Illustration and Design BA (Hons)

Push the boundaries of illustration using a blend of traditional and digital techniques. Develop your own style and release your personal creativity. Perfect your craft alongside experienced academics and like-minded peers. Become industry-ready and launch your career as an illustrator or designer.

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Overview

Are you passionate about drawing? Full of creative ideas? Illustration and Design will cultivate your talents. Here at Sunderland, we encourage you to push the boundaries of illustration, blending traditional techniques with computer technology, such as virtual reality and 3D design. You can also combine illustration with other areas, including animation, graphics, advertising, 3D illustration, and web design.

You’ll explore design principles, printmaking, and drawing in your first year, before pursuing a specialist study of illustration during your second and final year. You’ll perfect your craft alongside experienced academics who are all practicing professionals at the cutting edge of their field, bringing their industry insights and experience directly into their teaching.

Throughout the course you’ll build and develop a creative, industry-ready portfolio that will help launch your career as an illustrator or graphic designer, or any other role where these creative skills are needed.

Why us?

Our BA (Hons) Illustration and Design course has a 100% positivity score for how often the course challenges students to achieve their best work as well as how feedback helps them to improve their work. This includes a 100% positivity score for how well the the course develops the knowledge and skills needed for the future, how teaching staff make the subject engaging, and how teaching staff support students' learning (National Student Survey 2024)
You can combine illustration with other areas such as animation, graphics, advertising, 3D illustration and web design
We are one of six institutions across the UK that is participating in The Design Council’s Design Academy Scheme. Design Academy is an interactive, four-day training programme for Design students at leading universities, helping to prepare students from a variety of disciplines for real-world design challenges by developing their strategic design capabilities

Access to the latest digital illustration hardware including Apple Mac Pros, Wacom Cintiq drawing screens and virtual reality displays
Industry experienced staff including published children's book author, NHS medical artist and professional freelance illustrators
We work closely with the nearby Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, which showcases some of the UK's finest authors and illustrators for children

Our student work

Join our creative community: @SunderlandCreative #WeAreCreative

Course structure

Teaching sessions are made up of a combination of personal one to one meetings with design tutors and group critiques designed to encourage team working and to create a community vibe among the year groups. This is supported by lectures, seminars, workshops and independent learning. You'll have access to studio spaces outside of teaching time, which facilitates reflection on work and peer evaluation.

Feedback is given regularly during teaching sessions and at the end of the semester in order for you to develop your work to the highest standard and also to reflect on how you might have approached the project differently.

Your first year of study introduces you to a range of different media and focuses on the fundamental skills of illustration including observational drawing, printmaking, animation and digital drawing and painting. You'll then progress onto stages 2 and 3 where you'll narrow your focus and develop your own personal style of illustration through open briefs based on real-world commercial projects.

You'll have the opportunity to apply to undertake an optional placement year out in industry between your second and final year, this is sometimes known as a sandwich degree.

At the end of your final year you'll have the opportunity to exhibit your work at the end of year degree show. The show is open to the public and invited guests in order for you to showcase your portfolio and meet potential employers from the design sector.

Part-time study

Students can study part-time and must pass 80 credits per year to progress to the next stage. 360 credits must be gained over the whole three years to graduate (the same number as full-time students).

Course modules

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

Design Theories, Practitioners and Context (20 credits)

Develop a knowledge and understanding of the important theoretical and historical contexts which have shaped modern design, opening up creative possibilities in your work. Gain a broad view of design disciplines, through lectures and seminars intended to provoke wider debate. Develop analytical and research skills by exploring subjects in design theory and history through assignments. Finish the module with an understanding of various historical and theoretical ideas, intended to encourage you to challenge conventional thinking.

Painting, Drawing and Traditional Media (40 credits)

Develop your visual experience and knowledge through the practice of traditional media and life drawing. Work with a wide range of traditional media and techniques through various set projects, culminating in a body of work that reflects your emerging skills as an illustrator. Support your creative practice through visual research by exploring the subject of Art and Design. Gain an introduction to the principles of communication as well as an understanding of contemporary illustration and design. Build a strong foundation for further development by producing images from concept to final illustration and creatively explore various methods both in taught sessions and independently.

Digital Illustration (20 credits)

Gain a solid foundation in digital illustration, whether you are beginner or already use digital applications within your workflow. Discover the artistic potential of the three core programs used in contemporary illustration practice: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Bring your ideas to life with industry inspired assignments tailored to suit the unique capabilities of each piece of software while learning key design skills.

