Illustration

Why Illustration?
Our Illustration degree equips you with the creative, technical and enterprise skills you’ll need for a successful career in the creative industries, from animator to game artist. Developing abilities in life and location drawing, printmaking, specialist techniques and animation, you’ll learn to use drawn images to create visual narratives as a means of communication, from comics to graphic novels. With opportunities to gain experience on placements, with organisations such as ELCAF (East London Comics & Arts Festival), London Book Fair, Angoulême International Comics Festival, Cheltenham Illustration Awards and Cheltenham Literature Festival, our graduates stand out from the competition.

You’ll draw on the expertise of accomplished lecturers including award-winning illustrators, and have the chance to exhibit your work alongside world-renowned illustrators at major international events (additional costs may apply, see course web page for details). You’ll even have the opportunity to self-publish and sell your work under the university’s own imprint, Pittville Press, and in our illustration publications ‘Unseen’, ‘Techne’ and ‘Olio’. You’ll also benefit from state-of-the-art design facilities, such as printmaking studios, an Apple Mac suite, Risograph stencil printer, letterpress workshop and book-binding equipment.

Why University of Gloucestershire?
At University of Gloucestershire, we’ve been encouraging students to meet every ambition since 1847. Join us and you’ll benefit from our three UoG promises:

1. UoG Career Promise – if you are not in a job 6 months after graduating, we’ll guarantee you 6 months of free support post-graduation should you need it, followed by the offer of a paid internship and lifetime career coaching* (*eligibility conditions apply).
2. UoG Accommodation Promise – we guarantee all first-year students accommodation on, or near, the campus you’re studying at.
3. UoG Connections Promise – whilst at UoG, you’ll find the connections to reach your goals. With over 4,000 placements and more than 60 clubs and societies to join, you’ll make connections for life.

Our ambition is boundless. Experienced lecturers promote a real-world ethos and treat our students as more than just a number. Alongside our strong support system, guest speakers, networking events and influential partnerships will help you prepare for life after graduation, whether that be in a successful career in your field or onto further study. Students never tire of finding inspiration here in the unique county of Gloucestershire – innovation and bravery thrive here. Cheltenham and Gloucester offer the best of city and country living, with the rolling hills of the Cotswolds paired with vibrant nightclubs and stunning parks in the bustling town and city centres.

After the course
Your story doesn’t end with us at graduation. We support our graduates to balance purpose with ambition, and 95% of University of Gloucestershire graduates are in work or further study within six months of completing their course*.
*Graduate Outcomes Survey published 2024 and based on 2021/22 leavers.

Experience an open day
Book yourself a place at a University of Gloucestershire open day at www.glos.ac.uk/BookAnOpenDay. Our open days have been designed to inform you, inspire you, and help you make the right decision about your next step. It’s your chance to see the university for yourself, get a real insight into what we're about and meet your potential course tutors and lecturers. Our friendly student ambassadors will also be on hand to show you round your campus.

To find out more information about this course, visit www.glos.ac.uk/OurCourses, email us on enquiries@glos.ac.uk or call 03330 14 14 14.

In your first year develop skills in life and location drawing, printmaking, specialist techniques and animation. In your second and third years take your work to a professional level through modules such as Sequential Illustration, using drawn images to create visual narratives such as comics and graphic novels. You’ll also begin preparing for industry, developing your expertise in self-publishing and promotion. Our modern design facilities include extensive printmaking studio, Apple Mac suite, Risograph stencil printer, letterpress workshop and book binding equipment.