Comics and Visual Storytelling

Turn your passion for comics, Manga, and visual storytelling into a creative career.

New for September 2027 entry, our Comics and Visual Storytelling degree has been developed in collaboration with Comic Book UK, Editors, Artists and Publishers from some of the UKs most prominent comics creators to help you break into the industry.

You'll get to discover the varied roles of Comic Creators, Illustrators and Storytellers across the publishing and entertainment industries. Each module explores contextually relevant theory and practice of comic art and visual storytelling, so you’ll develop a broad knowledge and narrative to inform your craft, while gaining the creative and commercial knowledge essential to succeed in the ever-evolving creative landscape.

Throughout the course, you’ll sharpen your skills in comic art, narrative writing, visual storytelling, and traditional and digital drawing, colouring, design, and digital art practice. You'll also delve into narrative, scriptwriting, editorial and sequential art. We’ll cover comic history and introduce you to comic traditions from around the world, from western comics to Manga and web-based, digital formats.

You’ll also have the chance to collaborate on exciting projects - either with fellow comic students to create an anthology, or with our animation, games and visual effects students to create an extended universe.

By the time you graduate as an Escapee, you’ll be well-prepared for a wide range of creative careers - freelance or full-time - including traditional and digital comics, children’s book illustration, and broader publishing roles. Your core skills in writing, illustration, sequential storytelling are also highly transferable to film, animation, and games, where visual storytelling plays a central role in storyboarding, concept development, screenwriting, and narrative design.

Why choose this course?

• Based in London - home to some of the best comic publishers, and animation, video games and VFX studios in the world.

• Designed with professional input to ensure this degree is relevant to employers and up to date. For Comics and Visual Storytelling, we’re working with Comic Book UK, an association championing the UK comic industry, ensuring recognition and support as a vital part of the UK's creative industries.

• Industry briefs and feedback - work on industry-standard briefs, giving you the opportunity to create comics in all their various forms. You’ll experience real-life scenarios and receive feedback on your work.

• Industry practice embedded throughout the degree, including a professional practice module designed to prepare you to enter the industry as a freelance Comic Creator.

• Industry relevant tools and workflows - life drawing and sketching workshops will be a constant throughout the degree, reinforcing the importance of observation, anatomy, and artistic interpretation.

• Industry-standard facilities - study in a studio environment that mirrors current industry practice, using high-spec equipment and professional software such as Clip Studio Paint, Adobe tools and of course not forgetting traditional materials.

Course modules

First year (Level 4 - 120 credits)

An introduction to the disciplines, pipelines and creative industries, giving you the all-round skills you’ll need on your journey.

• Creative Foundations – Project (30 credits)

• Creative Foundations – Craft (30 credits)

• Introduction to Digital Comics Creation (15 credits)

• Digital Inking (15 credits)

• Digital Colouring (15 credits)

• Comics Production (15 credits)

Second year (Level 5 - 120 credits)

You’ll develop your specialist skills and work in teams on industry-style projects.

• Picture books and Cartooning (30 credits)

• Comics and Graphic Novels across the Globe (30 credits)

• Specialism (15 credits)

• Industry Studio Project (45 credits)

Third year (Level 6 - 120 credits)

You’ll hone your skills and begin to demonstrate the level of knowledge needed to be a professional artist.

• Advanced Specialism (30 credits)

• Comics Creation and Professional Practice (30 credits)

• Professional Studio Project (60 credits)

Your work is assessed through practical assignments and retrospectives by a mix of tutor, peer, self-review and industry. In fact, industry professionals often review your project modules and share their personalised feedback with you.