BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation

Overview

Our BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation degree navigates the realms of animation and illustration. It crafts a unique practice that merges the two disciplines. You will learn both analogue and digital techniques. You will learn about printmaking, 2D drawn animation, and 3D printing. Develop a wide range of skills that make you stand out in the changing creative industries. Explore the connection between animation and illustration. This illustration and animation course does not focus on filmmaking like the BA (Hons) Animation programme.

Engage in diverse projects from traditional printmaking to cutting-edge 3D printing
Learn both analogue and digital skills in platforms like After Effects and Maya
Collaborate across disciplines. Gain a competitive edge through interdisciplinary expertise and technical support

Course modules

Develop the skills you need to confidently navigate your future career. You’ll engage in real-world professional activities like networking simulations, mock interviews, and digital branding exercises, supported by industry guest speakers and career coaches. Practical sessions will sharpen your communication, research, and critical thinking abilities, while workshops will guide you in building a digital portfolio to strengthen your employability. Alongside hands-on experience, you’ll map your career goals and reflect on your progress, ensuring you leave with a clear, personalised development plan. This is your chance to take control of your professional journey with expert support every step of the way.

Build the academic and professional skills you need for success in the creative and technology industries. You’ll develop key study techniques, including effective note-taking, research, academic writing, and digital communication. Through workshops, tutorials, and practical tasks, you’ll boost your confidence as an independent learner and strengthen your ability to plan, organise, and deliver assignments. You’ll also learn how to manage your time effectively, reference sources correctly, and apply your skills in real-world contexts. Guided by academic staff and supported by online resources, you’ll create a solid foundation for excelling both at university and in your future career.

Strong numeracy and data-handling skills are vital in creative industries. In this module, you’ll learn how to interpret graphs, solve problems using digital tools like spreadsheets, and present numerical information clearly. Practical exercises build your confidence with real-world scenarios, supporting your wider academic and professional development. By focusing on rational problem-solving and applied data skills, you’ll strengthen your ability to work independently and collaboratively on future creative projects that demand critical analysis.

Understanding how media messages are created and interpreted is essential in today’s digital world. This module introduces you to key frameworks for analysing visual media, while also building your ability to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively. You’ll design an academic poster using professional software, develop critical thinking around cultural differences, and practise both oral and written communication for academic and industry contexts. A creative, skills-focused approach ensures you gain a strong foundation for your degree and professional journey.

Developing a personal, critical approach to art and design practice is the focus of this module. You’ll complete projects exploring materials, techniques, and visual communication, using research-led processes to underpin your creative decisions. Independent thinking is encouraged as you build a portfolio showcasing your growing expertise. Lectures, studio sessions, and group critiques provide the framework for reflection and skill progression, ensuring you’re ready for the demands of higher-level study in visual arts disciplines.

The Illustration and Animation BA (Hons) first year equips you with foundational skills in creative practice, research, and experimentation, essential for an Illustration and Animation undergraduate. Professional Life 1 emphasises personal development and adaptability for future careers in the Illustration and Animation fields.

Contextual Studies in the first term equips you to understand the history of fine art, and its relevance today. The module comprises thematic lectures, seminars, screenings and field trips as well as keystone research and writing skills such as the use of citation, referencing and academic integrity appropriate to undergraduate study. The module content will support the development of your practical work on the adjoining modules. At the end of the module, you will have developed the skills for analysing and contextualising your own work, and that of your peers.

This module serves as a rigorous introduction to creative practice, an overview of fundamental skills that will enable experimentation and application, and the development of your own working practice. The module aims to provide you with an introduction to practical and critical study, to understand the role of research in creative practice and in supporting the development of creative projects. The approach aims to imbue an experimental and open-minded attitude that enhances levels of production and strengthens adaptability, personal confidence and the ability to creatively solve visual ideas. Through experimental and production of work, you will begin to understand your work in relation to research and feel empowered. The module allows students to discuss and develop their work with the help of group critiques and views of others in the enhancement of ideas through to creative outcomes.

At the end of the module, you will be able to begin to self-manage the development of a creative practice and to disseminate ideas.

This module introduces you to a further range of processes and practices, skills and knowledge, through a series of workshops, projects and electives to extend your practice.

