Course overview

MA Illustration and Book Arts is a unique provision in the UK designed to encourage a dialogue between visual practitioners in the fields of illustration and book arts. The course challenges you to cross the common fine art/applied art divide, which characterises undergraduate and postgraduate provision in many UK institutions. Whatever your background you will develop your own visual practice through collaboration and dialogue with staff, visiting professionals and your fellow students, and in response to areas of mutual concern to both illustrators and book artists such a visual sequencing and visual text.

This course builds on the traditions, expertise and facilities in Cambridge School of Art in the areas of illustration and book arts and you will be will encouraged to make full use of the purpose-built art studios and the excellent printmaking and letterpress facilities on our Cambridge campus.

Additional course information

The course is modular in structure. Modules are based in the studio while integrated lectures and seminars will look at the role of contemporary practice and discourse. You will be expected to propose, and resolve, a self-contained project or projects. A large proportion of the teaching and learning activities will be focused around the development and resolution of individual research projects, with group critiques and tutorials centred on developing visual practice. Although your individual practice and theoretical framework will be very diverse, the modules are designed to maximise engagement with the visual aspects of your work.

Self-directed study and the ongoing development of visual work on a weekly basis outside of taught sessions is a necessary part of all modules.

Module guide

In addition to teaching time on-campus, all courses require intensive self-guided learning, research or private study and there may also be optional training, seminars, visits, lectures or master classes to attend.

Assessment

The learning strategy is based on self-initiated projects and these are directly assessed in each module.

Assessment is normally by portfolio, that is a body of work comprising a written project proposal, developmental and final visual work and a short reflective commentary. The exception is the dissertation project which is assessed by means of an 8,000-word written piece.

Facilities

Teaching will take place in purpose built art and design studios and, where appropriate, lecture theatres. You will have access to the studios outside of taught sessions to develop and complete coursework.

Specialist resources
You will be offered inductions into the use of specialist resources, including printmaking (etching, screenprinting, relief and lithography), letterpress facilities and laser cutters within your taught modules and at other times. You will be able to use these resources on an open access basis. You will also be able to use extensive digital imaging resources, including Macs, scanners and A3 and large format printers on an open access basis. Other departmental facilities, such as photography darkrooms and 3-D workshops, will be available to you if required after suitable inductions. Media Services also provide an extensive range of photographic and recording equipment for student use.

There is an extensive provision of library material available in the fields of illustration, book arts, fine art and design. This is continually updated on advice from staff and students. For more information please visit the University library website.

Libraries
Our campus libraries offer a wide range of publications and a variety of study facilities, including open-access computers, areas for quiet or group study and bookable rooms. We also have an extensive Digital Library providing on and off-site access to e-books, e-journals and databases.

We endeavour to make our libraries as accessible as possible for all our students. During Semester time, they open 24 hours a day from Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday and for 12 hours on Sunday.

IT resources
Our open access computer facilities provide free access to the internet, email, messaging services and the full Microsoft Office suite. A high speed wireless service is also available in all key areas on campus. If you are away from campus or a distant learner, our student desktop and its many applications can be accessed remotely using the internet. Your personal student email account provides free document storage, calendar facilities and social networking opportunities.

Throughout your studies you will have access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), providing course notes, reading materials and multi-media content to support your learning, while our e-vision system gives you instant access to your academic record and your timetable.

Course Leader

Jim Butler

Related links

Children's Picturebooks' shortlisted for Academic Book Award 2013
Jo reaches Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2013 shortlist
MA graduates hold triple-book launch
Festival of Illustration 2012
Centre for Children's Book Illustration

Links with industry and professional recognition

This course has links with the Association of Illustrators.

Associated careers

Careers associated with this course are freelance illustration, freelance book artist and university lecturer.

This is a practice-based course based primarily on the development of an individual's visual work. It aims to equip graduates to pursue careers as visual practitioners. In recent years, there has been a growth of interest in the areas of artists' books, graphic novels, self-publishing and a new awareness of small, batch publishing. Developments in digital technologies have facilitated the convergence of traditional subject disciplines, and for book arts and illustration there is opportunity for a far wider range of enterprise than is currently understood by narrow definitions of practice.

Many graduates could expect to have a portfolio career, combining artistic practice with other activities. You will be required to use a comprehensive range of approaches and technologies, so that on a practical level, technical skills such as bookbinding can lead to opportunities running workshops and short courses. The ability to critically evaluate contemporary theory in your discipline provides a basis for higher education teaching or further academic development.

Entry Requirements:

A good honours degree, (or equivalent) normally in a related subject. Applicants with professional experience are also encouraged to apply. Entry will normally be subject to submission of a portfolio, and an interview. Candidates for whom English is not a first language will be expected to demonstrate IELTS at level 6.5, or equivalent. Non-Academic Conditions: Art Portfolio, Interviews

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio should:

• show examples of your recent visual practice and where possible should include work which is indicative of some of the themes and areas interest you would like to develop on the Masters
• how you develop and resolve visual ideas is of particular interest to us, so it very important that you include developmental work (e.g. sketchbooks, contact sheets etc.)
• projects where the experimental approaches and developmental work is evident, irrespective of the success of the final outcomes, are more valuable points of insight than a series of highly finished pieces.

International applicants
International applicants are encouraged to host their portfolios online and provide us with the URL or submit in pdf format by email attached. CD or hardcopy formats submitted by post to our International Admissions Office are also acceptable but please note that these will not be returned to applicants.

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.

• International students
• EU students
• English language requirements

If we have confirmed you do not meet our entry requirements you might want to consider a preparatory course at Cambridge Ruskin International College (CRIC), our partner college, based on our Cambridge campus, before coming to study with us.