This course offers a flexible, multidisciplinary, and multimedia approach to the study and practice of contemporary illustration and visual communication.

A supportive studio environment and learning community encourages you to develop your own distinctive visual practice through experimentation and inquiry.

A diverse range of studio-based projects provide you with the intellectual and creative space to explore and examine a range of processes and practices in both traditional and emerging technologies.

The course combines illustration and visual communication allowing you to build a range of visual and professional skills. This breadth of approach is designed to support creative agility, enable you to be flexible and resilient, and ready to adapt your practice to rapidly and ever evolving career opportunities.

Alumni and specialists contribute to the teaching programme alongside our dedicated course team of experienced professional practitioners.

Based in the leafy campus of Harrow, a creative hothouse for arts media and digital courses, you'll work alongside students from fashion, fine art, film, photography, music, animation, graphics and journalism

You'll enjoy generous studio space and excellent facilities for drawing, traditional and digital printmaking, lens-based media, 3D, ceramics, digital and emerging technologies.

The course has a strong professional focus and in conjunction with the University’s award-winning Creative Enterprise Centre, supports you in developing professional skills and providing opportunities for work experience and internships.

Through membership of the Association of Illustrators and D&AD, students also benefit from a range of professional opportunities and support, industry led briefs, networking events and a showcase at the D&AD New Blood festival in London's creative hub Shoreditch.

Many of our graduates operate independently as freelance, self-employed practitioners or work collaboratively in small business cooperatives, often with students they met during their course. 

Students have progressed on to job roles including:

• Animator
• Art director
• Art therapist (requiring further training)
• Company manager
• Event manager
• Gallerist
• Graphic designer
• Illustrator – editorial illustration/ decorative merchandising and interiors, branding and promotion, visual effects, concept art
• Teacher (requiring further training)