Technical introductions and workshops enable you to broaden the scope of your skills and practice, as well as specific workshops pertinent to contemporary processes and methods, including a range of analogue and digital tools.

These skills and processes are introduced and discussed in relation to the development of a visual language applicable to contemporary fine art, graphic design, illustration, photography and animation practice.

The module allows you to present your work to audiences, testing your ideas and concepts, and receiving feedback feeding forward to your practice and to level 5 of study. Cross-disciplinary exhibitions are encouraged as well as inter-disciplinary discourse.

The module Practice into Research supports the module and allows you to contextualise your practice in the form of a presentation of your work.

You will begin to establish an intellectual framework within which you can begin to understand a relationship between theory and your own practice. You will begin to contribute critically in the seminars, in relation to contemporary and historical research methodologies. The module is supported by one-to-one tutorials. At the end of the module, you would have developed the skills for analysing and contextualising your own work, to be applied further in the second year of your study. The outcome of this module is both a presentation of your practice or research area and a written work.

The lectures are complemented by tutor-led discussions focusing on student work in progress, interrogating the practical work within the context established by the lectures in order to promote deeper understanding and extend creative ambition.

Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.

This module will provide you with the opportunity to identify the skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.

You will begin to recognise the areas for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.

Central to the developmental process is for each student to cultivate the reflective skills, openness and self-awareness to enable themselves to assess what they are doing, identify areas for improvement, and confidently receive and give constructive feedback. You will additionally develop knowledge of strategies to advance your own physical intelligence through 'lifestyle' and 'self-care' approaches to inform their health and wellbeing.

Having acquired understanding of the key developmental areas, you will have opportunity to join in-house activities as a trainee, mentored and supervised by students from higher years. In this position you will learn and begin to apply the cognitive, cultural and social intelligences developed elsewhere in your studies (and from external activities) as required in the workplace, namely cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience, motivation, ethical decision-making, managing your audience, coordinating with others, negotiation, creativity, active listening, attention, problem-solving, research, synthesis and analysis.

In the second year of the Illustration and Animation BA (Hons), you deepen your understanding of contemporary art and design through advanced research and critical thinking in Contextual Studies 2. Modules like Advanced Practice and Advanced Experimentation focus on refining technical and creative skills for professional application. The Illustration and Animation undergraduate experience includes live projects, industry engagement, and professional development to prepare you for Level 6 of the Illustration and Animation degree.

At Contextual Studies Level 5, you will consolidate and continue to advance the theories and research methodologies introduced at Level 4. In addition, you will begin to build a critical thinking and understanding of contemporary art and design production, dissemination and reception within an expanded field. By addressing the historical, political, economic, social, environmental and ethical aspects of art and design, this module aims to equip you with the main discussions concerning these issues, and the space to test your understanding of them about art and design practice (your own, and that of your peers).

The module develops your advanced conceptual skills and analytical abilities, research and writing skills appropriate to the study of art and design at this level, feeding directly into key studio projects across the year so that the research methodologies we develop may be tested and deeper connections between practice and theory explored.

The module is further supported by opportunities for first-hand encounters with visual art and design in London art galleries, museums and art institutions.

The module enables you to expand on the skills and knowledge from level 4, encouraging you to take risks, try new things, and not to be afraid of learning through mistakes and failure to develop your practice. This, in turn, will help you to begin to define your individual approach to fine art, fine art technology, graphic design, design interaction, illustration, animation and photography.

The emphasis of this module will be on research and the development of a body of references that supports practice-based outcomes, supported by the Contextual Studies module.

The module builds on the technical processes introduced through workshops and technical demonstrations at Level 4, focusing on developing your advanced technical skills and locating your work in relevant professional and creative contexts. The module equips you to experiment with and make appropriate use of materials, processes, and technologies, showing an understanding of quality standards and attention to detail.

The module delivery includes advanced workshops/masterclasses by tutors who are working in the industry /industry connections/ visits to industry or e.g. professional production companies.

The module supports the development of work in other level 5 modules.

The module will allow you to develop your practice as an artist, design thinker, illustrator, animator and photographer. The module develops an individual working practice supported by group seminars and one to one tutorials. It also introduces you to working collaboratively via presentation of work at the end of year showcase.

