Cardiff Metropolitan University

Illustration - BA (Hons) Degree

Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityLlandaff Campus, United Kingdom

Course overview

Illustrations are active images; they always have a purpose, making sense of complex ideas. As illustrators, you will work to enable understanding of the everyday - from enriching literature and poetry, to responding to societal issues from science and medicine to politics and economics. You will develop rich imaginative responses to build your unique practice, inviting your audiences in.

Key highlights

  • Optional year-long sandwich placement extends the degree to four years
  • Illustrate literature and poetry, enriching written work with images
  • Respond visually to issues in science, medicine, politics and economics
  • Learn to make complex ideas understandable through purposeful images
  • Develop imaginative responses to build your own unique practice

Entry requirements

  • UCAS tariff points: 96-120 — Typical Offers Tariff points: 96-120 Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: C/4 or above — to include English Language
  • BTEC: MMM-DDM — BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
  • International Baccalaureate: 24 — International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 24 points.
  • Irish Leaving Certificate — No specific subjects required

Scholarships

  • Alumni Discount

    The Alumni Discount offers a 20% discount on Cardiff Met courses for previous graduates who are enrolling onto postgraduate programmes from September 2026.

    Up to 20% of fees

  • Full Fee Discount

    Award: Up to £1,000

  • Sport Scholarships

    Undergraduate – Home student (UK): £7,000; Undergraduate – International student: £11,000; Postgraduate alumni – Home student (UK) £2,000 + alumni discount Postgraduate alumni – Home student (UK) £4,200.

  • Undergraduate Scholarship

    Award: £2,500

    Up to £2,500

Careers this course leads to

  • Illustrator
  • Book illustrator
  • Editorial illustrator
  • Scientific or medical illustrator
  • Concept artist
  • Graphic designer

Cost of study

UK/Home: £9,790 | International: £16,000

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Cardiff Metropolitan University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

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