Skip navigation

Illustration

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 21 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
York St John University
More about York St John University

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
Apply

Course summary

Immerse yourself in the world of illustration. Develop your ability to express narratives through images.

We believe in the transformative power of storytelling and visual narratives. On our course you will explore illustration through a focus on drawing, image making and narrative construction. Your study of theory will also inform your illustration practice and help you understand the wider contexts of illustration. We will teach you traditional and digital illustration techniques, using industry standard software and equipment.

Develop your ability to illustrate with confidence. Your time will focus on drawing, making images and constructing narratives. We will encourage you to experiment with different techniques, covering both traditional and digital creative processes. This will help you extend your practice and discover your specialism. While on the course you will illustrate across different genres, including:

Comic art
Book illustration
Editorial illustration
Children's illustration
Social engagement illustration.
Alongside your practical work, you will carry out contextual studies to develop your practical work. This means carrying out research that helps you understand and explain where, how and why your ideas fit in terms of contemporary illustration practice. You will also examine the social and political events that inspire the work you do. It's also a chance for you to research and explore different perspectives in illustration.

As you work on briefs in the studio, you will be offered the opportunity to:

work with students from other courses
illustrate a story by a creative writer
work alongside photographers and artists
bring your illustrations to life through moving image
work on illustration briefs with industry clients
visit cities around the world to enrich your cultural courses and references
take part in work placement opportunities and internships
showcase your work at our annual degree show and national graduate exhibitions.
Our team of illustrators and specialist technicians are here to support you. Your tutors will really get to know you, your practice and your ambitions.

Modules

Course Modules

Modules may include:

Year 1
Drawing
Context: Making Art and Artists
Visual Narratives
Presenting Representation

Year 2:
Engagement
Making, Sensing, Thinking
Exhibition
Art: Ethics and Aesthetics
Professional Networks

Year 3:
Dissertation
Advanced Studio
Degree Show
Professional Futures

https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/fine-art-illustration-and-photography/illustration-ba-hons/

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • York St John University

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
W2W3
Institution code:
Y75
Campus name:
York St John University
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2, 3

York St John University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W2W3
Institution code:
Y75
Campus name:
York St John University

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff
Offer: 104

104 UCAS Points from UCAS Tariff Qualifications including but not limited to: A Level, BTEC, Access to Higher Education, T Level.

Entry requirements for students joining after Year 1: For Second Year entry, applicants must have completed the first year of Higher Education in a similar subject with a total of 120 credits.
For Third Year entry, applicants must have completed the first and second year of Higher Education in a similar subject with a total of 240 credits.

Applicants will need to submit a transcript of their completed study, and offers will be subject to a mapping exercise of modules to ensure an appropriate alignment of course content.
Please be aware that transfer applications are subject to availablity of space on the selected academic year of your chosen course.
For more information on the transfer process, please see https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/transferring-to-york-st-john-university/.

If transferring to the final year of a course containing a placement or study abroad year, you must have also completed a placement or study abroad year prior to starting the course. https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/fine-art-illustration-and-photography/illustration-ba-hons/

Additional entry requirements

If your application is successful, you will be invited to a portfolio day. On the day, you will show your work with our tutors and share with them your passion for the subject.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

For all UK applicants, we look at seven factors:
• Where you live
• Age
• Disability
• First in family
• Time in care
• UK Armed Forces family
• Free School Meals
These seven factors create a point score, which is then taken into account, along with standard criteria. The points don’t influence whether an offer is made but can influence the type of offer made, resulting in reduced or unconditional offers.
Full information is on our website, including scheme adaptations for individual courses.

Learn more on the York St John University website

International entry requirements

Please see the York St John University Website for international entry requirements specific to your country or region. https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/entry-requirements-for-your-country-or-region/

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£9790*
EU & International£12100*

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees for our foundation years may vary, please see the relevant foundation year at https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/foundation-years/ for current foundation year fees.

For courses with an optional Placement Year, during the Placement Year your fees will be reduced to 15% of the annual fee value.

Related courses

At York St John University

Like this page