Illustration MA (eca)

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Art and Design

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MA (eca) | 1 year | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

Edinburgh College of Art

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
Study location

Lauriston campus

Accreditation

Not available

Apply now

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About the degree programme

MA Illustration is a programme designed to develop, challenge and push the boundaries of what it means to be a contemporary illustrator in an international industry. A synthesis of theory and practice, this programme creates discourse around what illustration is, and what it can be.

A studio culture opens up collaborative practice, and individual development is fostered through a dedicated studio with individual work spaces. You will explore contemporary issues through traditional image-making techniques to futuristic and experimental techniques.

Postgraduate study of this subject allows for a deeper analysis of themes and texts and enables you to build an innovative and focused portfolio. Often, our students have ambitions for the professional sphere, or they may wish to pursue doctoral studies. In each case, there is a sustained level of research, allied to technical ways of working and conceptual thinking.

Thinking about studying MA Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art? Discover the programme, how you'll be taught, and hear from our students about their study experiences with us.

Programme benefits

  • Access to designated workspaces for all students in spectacular studios.
  • Experience life drawing classes, collaborative work, and professional practice.
  • Advance your development of studio practice and theoretical study.
  • Access to an excellent printmaking workshop and digital arts computing facilities.
  • The programme offers advanced exploration of book arts, text and image, picture books, and authorial illustration.

The MA Illustration course has been a revelation for my creative practice. With continued support and encouragement from an amazing staff, I’ve developed a clear illustrative voice that has helped me to think about illustration in bigger, bolder, and sillier ways. This course has allowed me to push my practice and to be ambitious with my ideas, and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do the same.

Stuart Stafford  MA Illustration, graduated 2025

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Additional programme costs

To fully participate in this programme you are recommended to budget a minimum of £200 on top of the tuition fee for the following costs:
Travel and Accommodation
There are required travel costs associated with field trips and visits. You will be expected to pay the cost of local travel by public transport. 
Equipment and software
Most equipment and software required will be provided by the School, but you will be expected to provide some specialist equipment, including for example a laptop, headphones, or SD cards. 
Materials
You will be expected to pay for general art and design materials, such as sketchbooks, paper and pens. You will be expected to pay for some specialist materials required by your course.
 
Course organisers will support you in meeting intended learning outcomes while keeping material costs to a minimum, but you will be expected to pay optional material costs as necessary for your own project work. 
Printing
You are expected to pay for occasional A4/A1/A2 printing and booklet binding.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as graphics, illustration, or art and design subjects.

We also welcome applicants who do not meet academic entry requirements but demonstrate relevant professional experience by portfolio.

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. Your portfolio should contain examples of work that show an understanding and level of skill appropriate to the postgraduate study of illustration, including:

  • observational drawing
  • colour, line, composition
  • idea development
  • awareness of narrative image-making and sequential image-making
  • awareness of print and applications of digital media
  • awareness of the professional practice and the cultural context of historical and contemporary illustration.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

Over the course of a busy year you are invited to find your own creative voice, fostering individual practices. You build upon this throughout the year with tutor support.

You are supported through a range of workshops, challenges and briefs by talented staff and technicians, as well as an array of equipment and facilities.

You will write research proposals in the early weeks, describing ideas and contexts for individual projects. You will be guided in these proposals, and you will also be given set projects and collaborative tasks at various points in the academic year.

There is a Life Drawing studio with a series of classes and various digital clusters throughout the campus. The academic work naturally encapsulates traditional media and information technology.

Theoretical work underpins all studio practice at many levels, and there is a series of visiting lecturers from professional and academic worlds.

We welcome a range of approaches to illustration, and the ways in which this subject relates to design and the fine arts. Illustration masters students have also collaborated with other academic subjects in ECA and the wider community of the University of Edinburgh.

Group projects have included:

  • exhibitions at the Scottish Parliament and Institut Français Écosse
  • a set of finely printed postcards depicting aspects of Edinburgh for the Heart of Midlothian project  
  • illustrations for charities such as Children of Scotland and Ocean Generation.

Recent collaborations have included the Edinburgh Filmhouse and various University publications.

Additionally, there are competitions and opportunities to exhibit at points during the year. These include:

  • Penguin
  • V&A
  • The Folio Society
  • 3x3
  • Macmillan Children’s Book Competition.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Field trips

A range of field trips will introduce you to research and develop your practice in a range of museums, galleries and organisations.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Teaching is delivered through a range of lessons, from lectures and seminars to individual tutorials. Workshops include:

  • comic and sequential illustrations
  • woodblock printing
  • experimental drawing
  • creative thinking
  • sketchbook practice
  • bookbinding
  • freelancing
  • digital skills
  • other creative and professional development.

