MA Children's Book Illustration Featured Image

Universities United Kingdom Anglia Ruskin University - Cambridge Courses MA Children's Book Illustration

MA Children's Book Illustration
at Anglia Ruskin University - Cambridge

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Tuition Fee £ 20,200
Country Rank#78
Duration12 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5 TOEFL: 88

Program Overview

Introduction

Experiment with methods, explore ideas and critically reflect on your practice to develop your own personal visual vocabulary. Create original children’s book projects, supported by a team of internationally-recognised illustrators.

The first course of its kind, MA Children’s Book Illustration was established at Cambridge School of Art in 2001 and is led by Course Leader Shelley Jackson. Over the last twenty years, we’ve seen hundreds of graduates publish children’s books around the world, many to critical acclaim. Students and graduates often dominate national and international awards, too.

This taught, studio-based postgraduate degree is offered full-time or part-time. You’ll develop your practice in the art of children’s book illustration in a supportive, open and friendly studio environment with leading practitioners.

Course Content
TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT

18 months full-time

Year 1

The MA Children’s Book Illustration ethos is to empower each student to develop their unique visual language as an artist, rather than pursue preconceived notions of stylistic appropriateness. The fundamentals of this journey are observational drawing and experimentation with materials, methods and techniques – and this will be your starting point for the course.

You’ll next explore the nature of sequential visual communication as the basis for projects, which may be narrative or thematic, fiction or non-fiction, observed or imagined.

Further into the MA, you’ll examine characteristics of books intended for the children’s book audience while, paradoxically, still creating from an authentic place as an individual and creator.

The major written element of this course is a 6,000-word essay, which is an opportunity to dive deep into understanding a focused area of children’s book illustration while reflecting on your own visual practice and placing it in the historical and contemporary context of the discipline.

Modules are subject to change and availability.

Assessment
Throughout the course, you will be asked to create various projects, to reflect on the work you have created, and to apply your own research to your craft.

Both the Observation and Experiment module and Sequential Image module will be assessed 100% on your portfolio and reflection of your portfolio work and are marked on a pass/fail basis. The Illustration & Audience: The Paradox module is based 90% on portfolio and 10% on a research proposal. Your Research and Review dissertation will be assessed 100% on your 6,000-word essay, while the Masters Stage Project will be assessed 90% on your project work and 10% on your written report.

Core modules
- Observation and Experiment
- Sequential Image
- Illustration and Audience: the Paradox
- Research and Review
Year 2
Year 2 features an ambitious double module to consolidate and exercise prior learning on the course. As with all course projects, Masters Stage is self-directed with reflective commentary. Projects may take the form of picture books, comics, graphic novels, illustrated fiction, animations, posters or other visual statements. Masters Stage is supported by professional practice lectures, preparing you for life beyond graduation.

Modules are subject to change and availability.

Assessment
Throughout the course, you will be asked to create various projects, to reflect on the work you have created, and to apply your own research to your craft.

Both the Observation and Experiment module and Sequential Image module will be assessed 100% on your portfolio and reflection of your portfolio work and are marked on a pass/fail basis. The Illustration & Audience: The Paradox module is based 90% on portfolio and 10% on a research proposal. Your Research and Review dissertation will be assessed 100% on your 6,000-word essay, while the Masters Stage Project will be assessed 90% on your project work and 10% on your written report.

Core modules
- Masters Stage Project
Entry Requirement
A recognised pre-Masters course.
3 year Bachelors or 4 year Bachelor Engineering or Technology, minimum division 2 (50% - 59%) in relevant subjects.
4 year Bachelor of Laws complying with above for entry to LLM.
Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delhi or the University of Calcutta with 45%.

Fees & Scholarships

International Tuition Fees:

£20200 per year

Career Prospect

Careers
Many graduates of our MA Children’s Book Illustration degree now enjoy careers as freelance authors and illustrators for children. Among them are Paula Metcalf, Marta Altés, Nadia Shireen, Birgitta Sif, Steve Antony, Matt Robertson, Flavia C Drago, Matty Long, Melissa Castrillon, Taylor Dolan, Nicola Kent, Emily Haworth Booth and Eva Eland.

You may choose to show your work to leading publishing companies and literary agencies at our optional annual graduation exhibition held in London before returning to our own Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge. The graduation exhibition also includes a catalogue of student work shared with publishers, a website (cambridgemashow.com), and social media campaign, all organised and funded by students separate of the course.

Upon completion of the course, you may also choose to take part in our student stand at the annual Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where tutors will show your work to publishers from around the globe. Like the graduation exhibition, this professional development event is available only to our course graduates, requires an additional fee, and is separate of the course. Many students also attend the fair in-person in order to participate in lectures and workshops or volunteer on our stand.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU such as our PhD Children’s Book Illustration. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.

Cost Of Studying At Anglia Ruskin University - Cambridge

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

Check Loan Eligibility

MA Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University - Cambridge