Illustration, BA (Hons), with industry placement

Our BA (Hons) Illustration degree at UCA Farnham is playfully creative, experimental, and commercially relevant, encouraging students to explore the language of illustration for modern audiences. Through a focus on experimentation and play, you'll test ideas, learn from mistakes, and develop entrepreneurial skills. The course emphasizes practical projects, including client-focused briefs with partners like restaurants and magazines, portfolio presentations to agencies, and integration of theory into studio-based work. Supported by a community of practising illustrators, you'll build essential skills in drawing, digital tools, and storytelling.In Year 1, you'll cultivate an open-minded approach and foundational skills in idea development and printmaking. Year 2 shifts to greater personal freedom, with workshops fostering unique work and entrepreneurial initiatives, culminating in a student-led exhibition. In Year 3, the focus is on refining your personal style, producing high-standard portfolios, and engaging in competitions to prepare for professional practice.

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.