Creative Printmaking (20 credits)

Develop the fundamental methods required for professional printmaking by learning a range of skills through the use and application of Collagraph, Reduction Linocut and Drypoint printing. Discover how printmaking can spark and enhance your creative process through the study and reflection of historical and contemporary printmakers within the creative industry. Explore the possibilities of printmaking and its ability to create vibrant physical artwork that can be replicated multiple times through a wide range of methods in a unique form beyond the capabilities of digital format.

Narrative and Sequential Illustration (20 credits)

Learn to tell stories that inform, entertain, and enthral through the use of narrative and sequential illustration. This module encompasses all the key methods of visual storytelling from children’s books to graphic novels and storyboards for film and animation. Develop the fundamental skills and understanding of the use of line, value, colour and composition in relation to visual narrative and learn ways to depict imaginary worlds and the characters and environments that inhabit them. Learn the about the enormous influence the illustrator has on the story they tell.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

Digital Illustration – Contemporary Practice and Innovation (20 credits)

Continue your development of digital skills with a series of lectures and seminars dedicated to all aspects of digital illustration. These include bitmap (Photoshop or similar), and vector (Illustrator) as well as techniques including composite images and 3D. Augment your traditional skillset with a fusion of analogue media (paint, pencils, pastels, etc.) with digital media. Create artwork using your favourite traditional methods and bring them in to your chosen package to create work that has a traditional feel but with an enhanced appearance using blending modes and digital adjustments. Add to your growing portfolio with a set of digital illustrations based on creative briefs.

Advanced Illustration Practice and Desktop Publishing (40 credits)

Gain an introduction to the broad subject of contemporary illustration practice and its application in print and digital media. Experience aspects of working in the industry through assignments that reflect the real world. Explore and expand the boundaries of illustration by developing problem-solving and self-critical evaluation skills and exploiting a wide range of influences to help your visual development. Develop desktop publishing skills that enable you to create effective, appealing layouts in order to display your work in the most effective way possible.

Advanced Printmaking for Illustration (20 credits)

Explore the varied processes and techniques of the print room and through a range of image making skills that offer the potential to extend your visual vocabulary. Learn how to turn your illustrations into beautiful screen-printed and transfer printed artworks. Immerse yourself in the technical possibilities of this versatile medium and develop valuable new additions for your illustrative portfolio.

Global Challenges and the Ethical Designer (20 credits)

Develop a critical understanding of important issues linked to design such as the environment, globalisation, gender representation, equality and diversity. Be encouraged to consider your ethical role as a developing designer. Be introduced to ways of considering a major piece of written work (the dissertation in Stage 3), based on a subject relevant to your own practice. Finish the module with a developing design philosophy that potentially impacts on your ways of working and thinking in terms of studio practice.

Experiencing the Creative Industries (20 credits)

Experience a short work placement with an employer. Alternatively, gain other experience of working in the creative industries. Examples include: live jobs; competition briefs; a creative placement; and a collaboration with fellow students from relevant subject areas.

Optional placement year:

Design: Applied Professional Practice (120 credits)

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules:

Illustrator as Professional Creative (40 credits)

Develop and consolidate a personal aesthetic and way of working through practical projects. Take a more individual approach to your work through a choice of projects tailored to your own goals and aspirations. Connect with industry by entering illustration competitions in which the work will be judged alongside the work of students from other UK institutions, and develop a strategy for professional engagement. Work in a self- motivated way around a given subject, developing your own in-depth inquiring look.

Design Dissertation (20 credits)

Develop an in-depth investigation into a particular issue or topic that is relevant to you as a developing designer, or an issue inspired by wider society. Utilise and build on your knowledge of various design and theoretical disciplines and techniques. Gain research and organisational skills through an introductory lecture, tutorials and discussion. Complete the module with a dissertation (3,500 to 4,500 words), supported by a clear central question and hypothesis relevant to the chosen topic. Research conducted in this module can be used as the foundations for your major final project, although this is not compulsory.

Design - Major Final Portfolio (60 credits)

Apply your research and analysis skills to develop ideas, concepts and plans for the proposal of a substantial final major project (or series of projects) within strict time limits. Develop a critical understanding of the various theoretical, historical, cultural and contextual dimensions impacting on design practice, to critically position and present yourself and your practice. Demonstrate your ability to select and employ appropriate strategies, media, skills, tools and methods to develop professional standards of creative, technical and conceptual practice, through a body of creative work and effectively communicate your ideas.

