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Different course options

Full time | University of Portsmouth | 1 year | SEP-24

Study mode

Full time

Duration

1 year

Start date

SEP-24

Key information
DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Illustration

Course type

Taught

Course Summary

Overview

On this MA Illustration degree course, you'll build upon your already impressive illustration skills and develop your creative and technical abilities to postgraduate level.

Whether you’re an arts graduate or a professional returning to creative studies, you'll be able to explore, question, and develop your practice through traditional and innovative techniques.

Our academic team is made up of experienced practitioners in the field of artists' books and zines, practice-based PhDs, and printmaking. They'll provide the expertise and support you need to push your creative boundaries and find your individual artistic voice.

This practice-led Master’s in illustration will culminate in production of your own personal project, where you'll be able to define your role as a creative practitioner within a social, political, and historical context.

With opportunities to network and publicise and market your work, you'll be better prepared to take your creative career to the next level once you graduate – whether by pursuing a career as an illustrator or in related fields such as art direction, design, and publishing.

Course highlights

  • Complete a major body of work which showcases your development and skills
  • Explore themes such as narrative and sequential illustration, humour and satire, ethical and social positioning of the artist, literary sources for inspiration, limited edition publications, small presses, and artists’ books
  • Consider the question “what is illustration?” and examine the social responsibility of the illustrator as a cultural producer
  • Discover your specialisms and position your individual practice within the creative industries
  • Engage with high profile visiting lecturers, freelance illustrators and other industry connections such as external speakers from Egmont Books
  • Take part in field trips – both to local galleries and London-based museums
  • Access our extensive collection of artists’ books and zines, located within the illustration studios
  • Develop your existing skills through specialist workshops such as laser cutting and 3D printing, photography, etching and letterpress, drawing and print workshops
  • Showcase your Adobe expertise to industry peers by gaining Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) qualifications

Careers and opportunities

Careers this Master’s in Illustration prepares you for

As a successful graduate of this course, you'll have the practical skills necessary to compete in a commercial arena, and the rhetorical skills to promote your own work. You'll be able to position yourself as a creative individual, giving you a competitive edge as an illustrator or artist.

Graduates of this course have found jobs such as:

  • Animator, storyboard artist and digital illustrator
  • Graphic/editorial designer
  • Art director
  • Toy and character designer
  • Comic book or graphic novelist
  • Printmaker and small press publisher
  • Zinester
  • Creative developer
  • Art Teacher/Lecturer

Modules

Evidence a deep and systematic understanding within a specialised field of study and critically evaluate its interrelationship with other relevant disciplines, at an advanced level. Demonstrate an understanding of and reflect upon current theoretical and methodological debates within the identified specialism and evaluate divergent points of view, form new insights and communicate their effectiveness.

Tuition fees

UK fees
Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

£8,900

International fees
Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

£18,100

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class honours degree, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. All applicants will be invited to attend an interview or be asked to submit a online portfolio in support of their application.

University information

Portsmouth is a small and lively island city that contains everything students need. Students can focus on their studies with as little distraction as they like. Then, when it’s time to step away from the books, the seafront offers learners the perfect place to revive and time to reset. Everything is close by in Portsmouth. In the course of a day students could go from the deck of a historic ship to a bustling shopping street, before browsing...more