Illustrators bring stories to life with dynamic visuals and concepts for a range of audiences from books, magazines, and advertising to concept art for games, films, and TV. On our illustration programme, you can develop the foundational image making skills needed to be a successful illustrator, emphasizing craftsmanship, creativity, innovation, and imagination.
Working in our professional studio environment, you'll have the opportunity to explore both traditional and digital approaches, discovering your unique creative voice and bringing your ideas to life. From creative problem-solving and idea generation to drawing, painting, printmaking, digital illustration, and much more, you can build a portfolio that reflects your ambitions. You will also be able to tackle real-world projects through live industry briefs and have the opportunity to showcase your work in international competitions from your first year onwards.
This programme is also available with an Arts Foundation Year, which can provide an alternative route of entry onto the full degree programme. Find out more at https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/course/afyafyub/.
Gain industry insight from guest speakers
Subject area ranked in top 20 in the UK*
Specialist illustration studios and equipment
Access to industry-standard software and technology
Enter international student design competitions
A professional network of alumni
*Out of 84 ranking institutions Complete University Guide 2025.
Our BA (Hons) Illustration degree is designed to empower you to find your unique path as an illustrator and prepare you to step confidently into the creative industries. You are able to examine both traditional and contemporary illustration methods, exploring not only what illustration is but also what it could be.
Tutors emphasise experimentation and the power of visual communication, guiding you to make impactful connections between image, text, and the spoken word. The course also encourages you to view illustration within a broader societal context, deepening your understanding of the practice and the power and influence illustration can have over our world.
Throughout the programme, you can build a professional portfolio through independent, collaborative, and industry-driven projects. Alongside this, you can develop essential skills to support a lifelong creative career.
In the first year, you can develop your existing skills and explore new ones, including drawing, painting, printmaking, 3D, digital, as well as learning how to tap into creative thinking to generate original ideas. This year establishes the foundations for visual and conceptual growth going forward into second and third year.
The second year shifts the focus to more conceptual and narrative illustration for specific audiences, where you can engage with culturally and ethically relevant themes, as well as your ability to visually tell stories, through developing your illustration and making skills.
In the third year, you are able to begin to define your own briefs, building a portfolio that highlights your distinctive approach and voice, and engage with the professional aspects of the illustration industry. The aim is for you to leave with a body of work that demonstrates your individual skills, talents and creative voice.
Studio practice sits at the heart of our programme, giving you extensive time in a collaborative, creative environment. Learning experiences include hands-on studio work, lectures, workshops, seminars, and group tutorials. Individual portfolio reviews and one-on-one sessions with tutors provide further tailored support for developing self-directed projects.
This theory-based module introduces you to key concepts, debates, and case studies surrounding creativity and the creative process, forming a foundation for a reflective and informed creative practice. By engaging with these ideas, you can gain insights that enhance and support your hands-on studio work across your program. This module aims to deepen understanding, encouraging you to think critically about creativity while connecting theory to practice in meaningful, impactful ways.
This module offers an insight into the world of visual storytelling, guiding you through the diverse techniques illustrators use to create compelling sequences of images. Through practical project briefs and experimenting with an array of media, you can uncover how sequential imagery can capture ideas, craft narratives, and bring stories to life. Through exploring both historical and contemporary examples, this module reveals how visual sequences, from comics books and storyboarding to animation, can evoke emotion and engage audiences across genres.
This module centers on building the foundational drawing skills that are essential to an illustrator and exploring other processes such as printmaking and 3D model making skills to widen the scope of your creative voice.
At the heart of this module is learning how to engage with observational drawing—an invaluable skill that anchors image-making, even when illustrators work from references or imagined scenes.
Through practice and workshops, you can explore the visual language of representation, learning to capture and convey what you see in powerful ways. This module guides you through key techniques and processes, fostering a rich understanding of the fundamentals. You’ll also explore how representation can be both an art and a message, allowing you to experiment with and expand your approach to illustrating ideas.
This module invites you to explore the creative process of illustration, from sparking initial ideas to bringing a project to life. You can experiment with various media and techniques to craft illustrations that effectively communicate content, convey messages, and tell stories tailored for specific audiences and contexts.
Guided by project briefs, you’ll be able to develop an intuitive grasp of the principles of image-making, visual language, semiotics, aesthetics, and narrative techniques. Structured tasks showcase the wide-ranging impact and potential of illustration, encouraging you to think critically and creatively about how illustrations can resonate with diverse settings and audiences. This journey is all about expanding your skillset while building a solid foundation in the art and craft of visual storytelling.
This module builds on and pushes the boundaries of the technical and creative skills developed in Level 1. You’ll be encouraged to apply practical, conceptual, and creative solutions to create innovative and impactful illustrations.
The module focuses on cultivating an understanding of audience demographics to enable effective and creative visual communication, alongside honing practical skills. This blend of knowledge and technique is key to helping you craft a unique visual style that stands out in today’s competitive marketplace.