The module enables you to expand on the skills and knowledge from level 4, encouraging you to take risks, try new things, not to be afraid of learning through mistakes and failure to develop your practice. At the end of the module you will be able to begin to self-manage the development of a creative practice, install and exhibit your work, and disseminate ideas to audiences.

The module will prepare you to undertake an independent project in their discipline of fine art, fine art technology, graphic design, design interaction, illustration, animation, photography in level 6.

The module continues to build your critical thinking and understanding of contemporary art and design production, dissemination and reception within an expanded field. The module aims to equip you with the space to test your understanding of theories and debates in relation to and reference to your own work and practice.

You will draw connections between theoretical approaches and your own practice in the form of a written piece of work/ document.

At the end of the module, you will produce a 200-word critical rationale in preparation for your choice of a level 6 research into practice route.

Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance is increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.

This module will help you apply several skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.

You will advance the areas identified at level 4 for your personal and professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligence) through taught and workshop activities.

Through engagement with the Career Passport, you will reflect on the success of the strategies that you employed to develop your reflective skills, self-awareness, ‘lifestyle’ and ‘self-care’ approaches and where necessary improve your approaches.

You can select in-house microbusiness/ life briefs and commissions to join in the role of ‘producer’. In this position you will take on a specific production role, working collaboratively with peers and academic staff on a live project. You will apply the cognitive, cultural and social intelligence learnt elsewhere in your studies (and external development) required in the workplace. In addition to the intelligence developed in the level 4 Mental Wealth module, you will also focus on service orientation, self-discipline & management, reaction & response time, cognitive & muscle memory, managing stress, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, research, synthesis & analysis.

Main topics of study:

The module will enable you to apply and develop further a variety of skills-based competencies explored at level 4. They include self-awareness and regulation; mindfulness; emotional resilience; motivation; ethical decision-making; active listening; self-discipline and management; attention; reaction and response time; cognitive and muscle memory; managing stress; physical resilience; and subject knowledge. You will rehearse and apply these skills in your creative practice modules. You will apply and develop new competencies including cognitive flexibility; managing an audience; co-ordinating with others, negotiation; creativity; leadership and entrepreneurship; service orientation; critical thinking; complex problem-solving; research synthesis and analysis.

Working on client briefs/competitions/commissions to a professional outcome that meets the needs of the client/commissioner/audiences
Considering your practice through project work that will have a positive social impact on the wider society
Attending and engaging in the cluster employability initiative Detour Ahead: Roadmaps for the Art and Design Industry. The Detour Ahead programme includes a week of interdisciplinary practitioners talking about their route to professional success. The week also includes professional practice knowledge such as copyright and licensing, freelancing, and tax; giving the level 5 students more in-depth understanding to apply for your own professional life.
Application of creative coding for visual practitioners
Performing roles and responsibilities of creative teams including communication, co-ordinating with others, negotiation; creativity; leadership and entrepreneurship; critical thinking; complex problem solving; research synthesis and analysis.
Developing and editing creative industries CV and cover letter and the format and tone of this for potential work placements and experience over summer break between levels 5 and 6
Creation of a digital public profile

The emphasis of will be to provide a distinctive area of study appropriate to the work-based focus. The internship undertaken should show as much integration as possible of the abilities across academic modules already completed. This may vary from one student to the next, and the internship will ideally be tailored to the interests and aspirations of the student, whether they are currently employed in the Industry or not, but ultimately meet the needs of employers. The subject discipline may vary widely, however the emphasis should be on applying existing knowledge and skills in work place rather than new knowledge.

In the final year of the Illustration and Animation BA (Hons), you focus on independent projects and professional development. The Illustration and Animation undergraduate experience emphasises advanced research, skill refinement, and public-facing outcomes like the degree showcase. This capstone year of the Illustration and Animation degree prepares you for employment or postgraduate opportunities through live briefs, exhibitions, and industry engagement.

This module is about preparing you to be fine artists, designers, illustrators, animators and photographers.

The module does this by introducing choice. We ask you to reflect their idea of what your own practice might be, filling gaps of knowledge or extending their skill set. It's about you setting the terms and direction of travel, exploring in an extensive and critical way.

The work in this module will be developed through extensive research and practical testing of ideas and processes, informed by critical, contextual, historical, conceptual, economic, social and ethical research.

