital technologies evolve. And as a creative graduate the problem-solving, entrepreneurial skills you learn opens even more doors.
Our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential and has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Successful alumni
Alumni include Jim Kay, illustrator for the Harry Potter books and Paul Vincett, puppet maker for X-Men: First Class.
Westminster Enterprise Network
This hub gives students access to workshops, business advice and project work with well-known companies.
Employers around the world
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has a network of over 3,000 employers around the world.
Industry links
Opportunities to gain an industry perspective form a fundamental part of your course. You will be taught by active practitioners who ensure that what you learn reflects the needs of today’s creative industries.
You can choose to undertake placements, internships and work experience, and to respond to briefs from organisations that in the past have included the BBC, National Health Service, Hayward Gallery, Penguin and Creative Conscience. Our Westminster Enterprise Network gives you access to expert-led workshops, training, networking events, business advice and work experience opportunities.
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles in a variety of areas including:
- Animator
- Art director
- Art therapist (requiring further training)
- Company manager
- Event manager
- Graphic designer
- Illustrator – editorial illustration/decorative merchandising and interiors, branding and promotion, visual effects, concept art
- Museum/gallery curator
- Teaching (requiring further training)
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:
- ORCA
- National Portrait Gallery
- The Artworks
- Tate Gallery
- WildBrain Spark
- Guinness Partnership
- Trafalgar Strategy
- BAMBI
- ProAmpac
- CULT – LDN + NYC
- Grafik magazine
The clients our alumni have worked for include:
- New Balance
- Barbour
- ITV
- Saatchi & Saatchi
- Nike
- Harley Davidson
- The Guardian
- British Museum
- Design Museum
- Marks & Spencer
Our alumni
Our course alumni have progressed to many different careers, including:
- Anna Reynolds - Studio and Communications Manager at A Practice for Everyday Life, Designer and Assistant to Mike Radcliffe, and Staff Writer for Grafik
- Ben Jennings – Satirical illustrator – the Guardian, New Statesman, i Newspaper
- Diyala Muir – Animator - winner of the Best Student Film at British Animation Awards 2018
- Dominique Duong - is an illustrator and comic artist working in London, UK. Since her career began, her work has been published by SelfMadeHero, Discord Comics and Limit Break Comics, among others. She’s one of Broken Frontier’s Six Small Press Creators to Watch of 2020 and her comic The Dog & The Cat was nominated for an Ignatz Award.
- Chris Tichborne – Bafta award winning animator / director - Corpse bride, Coraline, Fantastic Mr Fox, Rupert Bear, Postman Pat, Bob the Builder, Bafta award for the Clangers
- Davinia Gregory - Assistant Professor at Teachers College Columbia University - research in material culture studies, Caribbean studies
- Grace Russell - Illustrator and winner of the student V&A Illustration Award 2014
- Hannah Gillingham – Illustrator and artist that has created artwork for a wide range of clients including Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel, 20th Century Studios, Universal Pictures, Spotify, Adult Swim, Amazon Music, Arrow Video, RSPB, Boehringer Ingelheim and have also contributed to several pop culture group exhibitions in the UK.
- Hiroko Uemoto - Graphic Designer - Paldas, Japan
- Jim Kay - Illustrator and concept artist for books, TV and film (Illustrator for Harry Potter books)
- Josie Shenoy - Illustrator and Surface Designer. Clients include British Museum, Design Museum, Historical Royal Palaces, Imperial War Museum, Somerset House, Anthropologie, Marks & Spencer
- Kaishi Yamaguchi - Graphic and Web Designer, Guanabana Restaurants
- Marcelina Amelia - Painter, printmaker, illustrator. Featured in publications including Booooooom, Bomb, Art Maze, Create Magazine, Digital Arts, Vogue, Refinery29, The NY Times, Der Spiegel, Ballad Of Magazine. Saatchi Art's featured 'Artist in Spotlight' in 2018
- Mateusz Gidaszewski - Head of art and design dept for Vopulus – healthcare education
- Megg Wilford - Graphic Designer and Art Director creating content for the music, fashion and lifestyle industries. Clients include: New Balance, Barbour, ITV
- Michael William Lester – Illustrator and animator - ‘Beginners’ creative studio
- Miles Lauterwasser - Limited Editions Co-ordinator, Tate Gallery
- Paul Vincett - Character Designer, Puppet/costume and prop maker for film and theatre. Film credits include: X-Men: First Class, Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows, Thor 2, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Beauty and the Beast. Theatre credits include: His Dark Materials, War Horse, and Shakespeare's Globe’s Gabriel
- Raphael O'Selle - Brand Designer for Guinness Partnership
- Sam Hawkins and Seb Chaloner (aka illustration duo MysteryMeat) – illustration, graphic design, art direction for Adam & Eve, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, The Corner, Pablo, WCRS, Mother. The new Your Times, The Sunday Times, TFL, Droga5NYC, Esquire
- Solomon Tremowo – CEO of Playerium – games and moving image design studio
- Sophie Smiles – Visual Facilitator and Film-maker shortlisted for the prestigeous ‘Rain Dance Film Festival’ 2023 awards for ‘Best Animation Short’.