Through a rich exploration of materials, media, techniques, and technologies, you can refine your approach to practical work and expand your toolkit for visual storytelling. At its core, the module aims to help you build a solid understanding of narrative structure and storytelling principles within illustrated books. You can expand on previous skills through critical analysis and hands-on experimentation across various genres, delving into sequential illustration, character roles in storytelling, and the flow of narrative continuity.
Building on the foundations of reflective creative practice in Level 1, Contextual Studies 2 immerses you in key concepts, debates, and case studies related to the professional, economic, and socio-cultural dynamics of the creative industries. This module delves into the ethical dimensions of professional design, examining how issues like design activism, ecological awareness, and socially engaged practices influence creative motivations and shape the field.
These thought-provoking themes set the stage for an in-depth discussion on the role of ethics and purpose in contemporary design. By exploring these topics, you can gain a nuanced understanding of how design intersects with real-world issues, enhancing your awareness of professional practice within the broader landscape of the creative industries.
This module is designed to deepen your mastery of the intellectual, creative, and practical aspects of crafting imagery with a strong focus on creative content—a skill increasingly relevant in today’s evolving illustration industry. Through a variety of projects, you can explore the dynamic relationship between words and images, developing techniques that playfully and effectively link text with visuals. You can also gain a richer appreciation of both historical and contemporary illustration practices, reinforced through engaging lectures, seminars, group critiques, and tutorials.
The Industry Placement Year is an exciting opportunity for students to take a year out of formal study to gain real-world experience in the creative industries. Whether you’re looking to build industry connections, develop professional skills, or explore career options, this year will give you a full-time, hands-on experience within a creative organisation.
This year is a collaborative experience between you, your employer, and the University—ensuring that you get the most out of your time in a professional setting.
This module provides an opportunity for students in the Lincoln School of Design & Architecture to spend a semester in Year 2 studying at one of the University’s partner institutions. This opportunity has both academic and personal development dimensions.
In academic terms, during the semester abroad students undertake models that are equivalent to 60 credit module and content at one of the UoL partner institution in semester B.
Participation in study-abroad also offers unique opportunities for personal student development in the wider sense. Although students will be supported through the application process by the Module Co-ordinator and colleagues at the partner institution, much of the responsibility for organising the time abroad rests with the student. Study abroad offers the opportunity for students to develop graduate attributes, a global mindset and transferrable skills as exercise resilience, flexibity and open mindedness when adapting to and working effectively within a different academic culture and environment.
Students must submit an application to the School discuss why they wish to participate in a study period abroad.
This module is optional for undergraduate students within the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Study Abroad enables you to study at one of the University’s approved partner institutions.
During the time spent abroad, you can share classes with local students and study modules at the partner institution which have been approved in advance by the University. As many partner institutions support internships, you may choose to combine study with work and/or a period of volunteering.
This module builds on prior learning, exploring the diverse range of strategies used in contemporary illustration practice. Through a variety of managed self-defined projects that reflect the scope of modern illustration, you will have the opportunity to apply both analytical and practical skills to visually interpret and communicate complex themes, texts, and ideas in your work. You also get the opportunity to explore copyright, intellectual property, and your own ethical approach to illustration, enabling you to confidently negotiate the professional world of the creative industries.
Independent learning is a key focus, helping you to develop the confidence needed to create unique, compelling solutions to set briefs. This approach encourages you to explore your own creative voice while mastering the skills required to tackle diverse challenges in the world of illustration.
Contextual Studies 3 is an independent research study module which takes the form either of a dissertation and/or a number of other options. The module offers students an opportunity to explore in depth a topic of their own choice, chosen generally, but not exclusively in relation to the practice and/or context of their programme-specific studies and studio practice.
This module empowers you to tailor your learning experience to align with your career goals, academic aspirations, and personal interests.
You can design a personalised programme of study, setting your own criteria and outcomes through practical briefs. The focus is on fostering self-managed, independent learning, allowing you to develop the confidence needed to produce a high-quality illustration portfolio that reflects your unique vision and skills.
This module aims to deepen your understanding of the professional landscape of illustration, empowering you to focus on your personal, creative, and professional growth. The module outlines the roles of key stakeholders in the industry, including clients, agents, publishers, and audiences. In addition, you can explore important business concepts such as contracts, pricing, branding, marketing, self-promotion and entrepreneurship, equipping you with the essential skills for professional success and self-development in the illustration industry.
You may also have the opportunity to engage with live-briefs or competitions as part of the curriculum.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, and contact hours.
As this course aims to develop a wide range of practical and intellectual skills, assessment is varied and includes presentations, written projects, individual and group practical work, projects, and portfolios, in addition to academic essays. There are no formal end-of-year examinations. Throughout the degree, students are assessed through their production of practical and written work.
