York St John University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Immerse yourself in the world of illustration. Develop your ability to express narratives through images. Start your career as an illustrator. We believe in the transformative power of storytelling and visual narratives. On our course you will explore illustration through a focus on drawing, image making and narrative construction. Your study of theory will also inform your illustration practice and help you understand the wider contexts of illustration. We will teach you traditional and digital illustration techniques, using industry standard software and equipment. Develop your ability to illustrate with confidence. Your time will focus on drawing, making images and constructing narratives. We will encourage you to experiment with different techniques, covering both traditional and digital creative processes. This will help you extend your practice and discover your specialism. While on the course you will illustrate across different genres, including: Comic art Book illustration Editorial illustration Children's illustration Social engagement illustration. Alongside your practical work, you will carry out contextual studies to develop your practical work. This means carrying out research that helps you understand and explain where, how and why your ideas fit in terms of contemporary illustration practice. You will also examine the social and political events that inspire the work you do. It's also a chance for you to research and explore different perspectives in illustration. As you work on briefs in the studio, you will be offered the opportunity to: work with students from other courses illustrate a story by a creative writer work alongside photographers and artists bring your illustrations to life through moving image work on illustration briefs with industry clients visit cities around the world to enrich your cultural courses and references take part in work placement opportunities and internships showcase your work at our annual degree show and national graduate exhibitions. Our team of illustrators and specialist technicians are here to support you. Your tutors will really get to know you, your practice and your ambitions.
Modules
Modules may include: Year 1 Drawing Context: Making Art and Artists Visual Narratives Presenting Representation Year 2: Engagement Making, Sensing, Thinking Exhibition Art: Ethics and Aesthetics Professional Networks Year 3: Dissertation Advanced Studio Degree Show Professional Futures
How to apply
29Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W2W3
- Institution code:
- Y75
- Campus name:
- York St John University
- Campus code:
- A
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
For Second Year entry, applicants must have completed the first year of Higher Education in a similar subject with a total of 120 credits. For Third Year entry, applicants must have completed the first and second year of Higher Education in a similar subject with a total of 240 credits. Applicants will need to submit a transcript of their completed study, and offers will be subject to a mapping exercise of modules to ensure an appropriate alignment of course content. Please be aware that transfer applications are subject to availablity of space on the selected academic year of your chosen course. For more information on the transfer process, please see https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/transferring-to-york-st-john-university/. If transferring to the final year of a course containing a placement or study abroad year, you must have also completed a placement or study abroad year prior to starting the course.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 points
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Interview
If your application is successful, you will be invited to a portfolio day. On the day, you will show your work to our tutors and discuss your work and the ideas behind it.
Portfolio
If your application is successful, you will be invited to a portfolio day. On the day, you will show your work to our tutors and discuss your work and the ideas behind it.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| EU | £14000 | Year 1 |
| International | £14000 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
For courses with an optional Placement Year, during the Placement Year your fees will be reduced to 15% of the annual fee value.
Provider information
York St John University
Lord Mayor's Walk
York
YO31 7EX