Skip to main content
Postgraduate

Graduate Diploma Illustration

Start date:
September 2026 Application deadline:
Applications closed for 2026/27 entry College:
Camberwell College of Arts Fees:
£14,420 (Home) £30,890 (International) Fee details Course length:
1 year (full time)
Three books titled
Richard Butterworth, 2023 Graduate Diploma Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL

Graduate Diploma Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts will introduce you to the fundamental principles of illustration and develop your illustration knowledge and skills.

Course summary

Applications closed 2026/2027

Applications are now closed for 2026/27 entry. Applications for 2027/28 entry will open in autumn 2026.

Course completion guidance

After the 2026/27 student intake we’ll be pausing our Graduate Diploma courses as a part of a review of our postgraduate offering.

If you join the course in 2026/27 you’ll get the full experience as advertised on this page.

Students must pass all course units first time or after a successful resubmission within the same academic year.

Course overview

This course is aimed at students who have an undergraduate degree that may be from a different subject area and would like to progress to postgraduate study in illustration or a related field.

An introduction to the fundamental principles of illustration through a wide range of image-making approaches. This course will develop your illustration knowledge and skills and prepare you for postgraduate study. It will also encourage you to become an ethically, socially and critically sensitive illustrator. 

What to expect  

  • Identify a creative direction: Work on projects that will lead you towards developing and carrying out an individual programme of study. This will enable you to identify personal and sustainable directions in your creative practice. 
  • Knowledge development: Learn about research and design methodologies and how to apply these to your work as an illustrator.
  • Build on your skills: Find out how to combine the skills you already have with new skills in illustration. This will make you a more confident and capable illustrator and visual communicator. 
  • Experienced staff: Learn from tutors and visiting lecturers who are practicing designers and leading practitioners within the London and wider UK industry.
  • Creative facilities: Have access to Camberwell's shared workshops, including printmaking, photography, film, moving image, digital, plastic, ceramics, wood and metalwork. View the Camberwell facilities. 

Industry experience and opportunities

Where possible you’ll have the chance to practice these new skills through live projects and work-based learning activities.

Mode of study

Graduate Diploma Illustration is offered in full-time mode and consists of 30 teaching weeks over 1 academic year. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Register your interest

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Postgraduate advice sessions

Discuss your application, portfolio and course options.

Book a session

College Tours

Come and see our facilities and workshops.

Book a tour

Course units

Unit 1: Research, risk and context 

This unit offers an introduction to your course, the College and the University. Talks, seminars and guest speakers will help you develop your understanding of the key principles in illustration. During practical workshops, you’ll apply this knowledge to complete a series of illustration project briefs. This blended approach will ensure you develop your own personal visual language as an innovative and professional illustrator. 

Unit 2: Practice, development and realisation 

During this unit, you will continue developing your professional portfolio. A set series of project briefs will help you master key illustration skills while also enabling you to realise your ambitions for your progression. Contextual seminars and workshops will help you understand how your creative practice can be applied to different professional settings. You will finish this unit by presenting your work at the College graduate show.
 

Programme specification

Download course specification (PDF File 536.9 KB)

Learning and teaching methods

  • Group crits, demonstrations and workshops
  • Lectures, talks and seminars
  • Online and face to face studio teaching by practitioners
  • Studio based group and individual tutorials
  • Visiting specialists

Assessment methods

  • Design submissions
  • Oral and visual presentations
  • Peer and self-assessment
  • Written work

Graduate Diploma Illustration | Course Introduction

Student work

  • Colourful 3D illustration by Zitian Li - Graduate Diploma Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts.
    Zitian Li
    Graduate Diploma Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Figurative illustration of 2 people running through a landscape by Xinya Shi - Graduate Diploma Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts.
    Xinya Shi
    Graduate Diploma Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Large scale bold red, pink, black and white abstract illustration on interior wall at Camberwell College of Arts by Yishi Yang - Graduate Diploma Illustration.
    Yishi Yang
    Graduate Diploma Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL

Su Lee

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£14,420

This fee is correct for 2026/27 entry and is subject to change for 2027/28 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£30,890

This fee is correct for 2026/27 entry and is subject to change for 2027/28 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Additional costs

You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course. For a list of general digital equipment you may need (and how you can borrow equipment), visit our Study costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about accommodation options and how much they will cost, and other living expenses you'll need to consider.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

If you’ve completed a qualifying course at UAL (which includes study abroad courses), you may be eligible for a tuition fee discount on this course. Find out more about our Progression discount.

How to pay

Find out how you can pay your tuition fees.

Scholarship search

Or view all

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
  • Evidence of ability in art or design
  • Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio of work

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work and personal statement.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • Evidence of visual and conceptual creative abilities
  • A clear commitment to the chosen field of study
  • Potential to develop the full range of practical, expressive, critical and conceptual skills necessary to complete the course
  • Ability to benefit from the learning environment and experience
  • Awareness of contemporary and historical illustration contexts
  • Some understanding of the role that contemporary critical thought and historical study can play in the development of personal creative work
  • Ability to communicate and discuss issues and ideas both verbally and in written form in English
  • Awareness of how to communicate with an audience
  • Ability to manage your own time and initiate projects

Information for disabled applicants

UAL is committed to achieving inclusion and equality for disabled students. This includes students who have:

     
  • Dyslexia or another Specific Learning Difference
  • A sensory impairment
  • A physical impairment
  • A long-term health or mental health condition
  • Autism
  • Another long-term condition which has an impact on your day-to-day life

Our Disability Service arranges adjustments and support for disabled applicants and students.

Read our Disability and dyslexia: applying for a course and joining UAL information.

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

For a general guide to applying to our courses, read our postgraduate application advice.

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 500 words and include:

  • your reasons for choosing the course
  • your current creative practice and how this course will help you achieve your future plans
  • any relevant education and experience, especially if you do not have any formal academic qualifications.

CV advice

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If you have any web projects or other media that you would like to share, please include links in your CV. If English is not your first language, please also include your most recent English language test score.

Step 2: Video task and digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a video task and digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit these via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool. Please submit your video task on the first page followed by your portfolio.

Video task advice

We’d like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you. When recording your task, please face the camera and speak in English.

What to include in your video task
  • If you are accepted on this course, what would you like to personally and creatively achieve by the end of the academic year?

Find advice on how to plan and film your video task. Then read our guidance on how to submit your video task, including the file types we accept.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages, including your video task
  • include a wide range of visual design work
  • feature work from your past degrees and/or from self-initiated projects and professional work
  • include any supporting research and creative inspiration
  • include any recent written work that is relevant to your practice.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

Final step: After you apply

Find out how we'll communicate with you and see what happens after you apply.

Apply now

Application deadline

Applications are now closed for 2026/27 entry. Applications for 2027/28 entry will open in autumn 2026.

Read more about deadlines

Apply now

Application deadline

Applications are now closed for 2026/27 entry. Applications for 2027/28 entry will open in autumn 2026.

Read more about deadlines

Careers

The course will give students the skills, knowledge and experience required for further study at MA level.

If you successfully pass your Graduate Diploma, we will guarantee you a conditional offer on MA Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts starting the following year.

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.

Camberwell College of Arts

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 6302

Address

Camberwell College of Arts
45 - 65 Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UF