University of Brighton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
The Illustration degree course at Brighton enjoys a reputation for producing artists who are confident in using their own creative voice and who work in a range of styles. This course celebrates both the traditional and the contemporary, exploring what illustration could be, not just what it is. We place an emphasis on experimentation, and our course team will help you to develop your own visual language. You’ll benefit from dedicated studio space, excellent specialist art and design libraries and our internationally significant Design Archives. You will enjoy a programme of studio and gallery visits and an optional study trip. There are opportunities to exhibit throughout the course and a final-year graduate show. You will be part of the vibrant Visual Communication programme of courses and our teaching staff are leaders in their fields - past contributors have included Raymond Briggs, Cressida Cowell MBE, Quentin Blake, Emily Gravett, John Vernon Lord, George Hardie and Jasper Goodall. TOP REASONS TO CHOOSE THIS COURSE
- Success of our graduates – our alumni are at organisations including The Tate, MTV, Weiden + Kennedy and many more high-profile institutions
- Artistic reputation - we're renowned for producing artists who are confident in using their own creative voice and who work in a range of style
- International exchanges – there are exchange opportunities with Nagoya University of the Arts in Japan, Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore and the Berlin University of Applied Sciences in Germany
- Develop valuable transferable skills – these include critical thinking and writing, independent research and analysis, excellent presentation, written and oral communication skills.
- Option modules – in your second and third years enable you to tailor your degree to your specific career ambitions.
- Live industry projects and links with professional practice – these mean that you will leave confident in your own illustrative technique and theory ready for your chosen professional path.
- Engaging audiences with your work – we'll teach you how to promote and share your work
- Collaborative working – just like in industry, you will connect with students from the visual communication programme, developing contacts for when you graduate
- Major graduate show – at the end of the degree you exhibit a body of work in the public graduate show, a large-scale exhibition.
- Brighton Illustration Fair - this annual event takes place on campus bringing you into contact with industry professionals and giving you the opportunity to show your work.
- Follow our course on Instagram at @brighton_illustration
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:
- W220
- Institution code:
- B72
- Campus name:
- Brighton
- Campus code:
- B
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
A level - BCC - BBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM - DDM
Access to HE Diploma - M: 30 credits P: 15 credits
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H3
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5. in each element, or equivalent English Language qualification. |
Review our English Language requirements
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 | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £17250 | Year 1 |
| International | £17250 | 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
The fees listed in the table above are for full-time UK undergraduate students in academic year 2025-26. You will pay further fees in each year of your course. Fees may increase each year. UK undergraduate and certain postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government. The annual fee increase will not exceed the UK government's maximum regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year. Many of our courses include the option of a salaried placement year. Tuition fees for a placement year are charged at a lower rate of £1850. The international tuition fees listed above are for full-time courses during the academic year 2025-26. Further tuition fees are payable in each year of study. Non-regulated tuition fees, which usually apply to international students and UK postgraduate students* are subject to an annual increase of a maximum of 5% or the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), whichever is higher.
*Some designated postgraduate courses are regulated by the UK government – the annual fee increase for eligible UK / Home students on these designated courses will not exceed the UK government’s regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year.
Provider information
University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT