MA Design Communication: Illustration*
* subject to final UWE Bristol approval
This course is open for applications.
Introduction
UWE Bristols MA Illustration course builds on our celebrated reputation for postgraduate study in design communication. If you want to tell bold visual stories to contemporary audiences in new and dynamic ways, this future-focused course is the ideal collaborative space to push your practice.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study this course?
In our increasingly visual society were discovering innovative, radical ways to engage with both established and emerging audiences. In this context, illustration is being redefined, reimagined, and reshaped.
On our MA Design Communication: Illustration, youll consider the value of authentic visual narrative in the age of artificial intelligence, establishing sustainable new futures for the field.
Developed over decades, our interdisciplinary approach to the graphic arts has built a global profile for pushing the disciplines. Through a curriculum that encourages both conventional and unconventional means of creative inquiry, collaboration, and critical reflection, youll establish your own place in this exciting interdisciplinary field.
This culture of collective ambition, extensive technical resources and industry links is your launchpad into the profession.
Why UWE Bristol?
Based on Bristol's historic waterfront at the Arnolfini, youll hone your craft at this internationally renowned centre for contemporary art. Youll be at the heart of Bristol's creative and cultural hub, with access to UWE Bristol's City Campus and all it has to offer.
As a creative student, youll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol. As a socially and politically progressive city, its widely recognised as one of the most creatively influential settings in the UK. Our strong partnerships with local organisations mean youll benefit from their input, along with many valuable networking opportunities in this thriving creative context.
Where can it take me?
Whether you're a recent graduate or mid-career creative, you'll benefit from the University's strong connections with the publishing and media industries. You'll gain invaluable real-world knowledge, experience and exposure through regular guest speakers, live brief projects and opportunities to enter local and national awards and competitions.
Youll graduate with a globally recognised qualification and have a broad range of career options available to you regionally, nationally and internationally.
The image above shows the fantastic work from one of our students (Woon Bing Chang, 2024 School of Arts graduate).
Watch: Welcome to the School of Arts at UWE Bristol
Structure
Content
This course offers you the chance to extend your practice and explore new areas in the changing world of industry and design. Youll learn to be independent, research effectively, question and be critical, and sustain practice for the long term.
Youll study a curriculum carefully sequenced to deliver a dynamic student journey over three intensive terms.
The first term will include an immersive introduction to diverse graphic arts practices. Youll be asked to push your existing perception of illustration processes, becoming familiar with a breadth of techniques and technologies while responding innovatively to set briefs. At the end of the first term, you'll explore and connect arts research and discourse across a community of postgraduate peers. This will result in the presentation of bold, change-making creative proposals.
The second term will provide opportunities for you to develop your graphic response to contemporary discourse in illustration. Through conceptual and technical experimentation, youll realise a body of creative work. This development leads into the third term, where you'll have the opportunity to refine your ideas within a supportive community of interdisciplinary practice, technical expertise, and academic criticality when completing your final project.
Youll present your work to the public at our MA Showcase.
Throughout the year, you'll develop your understanding of enterprise within the creative industries and develop knowledge of the contemporary character and conventions of the creative economy. You'll have the opportunity to refine your professional skills, attributes and identity in preparation to succeed in an uncertain and complex cultural landscape.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Our industry-inspired family of Design Communication courses work together in an interdisciplinary learning environment. This approach nurtures collaboration and knowledge exchange across different fields of study, allowing you to deepen your expertise within your chosen discipline while engaging with broader creative and critical perspectives.
Youll study through a combination of one-to-one tutorials, group sessions, seminars, lectures, technical workshops and live projects. Our teaching team includes award-winning practitioners, technical experts and leading academics and researchers, all committed to providing an innovative and inclusive learning experience.
As you move through the course, youll find a greater level of independence and the freedom to follow a specific area of interest. Youll be encouraged to externalise your projects through collaborations, live briefs, and direct engagement with your chosen industry. Our students regularly work with a broad range of community groups, galleries, design studios and arts organisations.
See our full glossary of teaching and learning terms.
Study time
This is a full-time course, which starts in September and runs for three terms over 12 months. Learning and teaching sessions typically take place over three days per week. Outside of your contact hours, youll have the opportunity to access the available resources.
Assessment
Youll be assessed through a range of methods throughout the year including presentations, a portfolio, and practical and written work. Youll spend your last term working towards your final outcomes for the year, which includes an opportunity to exhibit publicly.
Learn more about our assessments.
Features
Study facilities
At the Arnolfini, youll have access to extensive studios and workshops, plus highly skilled, dedicated technical staff. Youll also access resources at other City Campus sites, including Bower Ashtons creative and cultural industries library, student support services, and technical resource areas.
Facilities include video and animation resources, print studios incorporating letterpress, screen and digital formats, photographic workshops and studios, and fabrication for traditional contemporary materials, including laser cutting, electronics and robotics.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Design facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Life
Postgraduate support
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
Youll be taught by practising designers, illustrators, photographers and researchers, bringing their skills and expertise exclusively to you studying at postgraduate level.
Our graduates go on to work in the creative industries both nationally and internationally in a wide range of careers. These include roles in design agencies, publishers, fashion houses, photography studios, or as self-employed creatives, designers running their own businesses, or in teaching in both formal and community education programmes.
Previous regional employers have included: Sons of Graham, Proctor & Stevenson, Immediate Media Co., Kennedy Publishing, HommGrp, EZ Education, The Damien Hirst Studio and LED Architects.
In London, previous employers include: 59 Productions Ltd, North House Creative, Space Agency Design Ltd, The Rodnik Bank Ltd, The Creative Place Ltd, Graham & Green and notonthehighstreet.com.
Examples of overseas previous employers include: Wonderworks Ltd in Taiwan, Dell in Texas, Genius Loci and Zaman Branding in Dubai and Studioplace in Rome.
Graduates have received awards in design, illustration, and publishing competitions like D&AD, and exhibited in international exhibitions. Some have given public lectures, and been interviewed for BBC radio and regional newspapers about their research or practice.
You may also choose to progress to further study, such as a PhD.
Our award-winning Careers Service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.
Learn more about our graduate destinations.
Fees
Entry
Entry requirements
We're seeking highly motivated students from any background, committed to creative growth in our supportive School of Arts community. Most applicants would have an honours degree in the arts, but those with qualifications in other disciplines or prior professional experience are also encouraged to apply.
While some students enter the course after years of independent work, we also welcome entries from ambitious applicants directly from undergraduate courses.
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on our country information pages.
Selection process
Applicants will be asked to provide a portfolio of practical or project-based work and a personal statement for review.
In your portfolio you may want to include your most recent or ambitious works alongside developmental or process-based details. The work you include can be in media from outside or beyond your chosen discipline, and may include personal or professional outcomes. We are looking for applicants with the potential to connect creatively with contemporary practice; the motivation to excel; and the capacity to contribute to our dynamic campus.
Your personal statement should communicate confidently and coherently your rationale for application: what you hope Masters study will help you achieve in your future. You may want to include detail of the influences that have led you to application, and the attributes you think will be important for success as a postgraduate. We would like to know more about you, and your understanding of what we do.
Most personal statements we receive are around 500 words in length.
Applicants may be invited for an online interview, if we have any further questions about your portfolio.
English Language Requirement
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The University accepts a large number of UK and international qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades, please visit English Language requirements.
English language support
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our pre-sessional English programme.
How to apply
We accept applications throughout the year but if you're working to a funding deadline, you should build this into your application process.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
Read more about postgraduate applications.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333