Facilities

This course is based at the Priestman Building, the main base for art, design, and performance on City Campus. Thanks to a major renovation programme, the Priestman Building provides state-of-the-art teaching space and resources as part of a vibrant and creative learning environment.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

Qualification	Minimum grade
High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement	GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+)

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you in studying with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.

If you are studying a HND or Foundation Degree you may be able to enter the final year of our degree courses. Applicants wishing to be considered for direct entry to Level 2/3 should contact studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

We also require you to prepare a portfolio of work for your interview.

Interview/portfolio requirements

We’ll invite you to an informal interview where we'd like to see evidence of your creative potential. Please prepare a portfolio of work you have completed so far. We're not looking for perfection as we appreciate you may still be developing work. We would like to see:

A variety of work – we want to see a range of styles and technique
Work completed in or outside of your studies
Ideas that you feel didn’t work
Research: examples of various forms of investigation
Photographs of 3D, and large 2D, work
A USB stick or online link with any digital and screen-based work
Accompanied by work in progress, sketchbooks, and development work

If you are an international applicant, please send a link to your online portfolio.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual, full-time fee is:

£9,535 if you are from the UK*/Europe
£16,500 if you are an international student

*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

Tuition fees for part-time students are £7,145 per 90 credits. Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.

Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

Throughout the course you'll build a creative and industry ready portfolio that will help you launch a career as an illustrator or graphic designer, or take up any other roles where creative skills are important. You'll exhibit your work at our final year Degree Show, visited by industry professionals and creative employers and may have the opportunity to take your work to London.

Our graduates have gone on to work in a variety of illustration and design roles, such as freelance illustrators for Oxford University Press, The Guardian newspaper, Hallmark cards, design studios at the Open University and Virgin's design department. Other students have gone on to be employed in design companies throughout the UK and many choose to progress onto our MA Design course.

Career options

Our graduates go on to have diverse careers. One of our graduates works for a publishing house in Japan, dealing with the design and illustration of children's wildlife books. Another was offered a three-book contract at a New Designers Graduate Show and has subsequently won further contracts for illustrations.

Many graduates also operate as freelancers as part of a 'portfolio career' alongside other creative work. They create illustrations for advertising, packaging and editorial purposes. Whatever route you choose, your course will put you on a fast track to getting work published and recognised.

Placements and visits

You'll have opportunities to apply for internships and other live projects where you can work alongside professional illustrators and designers.

In addition, our academic team organises visits to arts and design venues and companies in London and across the UK. This is to provide you with the opportunity to travel around London and visit illustration agencies, design studios and experience private viewings of famous artwork at the British Museum.

Employability days and guest speakers

We hold specific 'employability days' to help give you that essential cutting edge. We invite former graduates and employers to come into the University to look at student portfolios and give advice.

Through our connection with the Association of Illustrators and strong links with professional illustrators, we are able to attract a range of top names to give guest lectures. The input of these internationally-known speakers helps broaden your learning and provide fresh perspectives.

Meet the students

The course allows you complete freedom to explore the discipline fully, cultivating originality.

Adam McDade
When I graduated I started working straight away as a graphic designer

Katie Chappell

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

Page last updated: 03 December 2024

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.

Overview

Why us?

Our student work

Join our creative community: @SunderlandCreative #WeAreCreative

Course structure

Course modules

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

Design Theories, Practitioners and Context (20 credits)

Painting, Drawing and Traditional Media (40 credits)

Digital Illustration (20 credits)

Creative Printmaking (20 credits)

Narrative and Sequential Illustration (20 credits)

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

Digital Illustration – Contemporary Practice and Innovation (20 credits)

Advanced Illustration Practice and Desktop Publishing (40 credits)

Advanced Printmaking for Illustration (20 credits)

Global Challenges and the Ethical Designer (20 credits)

Experiencing the Creative Industries (20 credits)

Optional placement year:

Design: Applied Professional Practice (120 credits)

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules:

Illustrator as Professional Creative (40 credits)

Design - Major Final Portfolio (60 credits)

Facilities

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Career ready

Career options

Placements and visits

Employability days and guest speakers

Meet the students

Adam McDade

Katie Chappell

Meet the team — BA (Hons) Illustration and Design

Related courses

Contact