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Illustration

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Belfast

Course summary

BA Hons Illustration at Ulster will introduce you to a huge range of highly experimental creative practices and skills. We encourage risk-taking and individuality to help you develop your own visual language for working in the diverse and exciting world of illustration.

You will explore multiple illustration contexts including books/publishing, comic novels, packaging, 2D animation/film, gifs, magazines/zines, and many more. The course is taught by dedicated and experienced tutors who work, exhibit and publish internationally. We are passionate about illustration and encourage and support you to become a confident and skilled problem solver.

At Ulster you will learn from alumni and industry leaders. Our Illustration graduates regularly win international competitions and work for clients locally as well as around the world. There are many opportunities to build real world connections alongside your unique individual practice to help you stand out as you begin a career in professional illustration and creative industries.

Foundation Year

A foundation diploma year gives you the opportunity to explore a range of art and design approaches and disciplines to help you choose your undergraduate specialism.

Find out about our Foundation Year

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Apply by
14 January

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:
W221
Institution code:
U20
Campus name:
Belfast
Campus Code:
B

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
CCC

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
MMM

We will also accept smaller BTEC/OCR qualifications (i.e. Diploma or Extended Certificate / Introductory Diploma / Subsidiary Diploma) in combination with A Levels or other acceptable level 3 qualifications.

To find out if the qualification you are applying with is a qualification we accept for entry, please check our Qualification Checker - https://www.ulster.ac.uk/study/entrance-requirements/equivalence

We will also continue to accept QCF versions of these qualifications although grades asked for may differ. Check what grades you will be asked for by comparing the requirements above with the information under QCF in the Applied General and Tech Level Qualifications section of our Entry Requirements - https://www.ulster.ac.uk/study/entrance-requirements/undergraduate-entry-requirements

Access to HE Diploma

Overall profile of 55% (120 credit Access Course) (NI Access Course)

Overall profile of 45 credits at Merit (60 credit Access Course) (GB Access Course)

Scottish Higher
CCCCC

Scottish Advanced Higher
DDD

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
24 points

Overall profile is minimum 24 points (including 12 at higher level)

GCSE/National 4/National 5

For full-time study, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first-degree course and hold a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or above in English Language.

Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication will be accepted as equivalent to GCSE English.

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Applicants to this course will be required to submit a portfolio.

Acceptable alternative qualifications include:

Pass HND with overall Merit to include distinctions in 15 Level 5 credits/units may be specified.

Pass HNC with overall Merit to include distinctions in 45 Level 4 credits/units may be specified.

You may also meet the course entry requirements with combinations of different qualifications to the same standard as recognised by the University (provided subject requirements as noted above are met).

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
Applicants to this course will be required to submit a portfolio.

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

* 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

Please note that fees for Home and GB for 2026/27 have not yet been set by Department for the Employment in NI and will be subject to an inflationary increase from 2025/26.

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