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Illustration

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · 09/2026 · UndergraduateMain Site

Course summary

You’ll learn to tell innovative visual stories on this BA Illustration, which encourages you to experiment, question and take risks in order to develop a strong and distinctive illustrative style.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
You’ll be able to explore drawing, photography, printmaking, digital image making, collage and 3D techniques and find out which media you’re truly passionate about. There’s a big focus on project work, including real briefs from employers and arts organisations like QUAD in Derby and Buxton Festival Fringe.

IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?
Are you eager to make your mark on the world of illustration? Are you open to new ideas and challenges? Are you willing to speak up, stand up and stand out? Then you belong on Derby’s illustration degree.

HOW YOU WILL LEARN
Your focus will be practical project work – including briefs from genuine clients – so you develop a broad set of skills: technical, analytical, intellectual and organisational. There will also be workshop practice, lectures, demonstrations, seminars, group critiques, work checks, individual tutorials, reports and assignments. We’ll visit museums, galleries, exhibitions and other events for further inspiration.

OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES.
This is not a place where you can hide away. Experience what working as a freelance illustrator is really like through the student-led design group, PLY. Show off your talent at prestigious competitions and exhibitions, including New Designers in London. Excel in challenges set by organisations like Macmillan, Penguin Books and the Royal Mail.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
You’ll graduate from BA Illustration with a distinctive professional portfolio and a suite of promotional material to launch your career. You could go into newspaper and magazine editorial, education, children’s books, graphic novels, print production, advertising or the wider design industry. Your improved business skills and entrepreneurial outlook will also make freelancing a viable option.

How to apply

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:
W220
Institution code:
D39
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 96 points

We encourage you to outline all your qualifications and achievements in your application to provide us a full picture. Your offer will typically be based on your predicted and/or achieved grades from full level 3 qualifications or above e.g. A levels, BTEC Ext Diploma, Access to HE, etc. Any subject specifics are outlined below in the A-levels section, and these specifics are applicable across all equivalent qualifications. A strong application/performance and appropriate experience will be taken into account where typical criteria is not met.

A level - CCC

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

Access to HE Diploma - D: 15 credits M: 15 credits P: 15 credits

Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits with 45 at Level 3

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification

T Level - P

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

English language requirements

IELTS overall score at a minimum of 6.0; with at least IELTS 5.5 in each band (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing) or another Secure English Language Test(SELT)at CEFR level B2 or above

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.

We have excluded the Grades on Entry data for this course. We may operate some flexibility with entry grades to support widening participation, though most of the students that enrol on this course achieve the published entry tariff or above. Applicants who achieve grades below the published tariff may be offered an alternative course or a 4-year route if there is one available. For further information please contact askadmissions@derby.ac.uk.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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.

Data from:
This course and 6 other design studies courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

98% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

60 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

85 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU£16900*Year 1
International£16900*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1

* 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

The quoted fee is an indicative fee based on last year’s fees, as the fees for the 2026 term not yet been confirmed.

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