BA (Hons) Comic and Concept Art
This three-year or four-year international route Bachelor of Arts in Comic and Concept Art will introduce you to the fundamentals of the creative industry, specifically focusing on comic and concept art, and provide you with the opportunity to refine a career path in this specialised field.
Faculty of Creative Industries
Programme Overview
Berlin School of Business and Innovation is in partnership with University for the Creative Arts (UCA). As a result of this partnership, BSBI is able to offer the BA (Hons) Comic and Concept Art programme. UCA is an acclaimed creative institution in the UK that ranks highly in all three of the major UK league tables. The university has also been ranked 13th out of all UK universities in the Guardian League Table 2020; and ranked no.7 in the 2021 Guardian League Tables for Business, Management & Marketing.
The programme is delivered 100% on-campus with full access to state-of-the art facilities.
Here are the types of individuals who might benefit from and enjoy pursuing a BA (Hons) Comic and Concept Art:
Individuals who aspire to become comic book artists and want to develop the specific skills required for creating sequential art.
Those with a background or interest in illustration or concept art who wish to specialise in the creation of characters, environments, and visual narratives.
Individuals who have a love for graphic novels and want to learn how to create their own stories through the combination of images and words.
People interested in animation or game design who want to specialise in character design, world-building, and storytelling through visual elements.
Those with a passion for storytelling and a desire to express narratives visually, using both traditional and digital art techniques.
Students with a background in art and design who want to focus their studies on the specific skills and techniques required for comic and concept art.
Aspiring storyboard artists who want to enhance their skills in visual storytelling and narrative development.
The School’s admissions process is subject to the Consumer Contracts (Terms and Conditions). Information on your Right of Withdrawal and our Refund Policy can be found in the BSBI study agreement.
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Portfolio Scholarship Competition
Students have the opportunity to showcase their creativity and the chance to receive a scholarship on tuition! This competition is valid on the Faculty of Creative Industries programmes being offered at the Hamburg campus.
Best Portfolio (Study for Free!)
1 Student | 100% Scholarship on Tuition
Second Best Portfolio
10 Students | 50% Scholarship on Tuition
Third Best Portfolio
20 Students | 40% Scholarship on Tuition
Find out more about how to apply here.
Programme Structure
The learning and teaching will consist of a variety of elements such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, animated/non-animated video, practical work, seminars and trips. The assessment strategy will include individual/group reports and/or presentations, case studies, essays, portfolio development, reflective journals and experiential work based activities. You will study up to four days per week, in smaller class sizes and more frequent sessions. Teaching takes place Monday to Saturdays, during morning, afternoon, or evening sessions.
Modules
YEAR 1
- Visual Design Fundamentals
- Equality Diversity and Inclusion
- Design Sprint 1
- Narrative Development for Concept & Sequential Art
- Design Sprint 2 Digital Outcome
YEAR 2
- Advanced Workflow and Techniques
- The Conscious Practitioner
- Concept Story Design
- Character and World Building
- Industry Brief
- Environmental Storytelling
- Personalised Learning Experience: Digital portfolio or online showcase
YEAR 3
- Final Major Project Pre-production
- Final Major Project: Critical & Conceptual Influences
- Professional Practise Final Major Project Production
Study in
Hamburg
- Delivery: On campus
- Duration: 3/4 years (international route)
- Intakes: No available intakes.
- Campus: Hamburg, Germany
- Degree awarded by University for the Creative Arts
The School’s admissions process is subject to the Consumer Contracts (Terms and Conditions). Information on your Right of Withdrawal and our Refund Policy can be found in the BSBI study agreement
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the BA (Hons) Comic and Concept Art course students should be able to:
Knowledge
- Apply good knowledge of English to communicate relevant international, cultural, contemporary knowledge and historical, theoretical and professional contexts.
Application to the industry
- Apply autonomy to deliver primary and secondary research involving the identification and use of relevant resources.
