BA (Hons) Illustration

Why study Illustration at ARU?

• Join a course that scored 100% for the “Teaching on my course” and “Academic support”, 98% for “Learning resources” and “Student voice”, 96% for “Organisation and Management”, 94% for “Learning opportunities” and “Assessment and feedback”, and 93% for “Communication of mental well-being support” in the National Student Survey 2024.
• Come to a university that's recognised as one of the best places to study Illustration in the UK.
• Join a course whose students are regularly recognised in national and international prizes and awards, such as the Association of Illustrators (AOI) World Illustration and Spotlight Awards and UK Graduate To Watch.
• Prepare for a variety of freelance and commercial roles – we've seen graduate success in high-end homeware and accessories design (Catherine Rowe Designs), children’s books (Bethan Woollvin) and freelance illustration (Max Machen, who was invited by Threads to design a new icon to mark its first birthday).
• Show your talent to the public and industry reps at our final-year Graduate Showcase, and local and national exhibitions like New Designers in London.
• Go on gallery visits, local drawing trips, and our annual overseas visit to cities such as Porto, Seville and Lisbon.
• Take inspiration from alumni such as Harry Potter illustrator Thomas Taylor, whose artwork for the cover of the first ever Harry Potter book recently sold at auction for £1.5 million.

With its vibrant studio culture and small class sizes, combined with excellent printmaking, 3D, photography and life-drawing facilities, our Illustration course has consistently high student satisfaction ratings.

We know that our students want to learn from the best, so all of our tutors are professional illustrators. They’ll help you find your visual style and kick-start your career. But they’ll never forget the reason you chose to study illustration in the first place. At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll find there’s always time to experiment, discover, discuss and create.

The creative industries are booming in the UK, employing more than two million people. With a wealth of careers to choose from, our graduates have found success as book illustrators, graphic designers, luxury homeware designers and more. Want to follow in their footsteps?

Cambridge is the perfect place to gain experience – a creative hotspot that’s home to thousands of established businesses and start-ups.

There are plenty of opportunities to get your work seen, too. At the end of your final year, you’ll take part in our degree show and the New Designers graduate exhibition in London – the perfect launchpad for your career.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our renowned MA Children’s Book Illustration. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.