Master of Illustration
- Degree Structure - Start In
- Semester 1 (February) or Semester 2 (July)
180
Overview
Master of Illustration
Introduction
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.
Master of Illustration
What will my 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.
Master of Illustration
Entry requirements
To apply for the Master of Illustration, you will need to have one of the following from your previous studies:
- a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, with at least a B grade average in your 300-level courses
- any bachelor’s degree and relevant professional or other work experience
- a Postgraduate Certificate in Illustration with at least a B grade average
- a Postgraduate Diploma in Illustration with at least a B grade average
- other qualifications of an equivalent standard.
All applicants need to submit a portfolio of relevant work.
If English is not your first language, you are also required to meet UC's Postgraduate language requirements. See how to provide your English language evidence to UC. If you need help meeting these requirements, or would like to practise your English skills before studying, UC offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) language programmes.
For the full entry requirements, use the admission requirements checker.
How to apply
Entry to the Master of Illustration is limited. You will need to submit the following:
- a letter of introduction
- a portfolio of work, including a written statement.
Please email your application materials to creativeartsadmin@canterbury.ac.nz
You are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applications are accepted through to the beginning of each semester. Late enrolments and portfolios will continue to be reviewed until close to the start of the programme.
Illustration Portfolio requirements
The portfolio must include 12 image-based pages plus a written artist's statement.
The portfolio is your opportunity to demonstrate three important areas:
- the level of your competency and ability in illustration. Please make sure you include your best work.
- aspects of your methodology to demonstrate how you arrived at your final work. Examples of preliminary sketches and roughs are important.
- evidence of skill and development in your key subjects of interest, for example imagery relevant to children's book illustration, magazine editorial, graphic novel, character design and concept art, science communications, etc.
We would like to see your work presented to us in the best possible way. The work should be well scanned (if traditionally made), cleaned up and formatted into a clean and professional document. You can search for information online regarding preparation of illustration portfolios.
Please submit your portfolio as a single 12-page PDF document.
Your artist's statement should demonstrate your ability to express in writing a critical understanding of your interest and intent with illustration, the tools and techniques you work with, and where you hope to engage your craft as an illustrator in your studies within this programme and onwards into the future.
This should be submitted with your portfolio as no more than one A4 sheet.
Master of Illustration
How do I plan my degree?
The MIllust is made up of 180 total points, which includes four compulsory courses followed by a final internship course and a final research project.
Beginning in February or July each year, the programme will take 1.5 months to complete full-time, or part-time within 5 years.
Master of Illustration
Subjects and courses
Compulsory courses
The following four courses make up the foundations of your study.
Note that if you are completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Illustration, you will only select two from the following courses:
- FINA630 Business of Illustration
- FINA631 Illustration Mediums
- FINA632 Language of Illustration
- FINA633 Narrative Illustration
Internship and Research Project
In your final semester of the Master of Illustration, you will undertake an internship project and carry out an independent body of research (producing a piece of visual work and a 6,000 word research summary) based on your interests and artistic practice.
Domestic students
2026 tuition fee estimate: $14,663 (180 points)
International students
2026 Special Programme Fee: $51,000 (180 points)
2027 Special Programme Fee: $54,000 (180 points)
Master of Illustration
Master of Illustration
Career ready
The programme fosters strong industry connections that prepares you for dynamic roles in publishing, entertainment, design, digital media, education, and science communications.
Career pathways could include:
- illustrator artist for media such as comics, novels, educational publishing
- concept artist for games and screen media
- brand designer for companies
- art director or creative lead roles.
