BA (Hons) Illustration at University of Lancashire. You'll develop skills in core theory, research and methods, and applied practice, alongside specialist options and an independent project that lets you explore your own direction.
Our Illustration degree can open doors to a variety of careers from freelance illustration and design, to work in media/advertising, publishing & much more. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Illustration is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Lancashire, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
During this learning module you will learn the key concepts, cultural issues and contextual discussions around studio and professional practice. You'll explore the historical development of the design profession and develop a broad range of cognitive skills, important in development as a creative thinker and reflective practitioner.
This module encourages traditional drawing skills to explore image, form, function, and surface, as well as the development of ideas.
This module aims to introduce you to the design process. You will be encouraged to explore the use of appropriate physical and digital processes.
This module aims to introduce you to the fundamentals of Graphic Communication. You will develop an understanding of visual language and critical analysis and develop presentation skills.
On this module you'll gain an understanding of the various cultural contexts surrounding the professional design practice and your studio practice. You'll be able to critically reflect on qualitative design issues and how they interact with the broader context.
This module is designed to prepare your folder for possible placement interview(s). It involves one on one portfolio surgeries, advice on creating digital folders and general interview etiquette. You'll hear from visiting speakers from industry and hear feedback from your peers who have completed their placement year.
This module aims to develop your practical skills, reading and analytical skills. You will have the opportunity to work on critique sessions in this module.
You'll develop your research, visual literacy and conceptual thinking skills. The module aims to show you issues using industry-led project briefs with an appropriate level of modern aesthetics and presentation standards.
In this module you will develop your own research project that links to your career pathway as a professional practitioner. You will develop skills in researching and reporting and be able to reach original conclusions.
This module aims to provide you with a focused and structured direction for your final year of study, giving you the opportunity to respond illustratively to a professional design-led project brief. We'll ensure you have the necessary knowledge and capability to produce work to a professional standard.
This module aims to enables you to draw together specialist and supporting studies into a coherent integrated project. It will encourage you to deploy your acquired skills in the organisation and presentation of project outcomes. Develop skills that demonstrate your ability to create working solutions that are technically and aesthetically comprehensive.
On this module, you'll look at external briefs. You'll get industry-relevant standards that are tailored to your specific interests. You'll learn to create and present design solutions to a professional standard.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
This Illustration degree prepares you for freelance, media, advertising, publishing and related careers through practical and conceptual study across art and design. You'll usually begin with visual foundations, colour, composition, form and design principles, alongside materials and processes, from print and textiles to digital fabrication. Contextual studies in art and design history inform contemporary practice throughout. In Year 2, you move into sustained studio practice and personal direction, exploring digital and emerging media, and working on live briefs with real deadlines. By Year 3, you specialise more deeply, choosing pathways such as graphic design, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital work. Your final year culminates in professional practice training, portfolio development, and a self-directed major project exhibited in the degree show.
You're drawn to visual storytelling and have the ability to see the world through images. You'll thrive if you're curious, self-directed, and willing to experiment across different media and conceptual approaches. The course suits those who want hands-on creative work grounded in serious thinking, where you'll develop a distinct visual voice and learn how illustration operates across real industries and audiences. You'll spend your time making, critiquing, and refining your practice in a studio environment.
Across Art & Design, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (national figures). Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Starting salaries for Art & Design graduates typically fall between £22,000 and £27,000; after five years, the range widens to £20,825–£29,400. Career paths vary widely depending on specialism and individual circumstances. Use official labour-market data and graduate testimonials to understand realistic outcomes for illustration specifically.
The BA (Hons) Illustration is a 3-year full-time degree taught at the University of Lancashire's Main Campus in English. The University of Lancashire is a UK degree-awarding body; this qualification is nationally recognised. The university holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W225). One application covers up to five choices.
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Lancashire →2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Undergraduates from low-income households, subject to eligibility
Eligible undergraduate students with experience of care
Eligible undergraduate or taught-postgraduate unpaid carers
Forced migrants who are not eligible for student finance
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £22,000 – £26,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £19,500 | £16,000 – £22,500 | 310 |
| 5 years after | £23,500 | £19,000 – £28,000 | 315 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 45; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentThe essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 95.3% · in work or study 85% · continued 90%.
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
2,263 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
What applying to University of Lancashire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
International tuition is £17,325 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Lancashire’s funding pages.
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Lancashire and gov.uk before you apply.
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