- Stephanie Alexander Jinks – Director, The Artworks Illustration Agency
- Tim Mcdonagh - Illustrator - Clients: Nike, Penguin, HMV, Virgin, Harley Davidson, Ryanair, Hodder & Stoughton, New Scientist, Wired; Vibe, Variety, CNBC
- Tiziana Federica Ruiu - Concept Artist for the Entertainment Industry (movies and games) Tiziana works as a professional artist, focused on illustration, concept art, animation and 3D modelling.
- Underway Studio Collective - Founded by alumni Aiden Barefoot, Anna Schmidt, Caitlin Parks and Melissa North, Underway is an illustration and printmaking collective based in Brixton, South London. As a collective they sell their artwork and provide printmaking workshops.
International Opportunities
Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.
Opportunities could include:
- Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
- Attending an international summer school or field trip
- Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad
International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.
Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.
Course Leader
Emma Dodson
Senior Lecturer
An alumna of the University of Westminster’s Illustration course herself, Emma has spent three decades freelancing as a painter, puppet/prop maker and occasional art director for film and TV. Notable films she has worked on include Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Captain America, Hugo, Wolfman, Pirates of the Caribbean, Chocolat, Evita and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
Emma also writes, illustrates and designs novelties for children’s picture books. Her work has been published by Walker Books, Hachette, Templar, Scholastic, Barrons, Candlewick Press, and A&C Black.
Emma teaches across a range of disciplines and practice-based areas of illustration and visual communication.
On the Illustration BA we nurture your individual creativity and encourage an open, explorative approach to image making practice.
Course Team
Our tutors have extensive experience across illustration, fine art filmmaking and curation. The course team has expertise in children’s book illustration, prop making for film and TV, drawing, textile/printmaking, animation and filmmaking for companies such as the BBC. Tutors continue to work in the industry alongside their teaching duties, ensuring that you learn the latest commercial practice and thinking.
Why study this course?
Professional insights
Industry professionals and our alumni visit regularly to talk to students about their future careers.
Collaborative learning
Opportunities to work with students from other courses including film, fashion, music, fine art photography and journalism.
Industry-standard facilities
Facilities for everything from large-scale work to traditional figure drawing, printmaking to green screen work.
Entry Requirements
- A levels – CCC (96 UCAS Tariff points)
- T levels – 96 UCAS Tariff points
- International Baccalaureate – 96 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by case basis
- BTEC Extended Diploma – MMM
- BTEC Diploma – DD
- Access – 96 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
In addition to one of the above, you should have:
- GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths Pass – IB Pass
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in each component.
We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combinations of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.
Portfolio guidance
Applicants will be asked to provide 10-15 images, to include a balance of initial sketches or worksheets as well as more resolved final artwork. You will be asked to include a short sentence on each page so that we can understand how the work relates to a project or theme. Include links to blogs, any moving image work and/or personal websites.Applicants are selected for online interview.
More information
View more information about our entry requirements and the application process.
- International Baccalaureate – 96 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You can refer to the UCAS calculator to determine your point score
- We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
- We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out about a range of university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.
English language requirements
- If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a score of 6.0 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments. Find out more at English language requirements.
