Illustration is story telling with pictures. Historically artists have always been involved in the business of communication through the use of visual imagery. From Renaissance altar paintings to political satirists such as Hogarth and Gilray, images have been used to convey messages and meanings. Illustration is a discipline with a long history inextricably linked to the Fine Arts and other areas of visual communication.  As we develop our increasing reliance on media and global communication, the illustrator will have an important role to play in the future.

We feel that it is imperative that students develop their own ‘handprint’ or ‘personality’ in the interpretation of narratives and stories. Observation and visual research through drawing is the cornerstone of this philosophy although the use of printmaking, with its potential for chance and accident is also woven into the programme.
Students are able to investigate their ideas with an emphasis on Illustration or in combination with related disciplines such as Printmaking, Animation, or Graphic Design. Students are able to draw upon a substantial knowledge of practice, technical support and theoretical underpinning from within the field and from other disciplines within the school.

The programme can be studied full-time for 3 years or in a part-time mode.  It has a modular structure that enables students to study it as a Major, Joint or Minor honours programme.  This allows combinations to be built with its sister programmes in Digital Arts and Visual Communication and also other programmes in the School of Architecture and The Visual Arts or elsewhere within UEL as part of our Combined Honours menu.

The learning environment includes excellent print and media workshops, and a range of learning opportunities all aimed at individual development.. Learning Outcomes are directly aligned with the assessment criteria, and the following headings outline the components within the teaching and learning strategy.

Group Projects

Programme work where you work as part of a team with a group of your peers

Studio Project work

Studio based work undertaken by an individual or group of students in collaboration with project tutors. It includes an intro briefing, discussion on progress and development of ideas

Professional Practice

Students are encouraged to develop a strong ethos and understanding of professional practice; this can take the form of work placements, study visits, exhibitions, international exchanges, visiting professionals talks, etc.

Self-Initiated work

These are structured projects based on your own written proposal, agreed and discussed with your programme or module tutor with agreed aims and outcomes.

Seminars

These are small mixed sessions (from one or more area, or year group), discussing a project or contextual issue and sharing views and experiences.

Lectures

Group teaching of your year or with other year groups at the same time, usually around a particular topic delivered by one or more tutors

Workshops

Practical demonstrations and hands on learning takes place, as well as facilitation of your own self-initiated projects. Introductory workshops are normally undertaken in relation to project work as part of the module. Later in the programme, project proposal forms identify your needs and these are agreed with your pathway staff and the technical demonstrators. These are available in keeping with access and entitlement as well as satisfying Health and Safety requirements.

Study visits

These are trips to external venues such as museums or relevant places often as part of a module or project but can be whole year groups with tutors identified as responsible for the visit.

The programme has a mixed menu of 20 and 40 credit modules which vary in their assessment.  Students will be required to present work for assessment in the form of exhibition, portfolio presentation, oral presentation or in the form of an evaluative learning journal, report or essay.
20 credit modules are assessed at the end of each semester and 40 credit modules are assessed at the end of each year, with the marks from year 2 and 3 used to formulate the final degree award.

• to provide practical, historical and theoretical understanding of the illustration.
• to provide a platform for students to access their imagination and develop their creative identity.
• to inculcate key transferable and employability skills.

Where Major, Joint and/or Minor is shown against a learning outcome, this confirms that the learning outcome is covered in the Major, Joint and/or Minor routes offered.

Knowledge

• Historical, theoretical and ethical positions. (maj/joint/min)
• Develop an understanding of the power of the medium. (maj/joint/min)
• Understanding the creative potential of the medium (maj/joint/min)
• Understanding the relation to developing technologies. (maj/joint/min)

Thinking skills

• Self reflection/analysis and critical awareness (maj/joint/min)
• Creative thinking and invention. (maj/joint/min)
• Visual research skills. (maj/joint/min)

Subject-Based Practical skills

• Production and studio practice (maj/joint/min)
• Technical aptitude (maj/joint/min)
• Health and safety awareness (maj/joint/min)
• Format and presentation (maj/joint/min)

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Time management (participation, working to deadlines etc.) (maj/joint/min)
• Working within groups (collaborative, work experience) (maj/joint/min)
• Interpersonal skills (Client awareness, etc.) (maj/joint/min)

The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode or 6 years in part-time mode. It is possible to move from a full-time mode of study to a part-time mode of study and vice-versa, to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.

