Illustration - BA (Hons)

University of Plymouth

The facilities here are amazing and most things are open to all students and available for everyone to use. There's lots of open study spaces with a nice look, and the restaurants/cafes are great, they serve a variety of food from different cultures. The library is quite nice (but not open 24/7), and there are good facilities here too along with a cafe and peer support group spaces, large printers, and bookable rooms. Student support is good here and staff try their best to accommodate you. they happily give you advice, recommend services, help with official documents, etc. They also have a mental health team that you are free to book appointments with whenever you need. As for student life, although the town isn't huge, there are some nice places to go. Lots of coffee shops, restaurants, cheap bars and clubs, all appealing to a wide variety of people.

very engaging and motivating, could do with more feedback from lecturers, and more activities programmed with alumni or people working in the field to come visit us to talk about their work

The best part is the society as you able to meet a lot of new people and explore your hobbies. The worst part would be not enough help with placements or help with getting jobs in the creative industries.

I love the location and amount of facilities available. Unfortunately due to the staff shortage this year, it has been increasingly hard to use the available facilities to the fullest, creating extra steps that had to be done before being able to access them. It created a lot of stress on me and my classmates, especially with printing facilities, which I have to use very often for my course. Also last year we had professors in different specifications, like animation, comics, children books and etc. Now because of the staff shortage they are no longer teaching. This doesn't give a benefit to the students who now cannot have lectures and feedback from professionals, but also puts enormous amount of work on current working professors, who have to do all the work by themselves. It resulted in limited support, which was not an such a big issue last year

Plymouth is a genuinely great place to study, especially because of its central location. Being right in the middle of the city makes campus feel connected, accessible, and lively. The Students’ Union is also a real strength, it offers a wide range of events and support, and creates a strong sense of community (though the SU shop prices can be a little on the expensive side). One of the best parts of studying Illustration here is the studio space. It’s a supportive, creative environment where students are encouraged to decorate, experiment, and really make the space their own. It builds a strong sense of identity and collaboration within the course, and it’s something we really value. There is, however, some concern that dedicated spaces like this could be at risk in the future, especially after seeing Fine Art lose theirs, so maintaining these studios long-term would mean a lot to students. Areas for Improvement • Printing and technical facilities: The printing facilities have declined recently, with fewer printers available and the Printing Hub functioning less effectively following staff cutbacks. For an art course, consistent and reliable printing access is essential. Reinvesting in these resources would greatly improve the student experience. • Library opening hours: The library no longer being open 24 hours is a significant drawback. For many students, especially during deadline periods, having a safe, quiet, late-night workspace was a major benefit of attending a campus-based university. Restoring 24-hour access (or at least extending hours during busy periods) would make a meaningful difference. • Affordability on campus: While the SU is a great social hub, prices in the SU shop can be quite high compared to student budgets. Introducing more student-friendly pricing would help make the space more accessible.