Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Illustration
- 3 years
- Duration
- 30,890 GBP/year
- Price
- September
- Start
- June
- Deadline
- Bachelor
- Degree
- Campus
- Format
- London / United Kingdom
- Location
Program description
The BA Illustration programme at Central Saint Martins focuses on developing your creative identity through an innovative and expansive exploration of the discipline's future. It emphasizes the powerful relationship between images and words, encouraging you to construct narratives and communicate ideas using a wide range of creative techniques. A core part of the course involves critical reflection on the roles, responsibilities, and ethical boundaries of contemporary illustrators.
You will learn to communicate effectively with diverse audiences through visual, written, and oral means, while examining how illustration can critique social, political, and cultural issues. The curriculum integrates shared design content, exposing you to collaborative approaches and emergent media common across design disciplines. Through workshops, seminars, and the study of critical theory, the course provides a comprehensive framework that blends practical making with rigorous intellectual enquiry.
Program structure
Year 1
- Unit 1: Introduction to Illustration
- Unit 2: Curiosity and experimentation
- Unit 3: Informed practice
- Unit 4: Authorship and voice
Year 2
- Unit 5: Collaborative and collective practices
- Unit 6: Fact and fiction
- Unit 7: Visual methods
- Unit 8: Illustrators and communities
Year 3
- Unit 9: Professional futures
- Unit 10: Critical practice
- Unit 11: Making in context
Price
Tuition fee:
- 30,890 GBP per year*
*Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.
During your studies, you may need to cover extra costs which are not included in your tuition fees. You might need to budget for materials and equipment specific to your course. You may also need a laptop or other digital tech/software.
Requirements for applicants
The standard entry requirements for this course are:
112 UCAS tariff points, which can be made up of one or a combination of the following accepted full Level 3 qualifications:
- 112 UCAS tariff points from 2 or more A Levels.
- Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Merit at UAL Extended Diploma.
- Distinction at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
- Access Diploma or 112 tariff new UCAS points from the Access to HE Diploma.
- 112 UCAS tariff points from an equivalent full Level 3 qualification.
- Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 25 points minimum.
- And three GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A-C).
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases.
The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
- Related academic or work experience
- The quality of the personal statement
- A strong academic or other professional reference
- A combination of these factors
- Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
English language requirements
All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:
- IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking
About the university
The University of the Arts London (UAL) produces and encourages the creativity essential for a better future. Its colleges have been at the forefront of innovative education since 1842, creating work with a lasting impact on people and the planet, driven by curiosity, imagination, and purpose.
London is fundamental to UAL's identity, providing a vital context where the university connects and exchanges ideas with individuals from all walks of life. Globally, its creative network influences education, culture, business, and society.
Through innovative research and creative instruction, UAL's faculty and staff bring fresh perspectives to education. The university enables students to build the careers they desire by working with them at every level - from pre-degree to postgraduate, and from short courses to online learning.
UAL's colleges
Ranked second in the world for art and design, UAL comprises six distinct colleges:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central Saint Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts
Together, they form a community of creatives, innovators, trailblazers, and storytellers, united in their mission to reimagine the future.
Courses in the visual arts, animation, screen, communication, fashion, media, and performance are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
