Sequential Design/Illustration MA

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Project proposal

You are required to write a 600-word project proposal to accompany your application form. The following headings should assist you:

• title (or working title) and any subtitle of the project
• the form the project might take: book, comic/graphic novel, digital, film, interactive, etc
• the editorial limits of the project (number of pages, running time etc)
• who is the project designed for and what are its intended objectives?
• a description of what the project will involve
• how you would start work on the project
• possible technical requirements
• in what way do you feel the project is designed to be sequential?
• any information you think is relevant.

This proposal represents a project that you would choose to do. It is useful as an example of your thinking. However, many students change their projects by agreement either after interview or on joining the course.

In some cases, students may prefer to do more than one project on a theme. If this is the case, write a brief summary about why you would want to take this approach.

Portfolio

Before we make you an offer for a place on this course, we will ask to see a portfolio of your work. Sharing your work enables us to understand your approach and motivations, and to see your potential for postgraduate study.

After you apply we will get in touch asking you to share the link to your portfolio online.You'lk be asked to upload the link to Student View.

• Find out about the specific requirements for your course.

Creating your portfolio
We've put together advice and guidance to help you create and share your portfolio, and we run regular online portfolio advice sessions where you can get help from our expert team.

Course structure

You can study on a part-time or full-time basis.

• Part-time, for two years, is designed to fit in with your professional life and allows more time for reflection. Part-time students work on the course for two days a week – one day on site and one day working independently.
• Full-time, for one year, is an intensive year of study. You work four days a week: two days with the course and two days independently.

Lectures, seminars, reviews and assessments are held at fixed times on Wednesdays. Other patterns of attendance vary according to individual circumstances. During holidays you will be engaged in independent study.

Your work will be predominantly project based, which may comprise of one or more parts focusing on a central theme or idea. A single project or investigation will in most cases sustain a student through the entire duration of the course, but at stage assessment, in consultation with tutors, it may naturally evolve into a new or related area of study.

The nature of the subject demands the continual interaction between research, analysis, and practical realisation, as well as an extended period of development for ideas to become fully meaningful. Throughout this investigation you will receive support and guidance from the course tutors.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Areas of study

As the course develops, there is increasing opportunity for independent and self-directed work, though each student is allocated a personal tutor who oversees the planning and content of individual projects. Besides practice-based work, the course also includes a written element in which you will be asked to reflect critically on the research and development of your project.

While students accepted on the course should come with the technical skills necessary to fulfil their projects, access to the diverse workshops facilities – for example in bookbinding, letterpress, printmaking and photography – will be made available as appropriate to your project. There is also a substantial specialist library and a full range of computer facilities.

Modules

• Major Sequential Project (Stages 1 and 2)
• Practice-based Research Methods
• Applied Research Methods
• Completion Statement.

Visiting lecturers

We arrange a programme of weekly lectures by a range of practitioners and academics to broaden your experience and understanding of professional issues and activity. Lecturers describe their practice and professional experience, sharing insights about their research methods and discoveries.

The programme is organised to relate to specific stages of the course and varies on a two-year cycle, so part-time students have access to a different set of events in each of their two years of study.

Previous guest lecturers include:

• Anna Deamer Installation/set designer
• David Pearson Typographer and book designer
• Dr Solveigh Goett Textile designer and researcher
• Fred Baier Furniture designer
• Jonathan Rosen Artist, illustrator and filmmaker
• Prof Brendan Walker Interactive designer and performer
• Prof Calum Colvin Fine art photographer
• Rachael Matthews Artist and author
• Rick Poynor Writer, critic and curator
• Riitta Ikonen Interdisciplinary collaborative artist.

Staff profiles 

Lizzie Finn, course leader

Lizzie Finn has a commercial background in graphic design and illustration for the fashion and music industries. After graduating from Central St Martins, her clients included Vitra, Vogue, Channel 4 and The Victoria and Albert Museum. Finn has exhibited her work internationally and has been invited to speak at design conferences in Tokyo, Sydney, Oslo and Steven’s Point, Wisconsin.

Before joining the University of Brighton, Finn worked at The London College of Communication, Chelsea College of Arts and Winchester School of Art. She has run workshops related to her practice at Fabrica in Italy and Ecal in Switzerland.

Lizzie Finn’s practice and research reflect her continued interest in creating images which incorporate a convergence of visual languages and references from varied sources. Recent projects have been focused on constructing assemblages in fabric, thread and other materials.

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps

Support and wellbeing

Sport at Brighton