At the University of Lincoln, we aim to equip you with a thoughtful and critical mindset, preparing you to become a leader in the creative industries. To encourage this, our comprehensive facilities provide a supportive, dynamic environment for creative growth. You can access workshops, labs, studios, and industry-standard equipment, with guidance from highly skilled technicians. This environment, along with our large purpose-built design studios, empowers you to expand your skills and knowledge, fully preparing you for the demands of the creative field.
Move through our dedicated illustration studio space in 3D and see exactly where you could explore your creativity.
Our degree show is an exciting opportunity for our Lincoln School of Design students to showcase their work both physically and digitally to the public and businesses.
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We want to create employable graduates, and as part of the course you can undertake a module focused on preparing for a successful career in the creative industry. Designed to foster confidence in your professionalism you can explore illustration through a lens of business skills, research, self-promotion, and presentation. There is also a strong emphasis on self-promotion, agility, utilising existing skills in other creative fields, and building professional integrity.
Innovation is actively encouraged throughout the course, whether this is discovering new markets, materials, processes, or engaging with emerging technologies such as VR.
There may also be opportunities to take part in live projects across the course, providing opportunities for you to gain valuable experience interacting with industry professionals from areas including publishing, the music industry, tourism, conservation, and many more.
We run an ‘Industry Week’ across the School of Creative Arts where speakers from across the design industry are invited to speak to students. You are encouraged to attend talks from speakers from across the spectrum of design practice to inform your own approach to illustration.
We also regularly invite guest speakers to give you an insight into the broader illustration community. Past speakers have included Graham Rawle, Jonny Hannah, Lydia Monks, Derek Brazell, Gareth Brooks, Scott Garrett, Tom Gauld, and Jade Sarson, providing valuable perspectives on diverse practices in illustration.
You may have the opportunity to participate in national and international study trips. These extra-curricular visits, which in the past have included places such as New York for publishing and advertising agencies, the Bologna Book Fair, The House of Illustration (now the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration), the International Comic Strip Festival in Angoulême, and other museum and exhibition tours, offer exposure to global industry events as well as inspiration for students’ own practice. Students who join these trips will be responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation, and living expenses.
Students are provided with access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of software which includes Photoshop and Illustrator, LinkedIn Learning as well as the Microsoft Office suite.
One of the key ways the course prepared me for freelance life is the way they let us manage our own time and work independently, as time management and independence are key skills for freelancers.
Ellie Roe
BA (Hons) Illustration
Lincoln School of Design students have a long history of winning and being shortlisted for international and national student design competitions, and the last few years have been no exception.
Illustration graduates have gone on to develop successful international careers in illustration and art direction for advertising agencies, publishing houses, in graphic novels, zines, comics, as well as book illustration. They've also gone on to work in games design, storyboarding for cinema, graphic design, and animation. An increasing number of entrepreneurial graduates have launched their own businesses and pursued careers in the broader creative industries.
104 to 112 UCAS Tariff points.
This must be achieved from a minimum of 2 A Levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications. For example:
A Level: BCC to BBC
BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction Merit Merit
T Level: Merit Overall
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 104 to 112 UCAS points to be achieved from 45 Level 3 credits.
International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall.
GCSE's: Minimum of three at grade 4 or above, which must include English . Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may be considered.
The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
We may also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.
Non UK Qualifications:
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.
EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk
Please note application assessment criteria may vary by country and we may close to applications from some domiciles. Please view the Your Country pages of our website before making an application.
Once you have submitted your application to UCAS, you will be invited to submit a digital portfolio to evidence your practical work. We will contact you by email with information about where, when, and how to submit a portfolio, as well as provide you with handy tips on what to include.
Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.
For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. To help support students from outside of the UK, we are also delighted to offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
Materials
Students on the illustration programme are likely to incur some additional costs for specialist art materials throughout the duration of their three years of study.
Equipment and some specialist materials are supplied by the School, especially in respect to printmaking, 3D modelling, and Adobe Creative software suite, which enables the production of digital material. However, students will have to provide their own drawing materials, paper, pencils, sketchbooks etc. A materials list is provided at the beginning of the academic year. Students are not expected to buy everything immediately but build up an individual resource of materials suited to their interests and their project work.
Students can purchase art materials from the art shop located nearby in the Nicola de la Haye building. The course has recently increased its digital resources for students within the studio. However, blended learning approaches (a mixture of online and studio learning) allow students (where applicable) greater freedom to learn where and when they wish. In this way, students may wish to purchase a laptop, tablet and stylus, prior to or during their study depending on their personal approach to illustration production.
Study Visits
Students on this course may have the option to take part in international study visits. The University covers the costs of mandatory field trips , but students who choose to participate in optional study visits are expected to cover their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs.
The best way to find out what it is really like to live and learn at Lincoln is to visit us in person. We offer a range of opportunities across the year to help you to get a real feel for what it might be like to study here.
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