Program Overview

Illustration and Design BA (Hons)

Overview

Are you passionate about drawing? Full of creative ideas? Illustration and Design will cultivate your talents. Here at Sunderland, we encourage you to push the boundaries of illustration, blending traditional techniques with computer technology, such as virtual reality and 3D design. You can also combine illustration with other areas, including animation, graphics, advertising, 3D illustration, and web design.

Why us?

• Our BA (Hons) Illustration and Design course has a 100% positivity score for how often the course challenges students to achieve their best work as well as how feedback helps them to improve their work.
• You can combine illustration with other areas such as animation, graphics, advertising, 3D illustration and web design
• We are one of six institutions across the UK that is participating in The Design Council’s Design Academy Scheme.

Course structure

Teaching sessions are made up of a combination of personal one to one meetings with design tutors and group critiques designed to encourage team working and to create a community vibe among the year groups. This is supported by lectures, seminars, workshops and independent learning. You'll have access to studio spaces outside of teaching time, which facilitates reflection on work and peer evaluation.

Course modules

Year 1 (national level 4):

• Design Theories, Practitioners and Context (20 credits)
• Painting, Drawing and Traditional Media (40 credits)
• Digital Illustration (20 credits)
• Creative Printmaking (20 credits)
• Narrative and Sequential Illustration (20 credits)

Year 2 (national level 5):

• Digital Illustration – Contemporary Practice and Innovation (20 credits)
• Advanced Illustration Practice and Desktop Publishing (40 credits)
• Advanced Printmaking for Illustration (20 credits)
• Global Challenges and the Ethical Designer (20 credits)
• Experiencing the Creative Industries (20 credits)

Optional placement year:

• Design: Applied Professional Practice (120 credits)

Final year (national level 6):

• Illustrator as Professional Creative (40 credits)
• Design Dissertation (20 credits)
• Design - Major Final Portfolio (60 credits)

Facilities

This course is based at the Priestman Building, the main base for art, design, and performance on City Campus. Thanks to a major renovation programme, the Priestman Building provides state-of-the-art teaching space and resources as part of a vibrant and creative learning environment.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Irish Leaving Certificate: 112 UCAS points – Students must have H1-H7 or O1-O4 in Maths & English.
• QQI/FETAC 5: Pass profile overall. For entry we also require H1-H7 or O1-O4 in Maths and English from Irish Leaving Certificate.

Fees and finance

The annual, full-time fee is:

• £9,535 if you are from the UK/Europe
• £16,500 if you are an international student

Career ready

Throughout the course you'll build a creative and industry ready portfolio that will help you launch a career as an illustrator or graphic designer, or take up any other roles where creative skills are important. You'll exhibit your work at our final year Degree Show, visited by industry professionals and creative employers and may have the opportunity to take your work to London.

Career options

Our graduates go on to have diverse careers. One of our graduates works for a publishing house in Japan, dealing with the design and illustration of children's wildlife books. Another was offered a three-book contract at a New Designers Graduate Show and has subsequently won further contracts for illustrations.

Many graduates also operate as freelancers as part of a 'portfolio career' alongside other creative work. They create illustrations for advertising, packaging and editorial purposes. Whatever route you choose, your course will put you on a fast track to getting work published and recognised.