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Welcome to BA (Hons) Illustration
BA Hons Illustration at Lincoln not only explores the contemporary, professional aspects of illustration, but is also focused on developing students' confidence to discover their creative voice and problem-solving resolve.
The course aims to create highly sophisticated visual communicators, whose work demonstrates a high level of craft and an aesthetic flare, across both digital and analogue media, platforms and projects.
Students can benefit from a dedicated studio space, specialist art and design facilities, and digital equipment. They may also have opportunities to:
- meet with established illustrators, publishers, and industry experts.
- engage with live projects, and national and international competitions and collaborations.
- exhibit and publish their own work, most notably, in a final year Graduate Show, physically or online.
- gain advice about pursuing a freelance career, employment, entrepreneurship, and learn about handling commissions and negotiating with clients.
Please check out the programme's blog site : https://illustration.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk
Students can also visit our 'Show 20' Final Year Degree Show:
https://designlincoln.co.uk/show2020/illustration
You can find out more about the work of staff and students by following the Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/unilincolndesign/
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/home/course/afyafyub/.
Features
Industry Visits
The course regularly invites a variety of guest speakers to enhance students' understanding of the wider Illustration community. In the past these have included Graham Rawle, Jonny Hannah, Lydia Monks, Derek Brazell, Gareth Brooks, Scott Garrett, Tom Gauld, and Jade Sarson to name a few.
Innovation, Professionalism and Entrepreneurship
There is a module dedicated to preparing students for life in the creative industry. It establishes the professional responsibilities of the illustrator and his/her role within the visual communication industry and society as a whole. This pedagogic philosophy aims to empower students to further their visual and professional development holistically. Business, research, self-promotion, and presentation skills are fundamental areas of learning in this approach. Students are introduced to various aspects of the illustration business and emphasis is placed on self-employment and the development of professional integrity. This focus on business also provides the opportunity for students to evaluate and distil project briefs.
Software
Students are provided with access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of software which includes Photoshop and Illustrator, Linked-In Learning as well as the Microsoft Office suite of software.
Study Visits
Students on this course may have the option to take part in national and international study visits. Students who choose to participate in optional study visits are expected to cover their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs. These optional study trips may include the Book Fair in Bolgona, the International Comic Strip Festival in Angouleme, and a range of museums and specialist exhibitions internationally.
Keith Hume - Programme Leader
Academic Staff ListHow You Study
This BA (Hons) Illustration degree aims to help students to explore their personal direction, as an illustrator in preparation for a career in industry. By delving into both traditional and contemporary approaches to illustration, this course deals not just with 'what it is', but also what you think it should be.
Tutors place an emphasis on experimentation, and on developing an ability to visually communicate with audiences by seeing relationships between image and text, or the spoken word. The course is also focused on helping students to contextualise the profession of illustration in relation to society.
Students are able to develop a professional portfolio of work by engaging with independent, collaborative, and industry-led briefs and projects, and by developing a range of professional skills that will serve them throughout your career.
The first year of study focuses on helping students develop visual and conceptual skills through drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and associated digital, design, illustration, and thinking processes.
This is followed, in the second year, by the study of editorial and book illustration aimed at selected clients and audiences. During this year, ethically and culturally orientated issues and debates are explored.
In the final year, students may have the opportunity to respond to contemporary illustration briefs, including 'live' competitions. The focus is on enabling students to produce a portfolio that showcases their unique, individual abilities and a bespoke approach to illustration.
Studio practice is a key element of this course, and students will have the opportunity to spend a lot time in a creative studio environment. Teaching and learning experiences may include studio activities, peer groups, lectures, workshops, seminars, and group tutorials. Students can also benefit from face to face consultation with your tutor during portfolio reviews and around self-directed projects.
What You Need to Know
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. To help you choose the course that’s right for you, we aim to bring to your attention all the important information you may need. Our What You Need to Know page offers detailed information on key areas including contact hours, assessment, optional modules, and additional costs.
An Introduction to Your Modules
† 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.
How you are assessed
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.
Assessment Feedback
The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days after the submission date.
Methods of Assessment
The way students are assessed on this course may vary for each module. Examples of assessment methods that are used include coursework for example including design project work and presentations; and written assignments. The weighting given to each assessment method may vary across each academic year. The University of Lincoln aims to ensure that staff return in-course assessments to students promptly.
Fees and Scholarships
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. The University of Lincoln offers a variety of merit-based and subject-specific bursaries and scholarships. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
Course-Specific Additional Costs
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.
Entry Requirements 2023-24
United Kingdom
A Level: BBC (112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 3 A levels or equivalent qualifications).
International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall.
BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit or equivalent.
T Level: Merit
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points.
A combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTEC, EPQ, etc.
Applicants will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4 (C) 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. We will 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.
International
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/home/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 https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/
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.
For applicants who do not meet our standard entry requirements, our Arts Foundation Year can provide an alternative route of entry onto our full degree programmes:
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/course/afyafyub/
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
Specialist Facilities
Through instilling in our design students a thoughtful and critical approach to the way they think about design and apply their creative skills, we aim to prepare them to be leaders in the creative industries.
The University of Lincoln has a comprehensive range of facilities designed to provide a supportive environment for creative practitioners. Students have regular access to workshops, labs, studios, and industry-standard equipment, as well as highly knowledgeable technicians. This environment can help students to develop their knowledge and skills, and complements our purpose-built design studios.
Student Design Awards
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.
Portfolios
Applicants will be invited to submit a digital portfolio of work. Portfolios should include plenty of observational drawings as well as evidence of creative exploration, visual problem solving, ideation, and experimentation with a range of different media and materials. Please also include some of your sketchbook pages so that we can see evidence of your developmental work. Work should demonstrate a good contextual knowledge of illustration and how it differs from fine art and graphic design. You may also wish to include evidence of written work, such as a recent essay.
Portfolio tips
- Label your work and order it in a logical way
- Feel free to include anything that isn't quite finished or is work in progress, if you feel it showcases your creative style and interests.
- Portfolios should be in PDF format and no longer than 30 pages.
- Please title your work with your full name and UCAS number
"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, Illustration graduateCareer Opportunities
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 have 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.
Visit Us in Person
The best way to find out what it is really like to live and learn at Lincoln is to join us for one of our Open Days. Visiting us in person is important and will help you to get a real feel for what it might be like to study here.
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