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Illustration with Design

East Sussex College

UCAS Code: W221 | Bachelor of Arts - BA

East Sussex College

UCAS Code: W221 | Bachelor of Arts - BA

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

64

(160 old system) from a BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma / A Levels / Foundation Diploma / Access Diploma in a related subject; if English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.5 with a 6 in writing; proof of qualifications; a satisfactory reference.

You may also need to…

Attend an interview

groups

Present a portfolio

image

About this course

This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2026

Other options

6 years | Part-time | 2026

Subjects

Graphic design

Illustration

Our Illustration with Design programme will equip you with the creative skills and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the creative industry.

You'll explore the methodologies, and principles of Graphic Design and Illustration whilst also broadening your knowledge with theoretical approaches from other disciplines, i.e. photography and printmaking, to enable diverse conceptual outcomes.
The course is structured to develop strong ideas and creative expression, alongside cementing your own ethos' and approach to the use and application of visual language in response to self-initiated or commercial briefs.

Although there is a strong digital aspect to the course embracing new technologies and software, we want you to develop and enhance your practical skills enabling you to be as much of a physical maker as a digital artist. The full-time course is delivered over three days a week, allow time for independent study and access to studio spaces. Part-time pathway is also available and can be discussed at interview.
Our tutors will draw on their years of industry experience to help, stimulate, and encourage you to learn from real-life examples, providing value and quality throughout your learning experience to prepare you for the creative industry.

**What can I do after completing this course?**
Once you have graduated, you will have a diverse range of transferable skills that will enable you to start your career in this exciting industry. You will be fully equipped to seek out roles in either as part of a studio/agency or apply your knowledge as a freelance designer/illustrator or beyond.
Other options could include further study onto MA programmes or complete a Post Graduate Certificate of Education.
You will be able to work in your own dedicated study/studio environment, with access to workshops and project spaces

Although it’s not essential to have your own laptop, as we have PC’s and Mac’s you may feel that having your own allows for more harmonious working on and off campus. Our thought-provoking lectures will give you the confidence to create strong visual messaging, helping you to achieve the aims and objectives of client briefs. An abundance of transferable skills, reinforcing the vocational aspects of the course, providing you with intellectual flexibility and sustainability to take into your future career. You will have the advantage of being part of smaller class sizes giving you increased contact time with your tutors, providing you with real value for money. Live projects and industry briefs, will also provide you with opportunities to gain valuable knowledge and experience.
You can become a part of the thriving creative community of Hastings with its many public and private galleries and cultural events.
Part-time study is available to study alongside full-time group to get a fully enriching experience.

In 2024 we were awarded an exceptional 94% National Student Survey (NSS) rating. Every university in the UK takes part in the NSS, as do many colleges. This survey gathers students’ opinions on the quality of their courses which helps to inform prospective students’ choices and provide data that supports universities and colleges to improve the student experience. East Sussex College University Courses is very proud of our extremely high score. The NSS is managed by the OfS on behalf of the UK funding and regulatory bodies.

Modules

Year one builds a strong foundation in illustration techniques, visual language, and idea generation to develop digital and analogue skills to help challenge you perception, skills and inquisitive mindset.

Modules / ID401 - Ideas Generation IDP402 - Contextual Studies 1 ID403 - Visual Communication - Image ID404 - Visual Communication - Typography ID405 - Exploring Practice

Year Two Year two Pushing boundaries further and experimenting with new mediums, responding to briefs, and developing your own unique illustrative style.

Modules / IDP501 - Creator IDP502 - Contextual Studies 2 ID503 - Illustration and Ethics ID504 - Explore & Respond

Year Three By year three, you'll refine your style and approach, to forming a diverse body of work, concluding with a final personal project displayed in our end-of-year show.

Modules / IP601 - Professional Practice IP602 - Extended Essay IP603 - Reflect and Resolve IP604 - Final Major Project

Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Assessment methods

Coursework and practical work.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£8,250
per year
England
£8,250
per year
EU
£10,000
per year
International
£10,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£8,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£8,250
per year
Scotland
£8,250
per year
Wales
£8,250
per year

The Uni

Course location:

Hastings (Station Plaza)

Department:

Art and Design

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What students say

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After graduation

The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Graphic design

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

95%
high
Employed or in further education
60%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

Illustration

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

95%
high
Employed or in further education
60%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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