Overview
Academic interest in children’s book illustration is growing. Examine this field of illustration through a combination of practical work and theoretical enquiry.
Find out more about teaching options and studying during COVID-19 in the Entry requirements section, below.
Supervision and support
You’ll be supervised and supported by staff who have published and exhibited nationally and internationally. Our expertise includes:
Professor Martin Salisbury: practice and theory of children's book illustration. Co-author of Children's Picturebooks: The Art of Visual Storytelling (Laurence King, 2010), winner of the UKLA Academic Book Award 2013; author of Play Pen: New Children's Book Illustration (Laurence King, 2007) and Illustrating Children's Books (A&C Black, 2004).
Dr Becky Palmer: illustrator and author of comics and picturebooks including Ellie and Lump’s Very Busy Day (Walker Books, 2017) and La Soupière Magique (Éditions Sarbacane, 2014).
Katherina Manalessou: author of Zoom Zoom Zoom (Macmillan Children's Books 2014); commercial illustration commissions and personal projects such as artist’s books and limited edition prints.
Where you'll research
Your department and faculty
At Cambridge School of Art, we combine the traditions of our past with the possibilities afforded by the latest technologies.
Using our expertise and connections in Cambridge and beyond, we nurture creativity through experimentation and risk-taking to empower the makers and creators of the future.
Our academics excel at both practice and theory, making a real impact in their chosen fields, whether they are curating exhibitions, designing book covers or photographing communities in Africa. They are also regularly published in catalogues, books, journals and conference papers, their research classed as being of ‘international standing’, with some elements ‘world-leading’, in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.
Where can I study?
Cambridge
Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
Specialist facilities
You’ll work within our dedicated illustration studios that surround Ruskin Gallery, a unique space that shows a range of work including student shows and touring exhibitions of international standing. You can also make use of our other facilities, including printmaking and sculpture workshops, photography dark rooms, life drawing studio, and computer suites for video production and digital imaging, as well as four Mac suites with Adobe Creative Suite software and high-quality 27-inch monitors.
You’ll have access to our Faculty’s PhD room, where all our doctoral students can meet up to work and take an active part in our postgraduate student community.
Fees & funding
Course fees
UK students, 2024/25 (per year)
£4,786
UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year)
£2,392
International students, 2024/25 (per year)
£15,900
International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year)
£7,950
Bench fees
In some cases extra costs known as bench fees will be charged for a postgraduate research degree. These are to cover additional/exceptional costs directly related to a specific research project.
Some examples of these costs are (the list is not exhaustive): equipment hire, access costs to specialist equipment/workshops, volunteer expenses, specialist tissue/cell culture, specialist reagents or materials, specialist software, access to specialist databases, data collection costs, specialist media, recording or digital storage needs.
We charge bench fees in bands. They may apply for every year of your course. These bands are the same for full- and part-time students.
If you have to pay bench fees this will be made clear at your interview, and stated in your offer letter.
For 2024/25 the bench fee bands are:
- £500
- £1,200
- £2,200
- £4,500
- £8,900
PhD by Published Work
Initial registration: £1,500
Full registration: £4,500
Writing up fees 2024/25
£1,200
How do I pay my fees?
You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in instalments – though you won't need to pay until you've accepted an offer to study with us. Find out more about paying your fees.
Funding
For advice on the Doctoral Loan and other sources of funding, including ARU scholarships, visit our finance guide for postgraduate researchers.
You might also find The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding helpful.
ARU research
ARU's academic excellence was recognised in 2021, as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), an exercise which assesses the quality of academic research. Sixteen areas of our work were classed as generating world-leading research. The results showed that we're making a significant impact on the societies we live in.
Careers
We’ll provide you with many opportunities for career development and training, and encourage you to get involved with external activities like exhibiting, curating, conference organisation and presenting papers. There may be opportunities to take part in collaborative projects with our Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge, and our annual trips to the Bologna Children's Book Fair.
Many research students in this discipline are seeking to combine high-level professional creative practice with academic careers. You can also request specific support for writing-up, conference papers, general research methods and other research skills if you need it.
Contact details
If you're interested in finding out more about research study opportunities in this area, please email the Research Convener [email protected] or [email protected]
Entry requirements
MPhil or PhD with progression from MPhil: You’ll need a Bachelors degree or equivalent with first or upper second class honours, in a related subject area.
PhD: You’ll need a Masters degree or equivalent in a related subject area.
Please note we consider candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil in the first instance. If you want to be considered for direct entry to the PhD route then this can be discussed at interview if you are shortlisted. Please note you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this request.
You'll be required to submit a portfolio of your practical work to date as part of your application.
If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the programme as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements. Contact our postgraduate research degree team for more information about studying a PhD, MPhil or Professional Doctorate at ARU.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your research programme.
