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Postgraduate

MA Illustration

Illustration of a girl with a lollipop and a fish bowl with fish swimming outside the bowl and spacemen swimming in the bowl by Wei Guo - MA Illustration.
Wei Guo.,
MA Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
College
Camberwell College of Arts Start date
September 2026 Course length
15 months (full time)

MA Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts is a broad, inclusive and experimental course that enables individual practitioners to develop sustainable creative models that respond and contribute to the expanding field of contemporary illustration.

Course summary

Course location

From September 2025, Camberwell College of Arts will move Illustration courses to its Wilson Road building. This location is a short 5-minute walk from our Peckham Road site.

The building offers a variety of studios, maker spaces and social areas specifically for the Illustration programme. We have designed these to encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary practice.

Course overview

Your illustration practice is a constellation of making, interests, experiences, approaches, ideas and thinking. This MA in Illustration will support you in building and enriching your visual practice through forming methods, concepts, theories and professional experiences that can take you beyond graduation. We draw on knowledges of storytelling and ideas of illustration that transcend traditional notions of how and where illustration operates in the world. We want to be ready for what's next in this rapidly changing professional landscape.

Together as a group of students and staff with differing creative practices and life experiences we will navigate a series of ambitious practical projects. You’ll build methods for exploring a subject and spend time with established and emerging technical processes. You’ll develop a critical position that intersects with urgent contexts and have an experience of making your project public in a professional setting.

What to expect

  • Practice-led learning: Build a deep understanding of the practice of illustration through active workshops, discussion groups and one-to-one tutorials.
  • Communities of practice: Become part of a critical mass of illustration students and staff who actively cultivate knowledge and critical discourse in the discipline.
  • Creative facilities: 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

You’ll have the opportunity to make your work public in a professional context that aligns with your ambitions for your practice. This will involve working with industry professionals, from areas such as publishing, education, academic research and cultural institutions. You’ll  gain experience working within locations such as cultural institutions, archives and geographic sites of interest. You’ll also participate in exhibitions and external events.

Mode of study

MA Illustration is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

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Course units

Unit 1: Locate, identify and position  

This unit is an introduction to your course, the College and the University. You’ll identify, map and develop your methods as an illustrator. You’ll expand your visual approaches by exploring a range of material processes. Your written work will articulate your position as an illustrator. You’ll have an introduction to enquiry and practice methods alongside critical and theoretical study. 

Unit 2: Intersect, converge and focus 

You’ll focus on your own enquiry and consider how to build sustainable momentum in your major project. In tandem you’ll collectively work with a group of peers to explore a topic of shared social, cultural or political urgency. The intersection of contemporary practice and climate, racial and social justice will be explored through seminars, tutorials and workshops to position your illustration practice.

Unit 3: Realisations, contributions and trajectories

The final unit of the course will focus on making your major project public. You’ll take part in professional development and practice workshops, seminars and a series of lectures and visiting practitioner talks, considering your trajectory beyond the course.

Note: 120 Credits must be passed before the final unit is undertaken

Programme specification

Download course specification (PDF File 521.5 KB)

Learning and teaching methods

  • Critical reflection
  • Group seminars, critiques and individual tutorials
  • Lectures and talks
  • Progressive and inclusive assessment model
  • Studio based teaching
  • Workshops and site visits

Assessment methods

  • Digital image/text reflective journal
  • Evaluative writing
  • Practical work
  • Pre-recorded audio-visual presentation

MA Illustration | Course Introduction

UAL Showcase: MA Illustration

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.

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.

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, you may be eligible for a tuition fee discount on this course. Find out more about our Progression discount.

You can also find out more about the Postgraduate Masters Loan (Home students only) and scholarships for Home and International students. Discover more about student funding.

If you’re based in the UK and plan to visit UAL for an Open Event, check if you’re eligible for our UAL Travel Bursary. This covers the costs of mainland train or airline travel to visit UAL.

How to pay

Find out how you can pay your tuition fees.

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Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
  • 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:

  • An interest and involvement in visual communication
  • Demonstrable skills in your existing creative  practice
  • The ability and capacity for self-reflection
  • Ambition and research interest
  • Aspiration for a higher level of practice
  • Sufficiently strong verbal and written skills to fully participate in the course.

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.

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

2 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

18 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio and video task deadline

Round 1:

16 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

31 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

20 March 2026

Round 2:

19 June 2026

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
2 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
18 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio and video task deadline
16 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
31 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
20 March 2026
19 June 2026

We have 2 rounds of deadlines for postgraduate courses: one in December and one in March. If there are still places available after 18 March, this course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply to UAL

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

2 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

18 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio and video task deadline

Round 1:

16 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

31 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

20 March 2026

Round 2:

19 June 2026

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
2 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
18 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio and video task deadline
16 December 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
31 March 2026 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
20 March 2026
19 June 2026

We have 2 rounds of deadlines for postgraduate courses: one in December and one in March. If there are still places available after 18 March, this course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply to UAL

Start your application
or

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How to apply

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

Step 1: Initial application

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.

Read our advice on preparing the tasks and documents for your initial application.

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
  • Choose 1 project from your portfolio and explain how it challenged you and your understanding of illustration.
  • Tell us how this experience inspired you to apply to MA Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts.

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 range of work that best illustrates your creative practice and diverse skillset
  • include work in progress and examples of your research and development as well as finished pieces
  • be clearly annotated with explanations to give context to your work, including indications of the size and media used. If you include any group projects, please explain your role.

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.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for a maximum of 3 courses.

As every course has its own entry and assessment requirements, we recommend tailoring each application to showcase how your experience, skills and interests match that course. Applying for many different courses may make it more difficult for you to show that you are suitable for each course in a competitive admissions process.

Only apply to the course(s) you are most interested in – applying for too wide a range of different courses may reduce your ability to clearly demonstrate your suitability for each. It’s better to make fewer bespoke applications than many generic ones. This will help you to stand out where we have high demand for places.

If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer. UAL doesn't accept repeat applications to the same course in the same academic year.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. If your course requires a portfolio and/or video task, we may request these before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If we are unable to consider you for the course you have applied to but your application is really strong, we may make you an alternative offer on a different course or at a different UAL College. This happens when our admissions tutors have found another course that they believe would be a strong match for your skills and interests.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

Most of our postgraduate courses have 2 rounds of deadlines: one in December and one in March.

As long as you apply ahead of each deadline we will consider your application alongside all the other applications in that round. We always make sure to hold enough places back for round 2 to make sure we can consider your application fairly, no matter which round you apply in.

If there are still places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

For our MBA courses, there is only 1 deadline. This is 31 July for international applicants and 31 August for UK applicants. This is to make sure you have enough time to apply for your visa if you are an international student.

For our January-start courses, the deadline is in October. If there are still places available after this deadline, the course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

Careers

Camberwell College of Arts

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 6302

Address

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