Illustration MA
Kingston UniversityKnights Park, United Kingdom
Course overview
Realise the true potential of practice-based illustration You’ll understand image production through connections between images, words, situations, objects, people and places. Studying this Illustration MA at Kingston University will prepare you for a broad range of professional opportunities. Recent graduates have gone on to roles in publishing, curation, engagement, teaching and more.
Through tutorials, field trips, lectures, seminars, workshops and research projects, you’ll gain technical tools, knowledge and confidence. You’ll share two modules with students from across the design school, explore diverse disciplinary settings and unpack the social and political aspects of illustration. Every part of this course encourages creative experimentation and individual critical reflection.
You’ll take a dialogic, discursive approach, with plenty of peer-led learning, discussion groups and opportunities to co-create the curriculum. You’ll embrace process as a way of creating meaning, and craft thoughtful and illuminating visual stories through a carefully curated programme. During the course, you’ll examine discipline-specific ideas about rigour, innovation, positioning and inclusivity.
Through a blend of knowledge-building and debate, you’ll bring your unique perspective to examine existing illustrative practices. You’ll explore the challenges, ethics and impact of visual representation across global professional and public territories. This course aligns with SHAPE, the British Academy’s collective name for the Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts.
Key highlights
- Taught through tutorials, field trips, lectures, seminars, workshops and research projects
- Two modules shared with students from across the design school
- Explores social, political and ethical aspects of visual representation
- Peer-led learning with opportunities to co-create the curriculum
- Emphasis on creative experimentation and individual critical reflection
- Develops skills in crafting thoughtful, illuminating visual stories
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:2 — or above
- Additional condition: portfolio — Additional requirements for Illustration MA: Open Portfolio Please submit a portfolio with 3-5 examples of your research process, subject interests, idea development and project outcomes.
Scholarships
Alumni Discount
Award: 10% discount on tuition fees.
Up to 10% of feesChelsea Arts Club Trust MA Award
The Chelsea Arts Club Trust MA Materials and Research Award is a £2,500 bursary, awarded each year to an MA Fashion or MA Sustainable Fashion student.
Up to £2,500Chevening Scholarships
Award: Tuition fees, travel costs and living allowance subsidised.
International Merit-Based scholarships
The scholarships are worth £5,000 towards your first year tuition fees.
Up to £5,000Niloufar Ebrahim Scholarship
The scholarship will cover a portion of tuition fees for the applicant, up to the value of £1,000.
Postgraduate Progression Scholarship
The Kingston University Postgraduate Progressions Scholarship offers a 15% reduction in postgraduate tuition fees.
The Kingston Impact Scholarship
£5,000 tuition fee contribution to two MBA students.
Up to £5,000The Kingston MBA Scholarship
Kingston University Business School is proud to offer a tuition fee scholarship of £5,000 to self-funded candidates.
Up to £5,000
Careers this course leads to
- Illustrator
- Publishing professional
- Curator
- Engagement officer
- Illustration lecturer
Cost of study
UK/Home: £12,900 per year | International: £23,700 per year
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 Kingston University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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