Illustration for Comics (BA Hons)

BA (Hons)

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Key facts

UCAS code

W222

Start dates

September 2025

Course length

Full time: 3 years

Department

School of Arts

Overview

Whether you're drawn to comic strips, graphic novels, storyboarding for film and TV, or character design for games, this highly creative BA Illustration for Comics course equips you with traditional and digital skills.

You’ll learn about comic and cartoon strips, instructional diagrams, computer game characterisation, web graphical illustration, theatre, and animation pre-production. It’s the perfect launchpad to enter the creative marketplace as a skilled Artist with a focus on Illustration for Comics and narrative sequential work.

You’ll combine traditional skills with contemporary digital practice, boosting your employability and developing business acumen. You’ll study a wide range of creative approaches such as printmaking, animation, sequential illustration and digital applications.

You’ll be encouraged to embrace the studio culture, mainly working in a creative community at New College Swindon College. On completion, you’ll be equipped to embark on a career with the latest technology and processes to create innovative comic illustrations that shift the industry forward.

Two students working at a computer station

Course details

Course structure

In year one you will learn how visual language and graphic communication work within illustration for comics through practical investigation with a range of materials and processes including drawing, pictorial storytelling and various digital applications. You will explore digital comics and their communities, whilst also examining comics in their wider context of the creative arts and culture.

In year two you will develop an experimental approach to drawing, examine a variety of formats, conventions and styles of storytelling, and work on industry-standard illustration briefs and national competitions. You will learn how to develop your unique ‘personality’ as an illustrator and extend your critical understanding of illustration and its place in the creative industries.

In year three you will develop and manage two major illustration projects, undertake an in-depth investigation into an area of visual culture of your choice and extend your knowledge of employment opportunities in the creative industries.

Students walking together

Learning and teaching

A combination of centre-devised and live project briefs enables students to develop appropriate research, analytical, methodological, creative and conceptual knowledge and skills to enhance their ability for creative decision-making, problem-solving and presentation of outcomes. Contributions from working Illustrators both staff and visiting, extend awareness of current Illustration practice and develop a culture of knowledge sharing.

You will be taught in a variety of ways and will have a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials which will help you to develop your awareness of current practice and the wider social and cultural context relevant to Illustration practice. Regular visits to exhibitions, events, museums and studios will expand your research, analytical, and methodological skills, and will enable you to develop an appropriate knowledge base in their chosen study.

Assessment

You will be assessed on your practical and written coursework. For each practical module, you will present your final work in the form of a portfolio of illustrations or a presentation. For each theory module, you will be assessed on written coursework, through essays, reports or verbal presentation. In year three you will also submit an extended essay as a final dissertation alongside a major public exhibition of your Illustration projects.

You will receive regular verbal feedback on your learning through individual and small group tutorials, and written feedback once you have submitted practical or written work for assessment. Our feedback will support you to develop your work further and will help you to identify and promote your strengths.

Alternative forms of assessment are available for those students who require them.

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,700

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,700

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students. 

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

How to apply

Further offer details

  • BTEC National Extended Diploma with two / three merits and five GCSEs at Grade C or above, one of which must be English, plus a portfolio of practical work.
  • AVCE (Double Award) in Art & Design and five GCSEs at Grade C or above, one of which must be English plus a portfolio of practical work.
  • Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design) or Access to Art and Design Diploma plus a portfolio of practical work.
  • Two years' industrial experience plus a portfolio of practical work (mature students, for example).

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

A Level: 2 A-levels at grade D or above (one of which should be in an Art related subject)

GCSE: 5 subjects at grade C or above, including English

Alternatively, candidates must have one of the following:

  • Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design)
  • Access to Art & Design
  • AVCE (Double Award) in Art & Design
  • Level 3 BEC National Extended Diploma in an Art related subject
  • Other equivalent qualifications or experience (for example: mature students without formal qualifications, but with evidence of relevant industrial experience, will be considered).

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

Selection process

All candidates must present a satisfactory portfolio of practical work at interview. The portfolio should include evidence of an appropriate standard of visual literacy as well as a sample of written work. An electronic portfolio will be accepted in cases where a face-to-face interview is not possible.

English language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate that their English language skills are high enough to succeed in their studies by meeting the University Standard English Language requirements. Applicants requiring a student visa to enter the UK will need to meet the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) minimum language requirements and the University Standard English Language requirements.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.

If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.

If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.

We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.

Application process

Full time Home (UK) applicants

Apply through UCAS

International applicants

Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Careers

You will develop the knowledge and practical skills to enter the creative industries as an artist with particular emphasis on Illustration for Comics and narrative sequential work. This includes:

  • the comic or cartoon strip
  • the graphic novel
  • film/TV/theatre/animation storyboarding
  • instructional diagrams
  • children’s storybook
  • computer games characterisation
  • web illustration.

You will develop the business acumen, critical sensibilities and entrepreneurial skills to practice in a competitive marketplace.

You can expect a career as a Narrative or Children’s Book Illustrator, a Graphic or Storyboard Artist, a Cartoonist, a Web Designer, or a Computer Games Designer or you could continue your study to Masters level.

Additionally, you should be able to extend their abilities into related fields of endeavour including post-graduate research, education, management, the media and the creative and cultural industries.

Learn more about this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.