Illustration and Animation (Top-up)

Why study this course

This is a top-up version of our Illustration and Animation BA (Hons) degree. A top-up degree is the final year (Level 6) of an undergraduate degree course and is for those who have a foundation degree, Higher National Diploma or equivalent qualification, or those wishing to study the final year of their degree in London.

On this degree, you'll learn image-making and visual storytelling skills, specifically looking at children’s books, graphic novels and app design.

This course is industry-focused. It will help you develop your creativity and hone the skills you'll need to be a professional illustrator and animator.

You'll study digital platforms as well as more traditional forms of illustration. The course embraces ongoing developments in illustration and animation. We'll explore how modern illustration is practised and how techniques are no longer confined to the page but inhabit a dynamic, three-dimensional digital world.

More about this course

You’ll study in the School of Art, Architecture and Design's unique studio system in East London and make use of an unrivalled range of creative facilities to make your work — including photographic studios, printmaking, ceramics and woodworking studios, and technology including 3D printing, risograph printing and laser-cutting.

Whether you're creating a zine, a narrative for a start-up or a short film for digital publishing, this course is for you if you want to tell stories and connect with a variety of audiences.

A defining feature of the course is its focus on cross-disciplinary projects, allowing you to use a huge range of different mediums.

Want to experience university life in the world's greatest student city (QS 2025)? Then look no further.

London Metropolitan University is proud to be ranked first in the UK for the difference it makes to students’ lives (Guardian University Guide 2026). Dedicated to preparing graduates for the ever-changing job market, their courses are modern and vocational, with an emphasis on teaching transferrable workplace skills. Whether you're an artist or an engineer, you'll receive career-relevant teaching from industry experts, with clear paths for progression.

You've also got the best of both worlds – a buzzing campus community, and the excitement of life in London. There's always plenty going on at London Met for you to get involved in. You can meet like-minded people at a society, by becoming part of a sports team, or engaging in volunteering.

Register your interest now, to unlock the experience of a lifetime at London Met.