Illustration BA (Hons)

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.<br/><br/>With core skills in drawing and narrative you will explore and experiment with materials, developing a range of both technical skills to find your own visual languages with which to tackle challenging subject matter.<br/><br/>Through our unique curriculum you will grow a practice that is defined in its purpose not only by how you make your work but importantly by what the work is about, and how it communicates, underpinned theoretically and historically.<br/><br/>You will test your illustrations in a variety of environments and scenarios – exploring beyond the immediate world of the illustrator through, for example; animation, film, printed and digital media to contextualise and articulate your discipline, enriching your work with a greater understanding of the environment it operates in.<br/><br/>Illustration is constantly extending its reach. Whether it’s working with clients and collaborators or authoring and directing your own projects, you will graduate with a multitude of transferable skills.<br/><br/>As students in illustration you will join our Vertical Studio where you will explore, examine and reveal the discipline through dynamic conversations, debates and presentations, unlocking the power of illustration.<br/><br/>The challenge is to understand and use visual trends in a critical way, whilst developing your own unique approaches – all while taking into account the power of images in a visually saturated world. Through the three years of study you will shape your own unique practice so that it speaks in a way that is inclusive of your audience.

There's still time to gain an award-winning university experience at Cardiff Met, ranked a top 3 Welsh university (Uni Compare Rankings 2026).<br/><br/>Whatever your subject interest or career aspirations, you'll be encouraged to realise your full potential, with Cardiff Met's expert teaching staff and supportive learning environment. You'll learn about real-world problems, gain career-relevant experience through work placements and live briefs, and graduate with the skills needed to make positive change.

<br/><br/>Cardiff Met’s professionally accredited courses are designed to set you up perfectly for the world of work. Alongside industry-standard teaching, you'll have access to year-round careers support, a dedicated entrepreneurship team for those looking to set up their own business and opportunities to study abroad.<br/><br/>Cardiff is also consistently ranked as one of the UK's most affordable cities (NatWest Student Living Index)! You'll be able to enjoy the food scene, nightlife, shops, green spaces, waterways and more, all on a student budget! <br/><br/>Interested in playing Sport? Cardiff Met is considered a top UK university for student sport, offering an accredited performance environment focused on ensuring you achieve both your sporting and academic aspirations.