Illustration MA
- Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: 1 year (45 weeks)
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Our Masters in Illustration is specifically designed to help you develop and craft your personal visual language, taking your illustrative practice to the next level. Combining theory and practice, you will create a bespoke portfolio that truly represents you as a creative. You will have the opportunity to engage in three areas of Illustration Research Excellence: Narrative, Entrepreneurial and Experimental Illustration. You will join other creative minds and collaborate with postgraduate students across the School of Art and Design; and you will focus on your professional journey as an illustrator/academic.
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Attend workshops covering: Visual Sequence in children's books, Graphic Novels and Storytelling, Visual Identity for Illustrators, Illustrative Ceramics, Watercolour for illustrators, Undigital digital, Cinema 4D and Adobe After Effects. -
Opt for an additional advanced research module if you’re thinking of progressing to PhD or Professional Doctorate study. -
Engage with industry through guest lectures from renowned illustrators and publishers and studio visits. -
Create a project tailored to your own personal illustrative interests and career aspirations
What you’ll study
In our studio-based illustrative masterclass series, delivered by a team of internationally recognised illustrators and academics, you will engage in hands-on, practical experiences including workshops in areas such as Sequence in Children's Books, Graphic Novels, Illustrative Ceramics, Watercolour for illustrators, Undigital digital Image, Cinema 4D and Adobe After Effects. Complimentary to this is our unique Professional Futures module and Advancing Research Design module, which are designed to help focus and enhance your future career ambitions, whether those are commercial, experimental, or academic. You will leave us confident and equipped to succeed in your chosen visual field, whether industry or academia.
Visual Enquiry and Imagination
(40 credit points)
Drawing and image making are key this module which will allow you to experiment and situate your practice. You will explore your personal visual identity and practice through observation and imaginative enquiry. You will develop an understanding of the synergy between theory and practice by creating a reflective written piece to accompany your portfolio work. You will also have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to frame your future MA project proposal.
Culture and Collaboration
(20 credit points)
On this module you will develop an advanced level of understanding of the wider cultural context for current and future work. Within this module you will collaborate with masters students across the school of art and design on a negotiated theme relevant to contemporary debates in art & design. Together you will produce an outcome contributing to a collective festival of ideas. You will gain skills in research, analysis, ideas generation, critical thinking, communication, and presentation.
Masters Portfolio of Practice
(100 credit points)
On this module you will create a personalised professional portfolio aligned to your professional ambition and direction. You will expand your future practice through further exploration, experimentation and risk taking, to establish modes of practice to prepare you for your future career. Whichever route you decide to take with your MA project, you will be encouraged to take creative risks by pushing your work in new and exciting directions. You will leave us confident and equipped to succeed in your chosen visual field, whether industry or academia.
Advancing Research Design: Maximising your Methods
(20 credit points)
The multi-disciplinary module provides an explorative platform for you to use as the basis for further research-based study, or if you want to extend your knowledge of research methods and methodologies, to enhance your future professional practice or if you are considering progression to PhD level study.
Optional module:
Professional Futures
(20 credit points)
This optional module is offered to all students on our Visual Communications courses. This module aims to provide you with the space to explore and share ideas, future gazing professional opportunities in visual communications. You will collaborate with students from all subject areas in visual communications and will form cross-disciplinary debate and discussion in relation to employment, enterprise, and innovation.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Student Work
Video Gallery
How you’re taught
Teaching and learning experiences will include:
- lectures
- individual and group tutorials
- seminars
- workshops
- live projects and competition briefs
- independent studio practice
- self-directed research
Specific workshops may include:
- Visual identity for Illustrators
- Sequential Illustration
- Children’s Book Design
- Graphic Novels: an Introduction
- Typography
- Editorial Illustration Ideation
Find out when our postgraduate term dates for the Nottingham School of Art & Design are. Please note that these are slightly different to other Schools within the University.
How you’re assessed
Assessment is 100% by coursework and involves:
- project proposal
- set project research and development
- professional journal
- practical work
- verbal and visual presentations
- the planning and design of a display of your work
Careers and employability
Career Prospects
This course will equip you with strong creative and problem-solving skills. Our graduates become valuable members of professional teams working together on a range of visual communication projects, involving all kinds of cross-discipline collaborations.
Our graduates often pursue careers in digital and printed media for advertising, branding, marketing and promotion, and a diverse range of publications.
Recent graduates roles and destinations include:
- Illustrator represented by Bright Agency
- Designer: Penguin Books, Publishers
- Graphic designer, Dot Dash Design
- University Lecturer National Institute of Fashion Technology Delhi
Connections with Industry
We’ll support and encourage you to undertake short internships and studio visits to engage with industry. You’ll also have the opportunity to enter industry competitions and take on live projects.