The teaching year begins in September and ends in June but some programmes also allow students to join at the start of Semester B, in February. A student, normally registering for 6 modules in one year (3 modules in each Semester) would do so in a full-time attendance mode of study and a student registering for up to 4 modules in one year (2 modules in each Semester) would do so in part-time attendance mode of study.

This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules per year. An honours degree student will complete six modules at level one, six at level 2 and six at level 3.

It is possible to bring together modules from one field with modules from another to produce a combined programme. The University offers subjects in a variety of combinations:

• Single - 120 credits at levels one, two and three
• Major - 80 credits at levels one, two and three
• Joint - 60 credits at levels one, two and three
• Minor - 40 credits at levels one, two and three

Modules are defined as:

• Core - Must be taken
• Option - Select from a range of identified module within the field
• University Wide Option - Select from a wide range of university wide option across the University

The following are the core and optional requirements for the single and major routes for this programme

In order to gain an honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain an ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher

In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher.

In order to gain an Associate Certificate you will need to obtain a minimum if 20 credits at level one or higher

In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher

(A Foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree)

Knowledge is developed through

• Workshops and demonstrations
• Tutorials and seminars
• Professional practice talks
• Exhibitions and Gallery visits

Thinking skills are developed through

• Tutorials and seminars
• Independent, creative practice
• Project work

Practical skills are developed through

• Workshop introductions
• Projects based on genres
• Professional practice talks
• Study visits

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

• Professional practice talks
• Work placements
• Group projects
• Study visits

Knowledge is assessed by

• Oral presentation of ideas during seminars, tutorials and at the end of each module.
• Portfolio and research folder presentation at the end of each module.
• Breadth and Depth of research work

Thinking skills are assessed by

• Oral presentation of ideas during seminars, tutorials and at the end of each module.
• Portfolio and research folder presentation at the end of each module.
• Innovation and lateral thinking displayed in realisation of work in relation to research material

Practical skills are assessed by

• Continuous monitoring of workshop progress
• Presentation of portfolio at the end of each module

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

• Participation in workshops, seminars , tutorials and meetings
• Time management in relation to meeting project deadlines etc.
• Engagement in professional practice components of the programme, placements, group activities etc.

Before this programme started, the following was checked:

• there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
• adequate resources would be in place;
• the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
• the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
• the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
• the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.

This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.

The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:

• external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
• statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
• student feedback.

Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.

Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.

This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.

The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:

• To ensure the standard of the programme;
• To ensure that justice is done to individual students.

External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:

• Approving exam papers/assignments;
• Attending assessment boards;
• Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
• Ensuring that regulations are followed;
• Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.

The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:

• Module evaluations and feedback questionnaires
• Student representation on programme committees (meeting 3 times year)
• Year group meetings (up to 4 per semester)
• Module and Group seminars
• Tutorials
• Personal Project proformas

Students are notified of the action taken through:

• circulating the minutes of the programme committee
• providing details on the programme notice board
• Group meetings
• Web CT publication

The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:

• Questionnaires to former students
• Industrial liaison committee
• Placements Officer
• Discourse with visiting practitioners
• Feedback from exhibitions etc.

Further information about this programme is available from:

• The UEL web site http://www.uel.ac.uk
• The programme handbook
• Module study guides
• UEL Manual of General Regulations http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa
• UEL Quality Manual http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa
• Regulations for the Academic Framework http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework
• UEL Guide to Undergraduate Programmes
• The UEL School of AVA website http://www.uel.ac.uk/ava
• UEL School of AVA promotional material. Call 020 8223 2517 to request information