Illustration (with Foundation Year)

Learn in a creative and supportive studio environment with professional-standard facilities and a focus on helping you gain real-world skills for the workplace.

Why study illustration?
Studying illustration opens up exciting possibilities for your future. You'll explore big ideas, learn how to tackle complex subjects, and understand how people and society work. Along the way, you'll develop creative and practical skills that employers value. Illustration teaches you how to communicate clearly, think creatively, and solve problems — all while doing something you love.

Why UWE Bristol?
BA(Hons) Illustration encourages you to develop a unique visual voice, problem-solving through drawing and making.

You'll be based at Bower Ashton Studios, part of the City Campus. Exceptional facilities and resources include industry-standard digital media studios and production and fabrication workshops.

Explore a range of media, understand the concepts behind illustration and develop key skills through creative experimentation and insight into the professional world.

You'll be supported to develop your own style, explore different audiences and contexts, and gain industry experience through live briefs and national and international competitions. Our strong industry links with the thriving city of Bristol ensure input from illustrators and creatives. Visits from respected practitioners will keep you up to date with contemporary illustration practice.

Attend lectures and seminars at the Arnolfini and Watershed and work in our production and fabrication workshops, equipped with traditional tools and the latest technology.

Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at the final year Degree Show.

Focusing on the avenues that interest you, you'll graduate with an impressive portfolio of work, ready to make your mark as an illustrator.

Where can it take me?
This course prepares you to thrive in an unexpected and exciting global market that values creative skills across many industries. Our graduates often pursue freelance careers or work in creative roles such as film direction, set design, art direction, animation, storyboarding, and more. You'll also have the potential to move into postgraduate study or research.

University is a time to try new things, meet new people and make new goals. With Clearing at UWE Bristol, you'll get the chance to take control of your future and choose an exciting path for yourself.

UWE Bristol offers over 100 professionally accredited courses, including Architecture, Accounting and Finance, Games Technology, Mathematics and Sport Rehabilitation. Whether you're studying an arts, business, healthcare or science degree, all undergraduate courses are designed with employability in mind. You can work a year in industry, study across the world, and get one-to-one careers advice on campus. It's no wonder an outstanding 89% of students find work or further study just 15 months after graduating (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23, published 2025).

You'll also be studying in a top 10 most popular city in the UK (YouGov, 2026). With famous festivals, renowned galleries, lively nightclubs and independent restaurants right on your doorstep, you're guaranteed an incredible student experience in Bristol. With famous festivals, renowned galleries, lively nightclubs and independent restaurants right on your doorstep, you're guaranteed an incredible student experience in Bristol.

Your Future, Right Here. Study at UWE Bristol. Choose to do Clearing right.