Master of Illustration

University of Canterbury

Develop technical skills across a range of traditional and digital media with UC’s Master of Illustration (MIllust).

This degree enables you to adapt your practice to a wide range of illustration contexts. An emphasis on visual storytelling and narrative development prepares you to communicate powerfully in your chosen profession, whether for picture books, editorial, animation and games, education, marketing, science, or other mediums.

You will be encouraged to think critically, engage with cultural and ethical questions, and reflect meaningfully on your creative practice and the role of illustration in the world to grow your skills to become a creative leader with a distinct visual language and developed authorial voice.

The Master of Illustration is available both on campus and by distance study, full-time and part-time. You also have the option to undertake the programme as a Postgraduate Certificate or as a Postgraduate Diploma.

Applications are accepted through to the beginning of each semester, and applicants are selected based on their portfolio of work. Please see ‘Entry requirements’ below for further details.

Study Involve:

Develop your illustration practice and visual style with courses in different traditional and digital mediums.

Learn how to integrate storytelling and narrative through characters and scenes, symbolism and form, and other forms of visual communication across different media.

Grow strong industry connections by learning practical business skills, developing brand identities, and engaging in internships and practical, portfolio-based assessments.

In your final semester you will also undertake an internship, gaining real-world experience through a supervised community-based project. You will also work independently on a research project, producing a significant body of work and a thesis.