Self-critique and responsiveness to the views of others is important part of the module in the development of your ideas and proposal.

At the end of the module you will have proposed and refined your own agenda for term 2 negotiated body of work to be presented at the degree showcase at the end of the academic year.

The modules in level 6 are designed to be inclusive of your discipline and respond to differentiated assessment needs. The Extended Research project route is aimed as a specific route to those fine art, fine art technology, illustration, graphic design, design interaction, animation and photography students whose professional practice aims are not covered e.g. the Global Photography (documentary in nature) and Contemporary Practice in Fine Art (assessed by an exhibition).

The Extended Research Project route allows you to contextualise your practice through the study of an area of art and design or of a subject that provides potential content for your practical work.

You will develop skills in negotiating and making use of research resources, formulate a research proposal and plan a research strategy. You will be expected to demonstrate an ability to synthesise and analyse ideas and apply them constructively to understanding your chosen subject while, at the same time, developing knowledge which will contextualise and support your own practice. You will also gain skills in writing and presentation. The outcome will be a written project, which articulates the findings of your enquiry. The key here is that you develop a study of an area of art and graphic design or of a subject that provides content for your practical work.

The modules in level 6 are designed to be inclusive of your discipline and respond to differentiated assessment needs. The graphic design, illustration and animation Research into Practice route is a group research project, that responds to the working practices and visual culture of designers, illustrators and animators.

The Graphic Design, Illustration and Animation Research into Practice module is a project that aims to test all of the research methods and critical thinking skills you have acquired from levels 4 and 5, and contribute them to a group research project that is informed by a shared subject (which is negotiated annually). As well as demonstrating through writing and discussion a level analysis of visual and theoretical subjects appropriate to your final year of study, the aim of this module is to augment academic practice (research, writing, discussion, presentations) with material research based on studio practice (experimentation, skill development, iterative design and illustrative processes and techniques).

As individuals, you will present your response to the shared research subject together with a supporting document that captures the key research, analysis and argumentation that links theory to your own design, animation or illustration practice. You will also produce a final outcome based on this presentation, which is public-facing and utilises appropriate media. Each student's response will depend on their position as a graphic designer/illustrator/ animator who is aware of key design, illustration and animation concepts and who understands their responsibilities in contemporary society.

This module is about preparing you to be fine artists, graphic designers, illustrators, animators and photographers. You will produce an independent negotiated project, that enables you to work towards your own agenda and own it. The module allows you to develop and apply advanced creative processes to a professional outcome showcased at a public exhibition of the work at the University. This readies you for your next objective; employment or postgraduate study.

This module is about preparing you to be fine artists, graphic designers, illustrators, animators and photographers. During part B of the Independent Major Project, you will finalise the production of the independently negotiated project, culminating in a presentation at the degree showcase.

The module allows you to develop and apply advanced production methods to a professional outcome showcased at a public exhibition of the work at the University. Each student will contribute towards the planning, production and curation of the Degree Showcase. This readies you for your next objective; employment or postgraduate study.

This module will provide you with the opportunity to apply the full range of skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.

You will advance the areas identified at level 5 for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligence) through taught and workshop activities.

Through engagement with the Career Passport, you will reflect on the success of the strategies that you employed to further develop your reflective skills, self-awareness, ‘lifestyle’ and ‘self-care’ approaches and where necessary improve your approaches.

You will have the opportunity to select in-house microbusiness/life briefs and commissions to join in the role of ‘manager’. In this position, you will oversee the successful operation of the enterprise, coach and mentor students new to the programme and lead those working in ‘producer’ roles. Working collaboratively with peers and academic staff, you will ensure the effective delivery of a live project by managing people and physical resources. In doing so you will apply the cognitive, cultural and social intelligence learnt elsewhere in your studies (and from external activities) required in the workplace.

