Illustration Foundation Course | Online Learning

This exciting course gives students the confidence and skills to create fluent, individual and highly creative illustrations for their portfolios.

Our online Graphic Design and Illustration course has a strong practical focus, embracing a broad range of approaches and media, across contexts such as editorial, illustration, or sequential narrative. All this is further underpinned by contextual studies and the development of students’ professional persona and identity.

Online Graphic Design and Illustration courses in the UK

Successful graduates earn a Foundation Diploma qualification that is equal to 3 A-Levels and is nationally accredited by the UK’s largest vocational awarding body, SEG ABC Awards. Equally valuable, graduates achieve a superior specialist portfolio of graphic designs or Illustrations that will enable them to access top universities and employment as professional qualified graphic designers or illustrators.

Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - replenish skin cream

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - slow down and change

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - pencil sketches

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - box with goat design

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - Indian mackeral and dung beetle

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - feeding child

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - nail art for men

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - graphic novel

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - stone carvings

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Foundation diploma in graphic design and illustration - silk road advert

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Entry Requirements: 16 years or over, 5 GCSEs / IGCSEs including Maths, English and an Art or Photography-related subject linked to an appropriate portfolio (or equivalent international qualifications). Mature students require no exam qualifications, but some ability to draw and paint and a desire to succeed are required. Send an example of your work if unsure of your level.
Part-time programmes (2 years): available all year around – enrolling now
Full-time programmes (1 year): start December to January and September to October. Exceptions may apply.
Requirements: computer with broadband connection / basic art materials
Progression: to any University / BA Honours Degree
Accreditation: SEG ABC Awards
OFQUAL Regulated: Yes (Ofqual number 500/8476/8)
UCAS Tariff: up to 112 points – university entry requires 80 -100 UCAS points
UCAS application supported: Yes
Portfolio support: Yes

Level 3 or Level 4?

The qualification that students will receive is a Level 3 Diploma. Level 3 qualifications are FE (further education) and prepare for University. LEAs fund students up to this level and the qualification carries UCAS points for entry into HE (higher education).

There is a final graded unit which is actually a Level 4 unit, which helps students prepare for HE, as it gives experience at this slightly higher level. This unit shows on your transcript for the qualification (the sheet that breaks down all units, credits and grade) as a Level 4 unit. However, the qualification is awarded as a Level 3 qualification overall.

The exam board do offer a Level 4 foundation diploma, but it does not carry any UCAS points whatsoever, so it is unlikely to be useful to any of our students. (This is because Level 4 is seen as HE and not FE.) If students want to go for a Level 4 version of the course, they can, but this is to be discussed once enrolled, as it will mean no UCAS points! The degree that students go on to study will be level 4+, so there is no need to gain a Level 4 qualification at this stage.

Online Studio

Students enrolled in our online Graphic Design and Illustration courses receive access to their own online studio where they can work through their course. Units and assignments are listed along with supporting resources, video tutorials for skills development, step by step guides etc.

Digital Portfolio

Photographs of students’ completed work are uploaded to their college e-page for assessment and constructive, friendly written feedback on how to progress.

Dedicated Support

Additionally, students on our online Graphic Design and Illustration course are invited to discuss their progress with an experienced and qualified personal tutor and receive face to face verbal feedback, encouragement and support.

Students may also benefit from relationships with their fellow online students as they can view profiles and comment on each others’ artwork if they wish.

The online Graphic Design and Illustration course comprises three distinct stages; Exploratory stage, Pathway stage and finally Confirmatory stage. Each stage is 12 to 24 weeks in duration depending on whether you study full-time or part-time. These can be extended if required.

The Exploratory stage

This is the first stage of the course and, as the title suggests, it gives you the opportunity to understand at a deeper level what art and design is, and to experience working in a number of disciplines.

Within each discipline, you will use a range of materials and processes and learn the value of drawing and photography as a starting point.

You are offered a range of projects from which you study 3.

Photography (mandatory)
Fine Art
Graphic Design and Illustration
3D (Architecture, 3D Design, Sculpture)
Fashion and Textiles
Animation

The Pathway stage

This is where you choose which pathway/discipline you wish to explore further and at a greater depth. Your tutors will review with you your work from the exploratory phase and this will inform your decision. The final decision is of course yours.

The Confirmatory stage

This is the final stage of the foundation diploma and the only stage that will decide your final grade.

You will be asked to write a statement of intent with the support of your tutor. This document will outline your chosen final major project.

Your final major project is practical and you continue with your chosen specialism developed in the Pathway Stage.