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Study level:
Undergraduate
Awarded by:
Cardiff Metropolitan University (Prifysgol Metropolitan Caerdydd)

Course summary

Illustrations are active images; they always have a purpose, making sense of complex ideas. As illustrators, you will work to enable understanding of the everyday - from enriching literature and poetry, to responding to societal issues from science and medicine to politics and economics. You will develop rich imaginative responses to build your unique practice, inviting your audiences in.

With core skills in drawing and narrative you will explore and experiment with materials, developing a range of both technical skills to find your own visual languages with which to tackle challenging subject matter.

Through our unique curriculum you will grow a practice that is defined in its purpose not only by how you make your work but importantly by what the work is about, and how it communicates, underpinned theoretically and historically.

You will test your illustrations in a variety of environments and scenarios – exploring beyond the immediate world of the illustrator through, for example; animation, film, printed and digital media to contextualise and articulate your discipline, enriching your work with a greater understanding of the environment it operates in.

Illustration is constantly extending its reach. Whether it’s working with clients and collaborators or authoring and directing your own projects, you will graduate with a multitude of transferable skills.

As students in illustration you will join our Vertical Studio where you will explore, examine and reveal the discipline through dynamic conversations, debates and presentations, unlocking the power of illustration.

The challenge is to understand and use visual trends in a critical way, whilst developing your own unique approaches – all while taking into account the power of images in a visually saturated world. Through the three years of study you will shape your own unique practice so that it speaks in a way that is inclusive of your audience.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

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How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W220
Institution code:
C20
Campus name:
Cardiff Met - Llandaff
Campus Code:
1

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 96 - 120 points

96 - 120 points to include 2 A levels or equivalent.

A level - CCC - BBB

Other grade combinations totalling 96 - 120 points considered with a minimum of two A levels.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM - DDM

Access to HE Diploma - D: 33 credits M: 0 credits P: 12 credits

96 - 120 points, other grade combinations accepted.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

96 - 120 points, considered in combination with other Level 3 qualifications.

Scottish Advanced Higher - DDD - CCC

Other grade combinations totalling 96 - 120 points considered with a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points

24 points to include portfolio.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - C

96 -120 points from at least 2 A Levels or equivalent to include Grade CC. Skills Challenge Certificate accepted as the third subject.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H2, H2

Other grade combinations totalling 96 - 120 points considered with a minimum of two H2 grades. Minimum grade H4 considered within points.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Five GCSEs at grade C or above/grade 4 or above to include English Language and Mathematics. For Welsh applicants we will accept either GCSE Mathematics or Mathematics-Numeracy. Five Scottish National 5 subjects at grade C or above to include English Language and Mathematics

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - MMM - DDM

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma

96 - 120 points, considered in combination with other Level 3 qualifications.

If your qualifications are not listed above, please contact Cardiff Met Admissions who will advise you

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Interview
Portfolio

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6No element lower than 5.5. Academic IELTS test required.
PTE Academic52No element lower than 51
TOEFL (iBT)72TOEFL Internet required.
Cambridge English AdvancedLevel B2Minimum 169 (no element lower than 162)

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades students were previously accepted with - learn more. It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 7 other design studies courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Grades held by accepted students

BBC Most common
  1. AAA
  2. Highest grades
  3. DDD
  4. Lowest grades

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

77% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

This course has a required grade that may not be listed in the data. Check the entry requirements for the full qualification requirements.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

80 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

100 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9250Year 1
Northern Ireland£9250Year 1
Scotland£9250Year 1
Wales£9250Year 1
Channel Islands£9250Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9250Year 1
EU£16000Year 1
International£16000Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For additional costs relating to this programme, please refer to https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/additionalcosts

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