Description
Program Overview
This unique course is one of the first to bring together comic and concept art. Throughout this degree, you will refine your traditional drawing and digital art skills to design astonishing worlds and tell incredible stories from the imagination.
Using new technologies and industry-standard software, you will develop your design and planning skills alongside comic-art output. There is a strong emphasis on engaging with industry from the start of the course and gaining professional practice skills.
Our impressive industry links allow you to learn from practicing artists, live briefs, and visiting lecturer workshops. We position all comic and concept art within an international context, such as involvement in Thought Bubble – the leading European comic art festival based in Yorkshire.
We encourage creative collaboration within the course and across the University, learning to work to briefs, participate in competitions, and have your work critiqued. You will develop your understanding of studio and freelance practice while gaining expert skills suitable for a range of creative careers.
Former students have forged successful careers in concept art for film and gaming industries, self-published comics, and even worked in theatre design.
What You'll Study
Year One – The course starts by shaping how you think and draw as a comic/concept artist. Practical workshops develop your design drawing, idea generation, and visual storytelling. Lectures and seminars focus on the historical and professional context of the comic and concept art industries. At the same time, projects and art tests give you a taste of what is required to be a comic and concept artist. Experimentation and developing traditional drawing skills inform your 2D and 3D digital output.
Year Two – Our teaching further develops your understanding of cultural awareness and the skills needed for worldbuilding and believability. Practical workshops will begin to stretch you and your digital 2D and 3D workflows in visualizing characters and their worlds. Specialism might include character, environment, architecture, prop, mech, vehicle and creature design, storyboarding, narrative illustration, webtoons, comics, or graphic novels. You will also create a professional online profile and expand your industry engagement.
Year Three – You will focus on your specialism and the industry-related skills for becoming a professional comic and/or concept artist. You will negotiate a creative project including industry links - competitions, live briefs, studio visits, industry research, and work experience - building a robust portfolio that reflects your passion, ambition, and sought-after talent as a versatile specialist.
Work Experience
Work experience covers a broad range of activities and students are encouraged to undertake work placements during their time at the university. As well as guidance from the course team our Careers, Employability, and Enterprise teams offer support that enhances employability skills and supports engagement with the industry.
Destination Careers
Graduates will be prepared for employment across a range of roles within the creative industries including:
Commercial/independent/freelance comic artist
Storyboard artist for film/animation/games/TV/advertising
Character designer for comics/film/games/animation/figurines/miniatures
Concept art generalist for film/animation/games/TV
Visual development artist for animation
Creature designer for the entertainment industry or scientific illustration
Experience/theme design for museums or theme parks
Requirement
- 112 UCAS points from any combination of A Levels/T Level/Extended Diploma/Foundation Diploma. One qualification should be in a relevant subject; or
- BBC from three A Levels; or
- A minimum of one Distinction and two Merits (DMM) from an Extended Diploma or a Merit from a UAL Extended Diploma or T Level in a relevant subject; or
- 112 UCAS points from a recognized Access to Higher Education course specializing in art and design with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3; or
- An international equivalent to 112 UCAS points in a subject related to your proposed course of study. Please see our Information by Country pages for more information.
All home applicants aged under 21 must have GCSE English at Grade 4/Grade C or above, or English Functional Skills Level 2 at Pass. International applicants must have a minimum IELTS overall score of 5.5, with no individual component below 5.5 (or recognized equivalent).
Examples of work
For all BA (Hons) degree courses (with the exception of BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance) you will need:
- To set up your portal
- You will then be asked to submit a maximum of six examples of work from your portfolio for consideration. The files should be no larger than 30MB in total and it is essential that no more than six examples of work are uploaded.
- Guidance on what to include in your examples of work can be found here.
For BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance you will need:
- 112 UCAS points from any combination of A Levels/Diploma/Extended Diploma. One qualification should be in a relevant subject, this may be a Rockschool Level 3 Music Practitioner qualification.
- A Level of performing ability equivalent to ABRSM/Rockschool/Trinity Grade 8
- Music theory understanding to Grade 5 level
Performing ability and theoretical understanding will be assessed through a practical performance of (1) a set piece relative to a specific instrument or voice and (2) an original song, instrumental composition, or arrangement of an existing song that has been uploaded to a suitable video sharing platform (YouTube, Vimeo or Weibo) for remote review.
For BA (Hons) Creative Writing and BA (Hons) Creative Advertising:
- For these courses, an interview forms part of the Admissions process. Providing that you meet our entry requirements for these courses, and submit your examples of work within the required deadline, you will be offered an in-person or remote interview.
For BA (Hons) Creative Writing you will need:
- Evidence of your writing interests in the form of samples of your work. Your work should demonstrate your developing, imaginative, and creative skills.