Children's Book Illustration (Taught)

Course summary

The MA in Children’s Book Illustration at UCA Farnham is a dynamic, industry-focused programme designed for illustrators eager to engage with young readers through both traditional and experimental forms of storytelling. Taught by practising children’s book illustrators with strong connections to publishers and agents across Europe and China, the course offers a unique blend of creative exploration and professional insight. According to Cognitive Market Research, the children’s book publishing industry reached a global market value of over $4.7 billion in 2024, with the UK contributing £237 million to that figure. Our MA programme is crafted to help illustrators confidently enter this thriving and competitive market, equipped with the skills, networks, and creative vision to succeed. You are encouraged to push boundaries in how stories are made and communicated—whether through print, digital platforms, or immersive formats—while developing a distinctive voice that resonates with today’s global audience of young readers.

Entry requirements

A good honours degree or equivalent qualification in a related discipline. Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level. For this course we will need to see a online portfolio for review. Further information will be provided once you have applied. Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.

English language requirements

Test	Grade	Additional details
IELTS (Academic)	6.5	Listening 5.5, Reading 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 5.5

We require evidence of your English language ability to meet the requirements for your course. If you're a Home student and studied in the UK, we require GCSE English at a minimum grade C/4 (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2). If you’re an EU student and studied a European qualification, we may accept the English Language score from your main qualification - please review your country from the list on our website to see whether we will accept it: https://www.uca.ac.uk/international-study/equivalent-qualifications/ If your qualification is not on this list, we accept the following English language qualifications: IELTS (overall score 6.0), TOEFL ibt (overall score 88), PEARSON PTE Academic (overall 55), Cambridge Proficiency Exam (overall score 169), Cambridge Advanced Exam (overall score 169). If you need a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK, you will need to take an IELTS test, and achieve an overall score of 6.0 and a minimum score of 5.5 for each element (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing).

For more information on English Language Requirements, please visit our website:

https://www.uca.ac.uk/International-study/language-requirements-support/

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

Postgraduate Fees for 26/27 are still to be confirmed. Details will appear here shortly. For prior fees, please refer to https://www.uca.ac.uk/study-at-uca/fees-finance/postgraduate/