There are also optional courses in children’s picture books, game play, business and much more across the wider University.

Assessment

You are assessed regularly through the course with individual written feedback at multiple points, both formative and summative. You can build upon your learning at each point with direction and support from your tutors.

Assessment is focused on creative work with some written elements. The final project is a creative body of work, rather than a final dissertation.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Our academic staff

You will be taught by experienced academics, tutors and technicians with a range of specialisms. All staff are practitioners in the creative industries, bringing real-world and contemporary knowledge to teaching.

Staff have specialisms in graphic novels, artists books, exhibitions, children’s books, natural history, comic books, advertising, printmaking and much more.

  • Amy Dover
  • Fionnuala Doran
  • Pilar Garcia de Leaniz Rodriguez
  • Maria Stoian
  • Harvey Dingwall
  • Nicola Murray
  • Gen Harrison

Where you will study

Study location

MA Illustration is based in Evolution House on the Lauriston Campus in the heart of the beautiful Old Town in Edinburgh.

You will have your own desk as well as wider studio space and seminar areas.

ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next 3 years, from April 2024 to April 2027.

The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.

The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston Campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.

You can find more about the project at the below link:

Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston Campus | Edinburgh College of Art

Academic facilities

There are some facilities in the studio as well as other facilities in the building, including a computer suite, scanning, printing, equipment hire and digital services.

The building also hosts the famous ECA library with inspiring books and up-to-date magazines, and publications. Staff are also based in the building, on hand to support students.

The rest of the campus hosts:

  • lecture theatres
  • life drawing rooms
  • teaching spaces

There is a range of printmaking, woodwork, metal workshops and other useful facilities. 

Workshops are staffed by specialist technicians and practitioners, who will support and guide your technical development during your studies.

In addition to these facilities, we also have the ECA Store on campus where you can purchase materials for your artistic projects, along with our Free-Use Hub where you can access free recycled materials.

You will also have access to Bookit, where you can access and loan a wide range of digital and technical equipment for free as part of being a student.

Bookit - Equipment loans and studio booking 

Find out more about facilities and resources at ECA

Virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the Edinburgh College of Art and explore our facilities and campus with our virtual tour. 

Take a virtual tour of Edinburgh College of Art 

Career opportunities

By the time you graduate you’ll be ready to progress to a wide range of exciting careers, such as:

  • picture book illustrator
  • designer
  • freelance illustrator
  • working in a leading agency.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.

Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we will make as many offers as possible to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.

We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding or a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.

Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Selection deadlines

RoundApply byReceive decision by
1Monday 15 December 2025Thursday 19 March 2026
2Monday 4 May 2026Tuesday 30 June 2026

After Round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open. As this is not guaranteed, however, you are advised to apply by the application deadlines above.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Portfolio

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. You won't be able to submit your portfolio immediately, but you'll receive an email prompt within a few days of submitting your application that will explain how to upload your portfolio.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

What is it really like to study here? Our students share their experiences on our social media.

You can find out what a day in the life is like for an Edinburgh College of Art Student, from late nights in the library to their favourite walks around the city!

Instagram: Edinburgh College of Art

Our community

Learn. Create. Achieve. 

We deliver innovative teaching, research and public engagement in an inclusive and sustainable environment with outstanding services and facilities to support your ambitions.

With degrees in Art, History of Art, Music, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and Design, you’ll be joining a diverse community of artists, art historians, designers, academics, researchers, architects, landscape architects and musicians.

ECA is a rich, textured, and inclusive learning environment. Diverse practices coexist as the embodiments of an individual and collective pursuit of knowledge, for the betterment of humankind and our planet.

Our approach is explicitly inclusive, future-facing and interdisciplinary, embracing of bold innovation and continuous enhancement. 

Find out more about the Edinburgh College of Art community

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Our vibrant capital is a blend of culture, history, nature and modern city life. A fantastic place to live, it is also the perfect location to study illustration.

Edinburgh’s dynamic cultural scene boasts the largest collection of historic buildings, museums, art galleries and theatres of any city in Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh’s museums and galleries include:

  • the Talbot Rice Gallery
  • the Centre for Research Collections
  • St Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room and Music Museum

Edinburgh is home to several major annual festivals, each bringing talent from around the world to our streets and stages, making the celebration of diversity an intrinsic part of the city’s culture. These include the:

  • Festival Fringe
  • Film Festival
  • Art Festival
  • Book Festival
  • Jazz and Blues Festival

Some of our students even participate in our annual festivals.

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

Contact us

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