BA (Hons) Illustration at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Programme overview

A three-year undergraduate course at the Llandaff Campus in which students build a practice in illustration through drawing, narrative, making and collaboration. Students join a Vertical Studio, test work in contexts such as animation, film, print and digital media, and can take live briefs, placements or study abroad.

Faculty: Cardiff School of Art & Design | Duration: 3 years full time; 4 years full time with a year-long sandwich placement | Intake: 2027 start | Location: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1: Visual Languages (40 credits), In Contexts (20), Research Basics (20) and Interdisciplinary Understanding (40). Year 2: Visual Languages 2 (40), 21st Century Challenges (40), Real-World Contexts (20) and Research Proposal (20). Year 3: Visual Languages 3 (60), Positioning in Practice (20) and Contribution (40). Skills covered include drawing, painting, printmaking, storytelling, stop-frame animation, book design, editorial illustration and zine making.

Career pathways

Graduates join design companies, work as illustrators and designers in large organisations, or set up their own businesses; some take a PGCE, a master's at the school, or progress to a Professional Doctorate in Design.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Typical offer: 96-120 UCAS tariff points. A levels: minimum three A levels, no specific subjects required (Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject). BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM-DDM. T Level: no specific subjects required. Access to Higher Education Diploma: no specific subjects required. International Baccalaureate Diploma: 24 points, no specific subjects. Irish Leaving Certificate: no specific subjects (Higher level subjects considered only at minimum grade H4). Scottish Advanced Highers: no specific subjects required. GCSE: preferably five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including English Language (or Welsh First Language) and Mathematics (or Mathematics - Numeracy). Successful portfolio review required. English language for international applicants: academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent. Combinations of the listed qualifications are accepted if they meet minimum requirements; mature applicants and those with relevant experience or RPL are considered by Admissions. Contextual offers are available.

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,790 a year (2026/27). Full-time home undergraduate tuition fee; may increase by any level permitted by the Welsh Government. Source

International applicants: GBP 16,000 a year (2026/27). Full-time international undergraduate tuition fee. Source

Intake: 2027 start

Duration: 3 years full time; 4 years full time with a year-long sandwich placement

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