- If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, then we offer online and on campus pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills to the required level before you start your course. Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.
More information
Portfolio guidance
Applicants will be asked to provide 10-15 images, to include a balance of initial sketches or worksheets as well as more resolved final artwork. You will be asked to include a short sentence on each page so that we can understand how the work relates to a project or theme. Include links to blogs, any moving image work and/or personal websites. Applicants are selected for online interview.
Student Profiles
Clara-Elena Lungu
Illustration BA Hons - 2022 (expected)
The academic staff are very engaged and you can really feel that they are prioritising students’ progress and development. They are always available to help, and you are offered feedback and guidance through one-to-one tutorials and group sessions. As long as you are proactive with your learning, you will get all the guidance needed to reach your professional goals.
Tiziana Ruiu
Illustration BA Hons
I loved the time spent at Westminster. I found it to be an inclusive and stimulating environment, with up-to-date and comfortable facilities. The modules on IVC are very well constructed, I was able to work on exciting projects that aimed to prepare me professionally and expand my artistic portfolio.
Thanks to that, I was able to find a job almost immediately after graduation. Overall, it's been a great experience - I might even say a life-changing one.
Joe Jack Chapman
Illustration BA Hons
Illustration is accessible and incredibly freeing. The course at Westminster is versatile and very broad. I was encouraged to follow my thoughts and just make work until I formed my own practice.
The university environment introduced me to some great illustrators and artists that are now some of my best pals. We all have strong interest and admiration for each other's work.
Student Profiles
Nathalie Dickson
Illustration BA Hons
The course allowed students to explore different mediums and forms of artistic expression. The tutors helped with this, encouraging us to pursue whatever specialism we were most passionate about.
I really enjoyed my time at Westminster, particularly because of the people I was with. Everyone on the course was very respectful and accepting of one another, showing a genuine interest and appreciation for each other's work.
Mely Itzae Montemayor Ayala
Illustration BA Hons - 2023
Throughout the course, we had several workshops run by alumni from the course. The workshops allowed us to explore different areas of specialty such as Concept Art, Children’s Illustration, Animation, plus many more within a professional context. This improved my understanding of how to take my practice further and what skills I would need to develop to pursue my desired area of specialty.
Westminster Degree Shows
The Westminster Degree Shows are an annual collection that showcases the creativity, vibrancy and artistic talent of our undergraduate arts courses. You can see the latest online collection on Westminster Degree Shows.
Learn new skills
Learn a new language
From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme.
Develop your entrepreneurial skills
Our award-winning Westminster Enterprise Network offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects.
Gain extra qualifications
We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.
Fees and Funding
UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
Funding
As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.
Find out about undergraduate student funding options.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
Basic art and studio materials are provided, but you may need to pay for some specialist art materials. The University provides Adobe CC software, and we advise that it’s preferable to have your own laptop.
If you are unsure about what to purchase, our technical support team can advise you once you have enrolled.
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme
If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.
International student funding
Find out about funding for international students.
Additional costs
Basic art and studio materials are provided, but you may need to pay for some specialist art materials. The University provides Adobe CC software, and we advise that it’s preferable to have your own laptop.
If you are unsure about what to purchase, our technical support team can advise you once you have enrolled.
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
Facilities
We provide dedicated studio space for each cohort, which includes both collaborative and individual workspaces.
Our studios are equipped with computers, photocopiers, printers and scanners for IT and digital production. The studios are open five days a week, 8am-8pm, with some studios and the campus library open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our facilities accommodate many different techniques, including photography, animation, painting, drawing, printmaking, textile printing, 3D digital printing, laser cutting, high-end inkjet printing, digital imaging, 3D design construction, ceramics, woodwork, metalwork and casting.
We are constantly improving and expanding our facilities, and have recently invested in Wacom tablets and in an Emerging Media Space for technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, and wearable technology.
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Teaching and Assessment
Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.
How you'll be taught
Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:
- Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
- Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
- Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
How you'll be assessed
Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.
Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:
- Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
- Written exams: end of semester exams
- Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
Data from the academic year 2023/24
Supporting you
Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
- Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
- Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
- Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
- Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more
Course location
Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.
Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.
For more details, visit our Harrow Campus page.
Contact us
Call our dedicated team on:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
More information
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