Recent examples have included:
- RSA competition briefs
- Creative Conscience competitions – focused on ethically conscious design
- Collaborative projects with galleries such as Nottingham Contemporary
- Stratford Literary Festival and Salariya Children’s Picture Book Prize
- The Macmillan Prize for Illustration
You’ll benefit from guest lectures from visiting professionals who will cover a wide range of creative and professional practice. Recent guests have come from companies such as:
- Alexis Deacon, children’s book author and illustrator
- Roderick Mills, artist and illustrator
- Chrissie Levett, from Creative Conscience Awards
- social media entrepreneur, Debbiedooodah
You’ll have the opportunity to learn entrepreneurship skills through business development courses at NTU Enterprise - our centre for entrepreneurship and enterprise, and attend events held by industry experts and organisations. You will keep a professional journal, which you will develop throughout the course to become an in-depth examination of current professional theory and practice in your specialist subject area.
You will also attend work-related learning sessions on topics such as self-promotion and marketing, interview skills, and CV and portfolio building.
Showcase
Explore our showcase ‘We Are Creatives’ - celebrating the work of the Nottingham School of Art & Design students. You will find a sneak peak of some of our students’ work and gain a real insight into what it’s like to be part of the NTU creative community at wearecreativesntu.art
Study trips
Study trips will inspire and inform your projects. Recent visits have included the Manchester Design Conference, and the First Tuesday and Raw Print industry networking events in Nottingham.
You’ll also have the opportunity to go on a study trip to design capitals like Berlin or New York, where you’ll visit internationally renowned design studios.
YouFirst – working with our Employability Team
Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies and up to three years after completing your course.
Re:search Re:imagined
To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From electronic textiles to the history of lace, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.
Find out more: ntu.ac.uk/research
Campus and facilities
You’ll be based in the Waverley building – a beautifully restored, listed building with real design heritage dating back from 1863 – the original home of the Nottingham School of Art. Our City Campus is right in the heart of Nottingham city centre.
Explore all of our facilities in our Nottingham School of Art & Design Facilities Hub.
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
- 2.2 honours degree in a related subject.
- Applicants with non-standard entry qualifications and / or relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Other requirements:
NTU may admit a student with advanced standing beyond the beginning of a course, through an assessment of that student's prior learning, whether it is certificated or uncertificated. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available to these prospective students, such as recognising experiential learning or transferring to a similar course at another institution, otherwise known as credit transfer.
All prospective students who wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning should initially contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please contact us at Ask NTU or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
You will need one of the following:
- Bachelors degree grade 2.2 or equivalent qualification.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Postgraduate preparation courses (Pre-Masters)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Pre-Masters courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Fees for September 2025 are yet to be confirmed. Please see the September 2024 fees below for reference:
Mode of study | Home tuition fee |
Student fee | £9,700 |
Alumni Loyalty Scheme - 20% fee discount
We're happy to be able to offer a 20% fee discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU graduates.
See if you're eligible.
Postgraduate loans
The government introduced a new postgraduate loans scheme in the 2016/17 academic year for Masters degrees. The loan will be a contribution towards the costs of study and it will be at the student's discretion to use the loan towards fees, maintenance costs or other costs.
Scholarships
We are offering a number of scholarships for Masters study.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service on
+44 (0)115 848 2494.
Find out more about our terms and conditions of study for this course.
Fees for September 2025 are yet to be confirmed. Please see the September 2024 fees below for reference:
Mode of study | International tuition fee |
Student fee | £17,500 |
Alumni Loyalty Scheme - 20% fee discount
We're happy to be able to offer a 20% fee discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU graduates.
See if you're eligible.
International scholarships
You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to international students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.
Please take a look at our International students page for information about fees, scholarships for international students, visas and much more.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying.
Application deadline
You can apply for this course throughout the year, but we'd recommend that applications should be received by the end of July for entry in September.
Examples of work
In order for us to consider your application, we need you to submit examples of your practical work. Please upload these as part of your online application.
For full details on what we require, please read our Masters Work Submission information.
Writing your application
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. Make sure you include as much information as possible, including uploading evidence of results already achieve, as well as a personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU in our postgraduates' guide. Here you'll find advice about how to write a good personal statement and much more.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please contact us at Ask NTU or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
Apply online through our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Your portfolio
If your initial application is successful, you may be asked to upload a portfolio of your work and you may also be asked to attend an interview.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.