HND Illustration
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 8
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HND
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 2 Years (August to June)
If you have a natural talent for drawing, this HND Illustration course will give you the opportunity to explore the creative and diverse world of illustration, from editorial and publishing to storyboarding and character design. You’ll be introduced to different ways of working, where you’ll combine old and new techniques, bringing together digital and the handmade on your way to developing your own original style. After this course, you could go onto further study at degree level or become an illustrator working in the creative industries.
What will I learn?
In year one of HND Illustration, you'll study:
- Mixed media
- Life drawing (clothed and unclothed)
- Digital imaging
- Art and design context
- Art and design project
- Printmaking and producing print
- Typography
- Illustration
- Specialist Illustration
- Graded unit 1.
In year two you'll study:
- Animation: An intro
- Developmental drawing portfolio
- Mixed media portfolio
- Illustration project
- Printmaking in multiple layers
- Developmental drawing portfolio
- 3D
- Digital imaging project
- Graphic design project
- Graded unit 2.
For examples of our student work and our blog visit:
Entry requirements (minimum)
Year 1
- Foundation in Graphic Design and Illustration - Level 6 or
- One Higher Art and Design at C level or above
- Applications will be considered from those that do not meet the academic requirements if they can demonstrate experience in drawing
- Relevant National Qualification.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
As a department we engage actively with our employer and industry links to ensure that we deliver the right content for our students who move into Higher Education or freelance employment.
You'll be given the opportunity to visit various commercial printers, which will give you hands-on experience in the technical set-up and printing of illustrative work. You'll also enjoy talks from freelance illustrators during your course and will be given briefs that will encourage you to creatively implement both digital and traditional skillsets.
The college also works with contemporary writers who will present live briefs and competition opportunities during your course.
Articulation Routes
BA Hons Graphic Design Glasgow Clyde College - subject knowledge and understanding of Typography essential.
University of the West of Scotland
Jobs and further study
Further study in Illustration, animation and digital art could lead to working in the creative industries as an illustrator for the publishing and design industries. Areas of work could include children’s book publishing, editorial, packaging, animation industry, textiles, the games industry, arts and crafts commissions, education and community arts.
Further Study
University of the Arts London (UAL), University of Manchester School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art (Edinburgh University), Edinburgh Napier University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Highlands and Islands, University of Creative Arts
Take a look at the course progression map for graphic design and illustration courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You'll receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you'll either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you'll be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you'll be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date.