You will have the opportunity to enter external facing industry / live briefs such as D&AD New Blood Awards, AOP Student Awards, Sony student competition, Lensculture, Life Framer etc. in order to leverage your raise and improve your employment prospects.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Entry requirements

Degree: 112 UCAS points

Degree with foundation year: 64 UCAS points

What makes this course different

Developing skills

You will be able to explore both animation and illustration together

Interdisciplinary

Explore and find your way within the two disciplines of animation and illustration developing a practice which blurs the line between, something that has become more common in industry

Career focused

You will work alongside animation and illustration students gaining fresh perspectives and approaches, giving you the edge in the competitive job market

Course options

Degree

UCAS code: WW20

Home Applicant ,
Full time, 3 years
Pound£ 9,790 per year. Subject to change, see fees, funding and additional costs below

Apply through UCAS

Home Applicant ,
Part time
pro-rata full time fee

Apply direct

International Applicant
Full time, 3 years
Pound£ 16020 per year

Apply direct

Degree with foundation year

UCAS code: WW22

Home Applicant ,
Full time, 4 years
Pound£ 9,790 per year. Subject to change, see fees, funding and additional costs below

Apply through UCAS

International Applicant
Full time, 4 years
Pound£ 16020 per year

Apply direct

Detour Ahead 2025 - Creative Corner with Emma Stone-Johnson

Detour Ahead is a Visual Arts Symposium organised by University of East London, featuring world class designers, artists, curators and creatives.

We caught up with contemporary artist, Emma Stone-Johnson on her experiences working with galleries and curators and her advice for emerging artists.

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Your future career

Dive into the dynamic world of animation and illustration. Numerous illustration and animation career paths await upon graduation. Industry and practical experiences provide a solid understanding. It will empower you to cultivate your unique voice in the field. Acquire a diverse range of skills. preparing to confidently enter the animation, illustration or related industries as a skilled professional. Upon completing the course, a myriad of opportunities in animation and illustration will unfold. Professional studies modules offer insights into industry workings, online and print design, CV creation, and portfolio development. Membership in the AOI enhances your journey. It provides access to valuable resources like a two-hour illustration business masterclass, employment skill talks, and cost-effective membership, including Varoom magazine.

Industry links

Benefit from our robust connections within the animation and illustration industry featuring guest speakers from Aardman Animation, Animation UK, Lupus Films, and Blink Ink. Our students annually explore leading studios such as Passion Pictures, Nexus, Lupus Films, Studio AKA, and Karrot Animation. To ensure our course remains at the forefront of industry trends, we maintain ongoing communication with animation and illustration studios. We foster a collaborative relationship with Blind Pig, a versatile creative studio. Creative Director Ric Combline actively contributes to shaping our courses, providing invaluable feedback and support for art and design programmes.

Graduate employers

We prepare our graduates to enter the 2D animation and illustration industries as technically competent, professional animators and illustrators. Our graduates have gone on to work in various big animation studios including Blink Ink and Passion Pictures, as well as smaller studios. Some of our graduates have set up their own studios and collectives. Others have been employed by organisations such as Sainsbury's, Merlin Entertainment - Chessington World of Adventures, Choice Care Group, City and Exit and Carphone Warehouse.

Job roles

Our students often seize opportunities well before completing the animation and illustration course, exemplified by Martin Reznik, an exceptional graduate now in high demand as a magazine illustrator, who was already designing apps for a Los Angeles company while still a student. Another success story involves a group of friends who, during their time at UEL, established their own company. Initially a university society aiming to enhance the visibility of their comics, the venture, now known as Backwards Burd, has evolved into a post-graduation business. They offer publishing services, providing a fresh showcase for new illustrators and artists. Our graduates have pursued various roles, including 2D animators, animation directors, storyboard artists, concept artists, editors, character designers, set designers, illustrators, asset designers, and scriptwriters.

Further study

You could go on to further study and do an MA in Filmmaking, or Creative Enterprise, which will help you learn how to work as a freelancer or entrepreneur and develop your ideas into a successful business. We also offer an MPhil PhD where you can further develop your analytical thinking and become a researcher.

As a university committed to your career growth, we've curated dedicated Career Zones across all of our campuses with practical services tailored to your success. From internships, personalised coaching, and employability workshops to volunteering, mentoring, placements, and enterprise opportunities, we offer a diverse range of support."

