Course overview
Whether you're a recent graduate, a passionate creator, or a seasoned professional looking to step up, this course is your ultimate launchpad to success. You are taught by industry legends who have worked with Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Rebellion (2000AD), Shockdom, Dennis Publishing, and Vis Comic. This course is also designed with insights from experts behind The Walking Dead and Captain America.
You gain:
- Career-focused modules: develop your unique style and connect with top industry professionals.
- Skill refinement: master the art of crafting and delivering killer pitches and presentations.
- Digital mastery: upgrade your technical skills and digital capabilities to stand out in the modern landscape.
- Audience insight: gain an advanced understanding of comic and graphic novel audiences and markets.
- Multimedia expertise: learn to engage audiences through print, galleries, screens and more.
- Deep research integration: enhance your knowledge and critical perspective with embedded research.
- Adobe Ninja: learn new workplace-ready creative skills with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, included free of charge for Teesside University students.
Picture yourself as a comic book artist, a script writer for film, television, comics or games, a concept artist, a book illustrator, a graphic novelist, an illustrator, a storyboard artist, a character designer, a cover artist, a teacher or lecturer. Even an interdisciplinary collaborator in fields like medicine, science, technology, and manufacturing, where visual communication is essential.
Top reasons to study this course at Teesside University:
- Get creative: our course and campus are powered by Adobe and Apple. We’re Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus and the only Apple-accredited University, equipping you with the digital tools and resources to hone your creative skills.
- Collaborative modules: our MA courses include interdisciplinary modules where you can interact with people from other MA subject areas, widening your perspectives and network. Modules are also delivered in a condensed way to help you balance your other commitments.
- Industry-standard facilities: develop your own personal cartooning style using the latest technology, including iMacs and Wacom digital drawing tablets.
- Professional memberships: we’re a member of the Association of Illustrators, giving you access to interactive talks, guidance on contracts and licensing, and your own discounted membership. This provides the tools you need to forge a successful career in industry or as a freelancer. We’re also members of Creative UK to expand your professional network.
- Industry experience: work on live briefs for a variety of organisations such as Streetwise Opera and the NHS, helping you build your portfolio of work.
Creative UK
Take advantage of our Creative UK membership and help futureproof your career, with networking events, a resource hub to support professional development, and bespoke workshops in partnership with industry leaders and mentors. Sign up for free student membership to get opportunities, events and newsletters sent directly to your inbox.Association of Illustrators
We’re a member of the Association of Illustrators, giving you access to interactive talks, guidance on contracts and licensing, and your own discounted membership. This gives you the tools you need to forge a successful career in industry or as a freelancer.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Adaption and Interpretation for Comics
Dive into the world of sequential art and showcase your creativity by transforming written scripts into captivating visual stories. Demonstrate a deep understanding of key issues in the development of sequential art by delving into provided scripts or written material. You develop a nuanced understanding by creating stunning visual interpretations. You also have the opportunity to play with different storytelling techniques and visual styles.
Developing a Personal Voice in Comics
Craft your very own compelling sequential art graphic memoir as you explore autobiographical topics that address diversity, culture, and decolonisation. Create a powerful narrative from your personal experiences. Experiment and innovate as you learn about publishing in small press and web comics. This is your chance to tell your story and make an impact – bring your ideas to life and share them with the world.
Engaging with the Comics Industry
Step into the professional world and learn the ropes of working with clients. Whether you're freelancing or creating within a larger organisation, this module equips you with essential skills and real-world experience. You master the art of meeting and pitching to clients and learn about pricing, copyright, and ownership issues while tackling briefs that cover comic strip creation, character and creature design, environment art, vehicles, props and storyboards.
Unleash your vision as you dive into a major, in-depth, individual study tailored to your discipline and career aspirations. Whether you're interested in commercial, industrial, creative, or research fields, this project is your canvas.
Take full ownership of your project, from idea to execution. Create artefacts, exhibitions, publications, campaigns, and digital works either from scratch or significantly developing your own previous work.
Integrate all your learning into a substantial body of work that showcases your vision as a creative practitioner. This is your chance to shine your brightest.
Elevate your creative research skills, a cornerstone of all creative disciplines, fuelling both academic and creative work. Learn engaging research practices and critical thinking to tackle real-world issues, policies, and audiences. Join a vibrant postgraduate community, exchanging ideas and perspectives across various creative fields. Benefit from lectures and online tutors delivering key knowledge on current debates, issues, and research approaches in the arts and creative industries. Participate in seminars and studio sessions for active debate and practical application of research.
Advanced practice (2 year full-time MA only)
Undertake an opportunity that builds on your existing knowledge, skills, and experience and supports your future career interests and aspirations.
Learn how to develop solutions to real-world business problems and enhance your personal and professional knowledge, skills, and behaviours through reflection, critical thinking, and action.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn about concepts and methods primarily through keynote lectures and tutorials using case studies and examples. Lectures include presentations from guest speakers from industry. Critical reflection is key to successful problem solving and essential to the creative process. You develop your own reflective practice at an advanced level, then test and assess your solutions against criteria that you develop in the light of your research.
How you are assessed
Various assessment methods are used throughout all of the modules and are specified in the module handbooks. These are primarily what we call in-course assessments, where you submit work during the delivery of the module, rather than sit timed examinations at the end. Arts modules are generally project-based and primarily assessed through appraisal of a portfolio of work, often accompanied by a verbal presentation. Creative work is largely developmental and you are assessed on the process by which you achieve your solutions as well as the result, so it is essential that you provide clear evidence of your development work.
Entry requirements
You will normally have a first degree (2.2 minimum) in any subject.
You are expected to be a confident and independent learner with a good understanding of the design process, idea development and critical thinking. You are asked to present a portfolio of work or a completed project showing the development of your work from behind the scenes, or an ongoing project showing the progression and direction of your work.
In addition, international students will require IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
Start-up business celebrating comics creators at convention
Talented student makes her mark in national comic
Teesside University student uses his art to inspire and support others