Illustration [with Placement year]

Follow in the footsteps of established illustrators, designers and creators by developing your individual visual style.

In our vibrant studios and workshops, you’ll receive dedicated attention from our expert tutors – all of whom are professional illustrators – to help you find your visual style and kick-start your career.

At the same time, you’ll have plenty of space to experiment, discover, discuss and create, with full access to our facilities and expertise in printmaking, 3D, photography, storytelling, editorials, animation, text and image, and moving illustrations, and opportunities to go on local and international trips.

100% believe staff value students’ views and opinions about the course, 96% that the course has developed the knowledge and skills I think I will need for my future and 91% that teaching staff have supported my learning well. NSS 2025.

• Study on a course that scored highly across the board in the National Student Survey 2024

• Join a course whose students are regularly recognised in national and international prizes and awards

• Prepare for a variety of freelance and commercial roles, taking inspiration from our successful alumni

• Display your work at our final-year Graduate Showcase, and local and national exhibitions

• Visit galleries, find inspiration, and hone your observational drawing skills locally and internationally

Careers

The creative industries are booming in the UK, employing more than two million people.

As a creative hotspot that’s home to thousands of established businesses and start-ups, Cambridge is the perfect place to gain crucial experience.

There are plenty of opportunities to get your work seen, too. At the end of your final year, you’ll take part in our degree show and the New Designers graduate exhibition in London – the perfect launchpad for your career.

As an illustrator, a world of possibilities awaits you. You could illustrate books or editorial, design stage sets or product labels, work on animated films, and much more besides.If you’re interested in a career in character design such as comic books, graphic novels, or animation, our BA (Hons) Animation and Illustration may be the course for you.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our world-leading MA Children’s Book Illustration. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Teaching

In your first year, you’ll focus on drawing, observation, and experimentation.

You’ll explore different styles, media, and ways of reproducing artwork, helping you find your signature illustration style.

You’ll continue to learn about different techniques and develop your illustration skills in Year 2, while working to industry-style briefs that will help you prepare for professional life.

In Year 3, you'll take your placement year.

Your final year is a real opportunity to get ‘a foot in the door’ by building your portfolio and displaying your work at your Degree Show, and the New Designers graduate exhibition in London.

Year 1: The Illustrator's Toolkit; Drawing for Illustration; Critical and Contextual Studies 1: Think, Play, Learn; Illustration Practice; Print and Process; Into ARU.

Year 2: The Curious Illustrator; Narrative Printmaking; The Illustrated World; Critical and Contextual Studies 2: Creativity and Context in Dialogue; Ruskin module.

Year 2 Optional: Reality Checkpoint - Socially Engaged Practice and the Public Realm; Reportage; Time Based Media; Exhibitions in Context; Archive: Creative Futures.

Year 3: Placement.

Year 4: Portfolio and Professional Development; Launchpad - Major Project Illustration.

Year 4 Optional: Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Creative Inquiry; Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Working in the Creative
Industries.

Modules are subject to change and availability.

This is a hands-on, practical course and our assessment is based on the coursework you complete for each of your modules. This includes completed project work as well as accompanying material such as sketchbooks. We’re looking to see how you research, analyse and develop your work – in other words, how you think as an illustrator. You’ll also attend lectures and produce written material including essays. We’ll look at these when we’re reviewing your progress.

Assessment is ongoing and includes one-to-one feedback, group crits and class presentations, so you can be sure you’re receiving structured, insightful feedback throughout your degree course.