Rema Khatun

Career Zone

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and the arts industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including:

Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work
Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
1-2-1 career coaching services
Careers workshops and employer events
Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top:

Work-based projects
Networking and visits to leading organisations
Support in starting a new business
London on our doorstep

How you'll learn

Benefit from our progressive approach to learning through forward thinking and inclusive blended/ flipped learning and patchwork assessment, allowing you to make connections between modules, technical skills, research and your arts practice. You will gain fresh perspectives and approaches (divergent thinking) giving you the edge in the competitive job market, and skills for the fourth industrial age (4iR).

Learn through critical thinking and undertake complex problem solving, to be able to succeed in the fourth industrial age and beyond (we call this emotional intelligence) and gain insights in our yearly cluster employability initiative Detour Ahead: Roadmaps for the Art and Design Industry, a week-long inter-disciplinary guest talk series as well as advice about copyright and licensing, freelancing and tax.

Guided independent study

We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7. We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces and a dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.

Academic support

If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential. You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses.

Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need. UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).

Dedicated personal tutor

Students are supported with any academic or subject-related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, and former and current UEL students.

Workload

Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.

The approximate percentages for this course are:

Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.

Your timetable

You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year depending on your course.

Class sizes

The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work.

How you'll be assessed

We'll assess you through a combination of coursework and exams. Coursework will include presentations, exhibitions, pin-ups and critiques. Furthermore, you'll also be assessed through learning, research journals, online portfolios and degree shows. You'll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve.

Students with disabilities and/or particular learning needs should discuss assessments with the course leader to ensure they are able to fully engage with all assessments within the course.

Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL's assessment and feedback policy.

Campus and facilities

Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD

Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.

Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.

Features include our 24/7 Docklands library, our £21m SportsDock centre, a campus shop and bookstore, the Children's Garden Nursery, cafés, eateries, a late bar, plus Student Union facilities, including a student lounge.

The University of East London is one of the few London universities to provide on-campus accommodation. Our Docklands Campus Student Village houses close to 1,200 students from around the world. We are well connected to central London and Canary Wharf, with London City Airport just across the water. We also run a free bus service that connects Docklands with Stratford campuses.

Who teaches this course

This course is delivered by the School of Arts and Creative Industries.

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

What our students and staff say

Art and Design at UEL offers everyone a chance to operate in an economy which is moving further and further into the realms of the creative industries."

Joe Pleass

Graphic Design

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Illustration and Animation BA (Hons)

Overview

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Course modules

Mental Wealth and Professional Fitness Core Module

Creative and Technology Industries Study Skills Core Module

Creative and Technology Industries Data Skills Core Module

Media and Communication Skills Core Module

Architecture and Visual Arts in Practice Core Module

Contextual Studies 1 Core Module

Practice 1 Core Module

Experimentation and Application 1A Core Module

Experimentation and Application 1B Core Module

Research into Practice 1 Core Module

Professional Life 1 (Mental Wealth) Core Module

Contextual Studies 2 Core Module

Practice 2 Core Module

Advanced Experimentation and Applications Core Module

Advanced Practice Core Module

Research into Practice 2 Core Module

Professional Life 2 (Mental Wealth) Core Module

Industrial Sandwich Placement Optional Module

Practice 3 Core Module

Research into Practice 3 – Extended Research Project Core Module

Research into Practice 3 – Graphic Design, Illustration and Animation Core Module

Independent Major Project Part A Core Module

Independent Major Project Part B Core Module

Professional Life 3 (Mental Wealth) Core Module

Download course specification

Entry requirements

Accepted Qualifications

International Qualifications

Accepted Qualifications

International Qualifications

What makes this course different

Developing skills

Interdisciplinary

Career focused

Course options

Degree

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons)

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons), home applicant, full time

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons)

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons), home applicant, part time

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons)

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons), international applicant, full time

Degree with foundation year

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons)

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons), home applicant, full time

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons)

Illustration and Animation BA (Hons), international applicant, full time

Why choose foundation year?

What you’ll study and gain

A supportive, engaging learning environment

Detour Ahead 2025 - Creative Corner with Emma Stone-Johnson

Your future career

Industry links

Graduate employers

Job roles

Further study

How we support your career ambitions

Career Zone

Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

How you'll learn

Guided independent study

Academic support

Dedicated personal tutor

Workload

Your timetable

Class sizes

How you'll be assessed

Campus and facilities

Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD

Who teaches this course

Official student data from Discover Uni

What our students and staff say