MA Illustration
- Time investment
- 2 years part-time
- Location
- Online
- Cost
- £9,975
- Language
- English
About this degree
Hone your illustration skills to advance your creative career
Develop your creative practice and explore the cultural, professional, and personal dimensions of illustration on this part-time MA course.
Designed for working professionals and aspiring illustrators, this flexible online degree gives you the tools to evolve your practice while fitting study around your schedule.
Build your voice as a visual storyteller
You’ll reflect critically on your own work, examine the broader histories of illustration, and explore how identity, authorship, and audience shape the messages you communicate. As you progress, you’ll engage with a wide range of influences—from contemporary illustration to design theory and visual culture.
Experiment with creative tools, techniques, and ideas
The course also encourages exploration through both traditional methods and digital tools, helping you develop a versatile, future-facing approach. You’ll investigate how medium, mark-making, and meaning interact, and how different creative choices can change the way your work is received.
Grow within a global creative community
Through online seminars, tutorials, and collaborative projects, you’ll connect with peers, tutors, and industry voices from around the world.
You’ll have the chance to share feedback, exchange ideas, and gain real insight into the collaborative nature of professional illustration.
Prepare for a sustainable creative career
As well as growing your creative practice, you’ll build essential skills in self-employment, client communication, and professional standards.
Whether you’re planning to work freelance or as part of a larger creative team, you’ll graduate with the confidence to navigate the industry.
Build your portfolio with a final project
The course culminates in a self-directed final project, giving you the chance to consolidate your learning into a distinctive body of work.
With expert support, you’ll produce a technically accomplished and conceptually rich portfolio that reflects your ambitions as a contemporary illustrator.
Where you’ll be studying
Studying at Arts University Bournemouth
AUB is a leading university offering high-quality specialist education in art, design, media and performance across the creative industries.
Based in one of the UK’s fastest growing creative and digital hubs, AUB connects students with real industry opportunities right on their doorstep.
With expert tutors, professional studios and a collaborative community, you’ll graduate with the skills and confidence to build a career doing what you love.
Find out more about this degree
Additional information
You'll be assessed through a range of methods, including coursework, practical projects, and collaborative assignments, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your skill development.
- Children’s Book Illustrator: Capture the imagination of young audiences with captivating illustrations that bring stories to life.
- Concept Artist: Develop visual concepts for the gaming and film industries, where imagination and skill create extraordinary worlds.
- Graphic Novelist: Merge graphic storytelling with literary artistry as you create unique graphic novels.
- Storyboard Artist: Visualise scenes for film and animation, crucial for effective storytelling through moving images.
- Character Designer: Shape the personality of characters that drive narratives, from animation to video games, influencing viewer connection and engagement.
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