- Demonstrate understanding through the application of knowledge, creative design processes, and practice to meet the client outcomes defined in the brief.
- Apply knowledge of narrative theories and concepts using academic research, demonstrating analytical skills appropriate for the subject area.
- Provide evidence of applying equality, diversity, and inclusion approaches and principles to one’s own creative practice.
Skills
- Demonstrate professional skills through project management presentation and communication of ideas.
- Demonstrate the application of technical and professional skills, working effectively as an individual or in a team towards creating and presenting work to a specific brief. This should evidence professional responsibility and effective time management.
- Develop an in-depth technical skillset to demonstrate their broad level of authorship and agency in their creative practice.
- Evaluate forms of ‘othering and belonging’ in relation to normative attitudes within creative practice. Develop an awareness of the impact of EDI on game design, considering diverse perspectives and experiences.
- Create a body of work that demonstrates a consistent, refined, and considered application of appropriate advanced art, design, or development techniques. This should be within the context of your chosen genre or format related to entertainment design.
Career Progression
If you have a passion for comic and concept art, numerous exciting career paths await you. You can become a Comic Book Artist, illustrating captivating stories in graphic novels. Alternatively, explore the realm of Concept Artistry, contributing to the visual development of video games, movies, or animations. Specialise further as a Character Designer, crafting unique personas, or delve into Background Artistry to create immersive environments. Your skills could also lead you to roles like Storyboard Artist, Illustrator for books or marketing materials, Game Artist, or even pursuing freelance opportunities. The possibilities are vast, allowing you to shape your creative journey in diverse and dynamic ways.
BSBI’s dedicated Careers Service helps comic and concept students and alumni reach their career goals and realise their potential. The Service offers specialised support and aims to build long-lasting relationships with local and national employers.
Foundation International Route Option
Minimum Age: 17 (titles awarded upon completion of at least 11 years of schooling)
How to Create an Exceptional Portfolio will be available in this integrated international route foundation in art design and media course to guarantee you a direct progression into your BA degree course.
Academic Qualifications: ECCTIS UK equivalent to GCSE
BA (Hons)
Minimum Age: 18 (titles awarded upon completion of at least 12 years of schooling)
For direct Year 1 BA entry you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal.
Academic Qualifications: A school leaving certificate with a pass to pursue higher education in Germany e.g. Abitur, Fachhochschulreife or Matura. Alternatively, an international baccalaureate, international school leaving certificates, BTEC/national diploma or advanced vocational certificate of education will be accepted.
If you do not meet the above academic requirements, applicants with professional qualifications and/or four years of full-time work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
English Language Requirements:
Access to Proof of English Guide (UCA) here.
You can apply now to study with BSBI! It’s quick and easy, here’s how it works:
- Create an account here
- Select the programme and intake you want to apply for
- Complete all sections of the online application
- Submit online application
- Our Admissions Team will liaise with you with regards to next steps
The course will enable you to reach your full design potential with the help of industry experts. You’ll build a strong portfolio of powerful software skills and demonstrate effective thinking methods to navigate the challenges of today’s creative industry.
This course is ideal for those looking to enhance their expertise, confidence and skills in graphic design. You’ll become equipped with the latest skills in digital design software in order to produce an industry-standard portfolio for future career opportunities.
This Year 3 direct entry programme is tailored to students looking to build upon their knowledge of the graphic design industry and clearly communicate their creative ideas through a final major project.
Modules
Contextual Research and Critical Perspectives
Final Major Project
Professional Practice
Key Facts
Location: BSBI Hamburg Campus
Duration: 1 year (full time)
Intakes: October
Awarding Body: University for the Creative Arts
Price: BA 2025 October | €11,000 (international students) | €8,450 (EU students)
Price: Foundation International Route 2025: February/October | €11,000 (international students) | €8,450 (EU students)
Entry Requirements
Graduates from a vocational academy/institute are not required to present a portfolio upon certified successful completion of their vocational training and are eligible for a direct entry into year 3.
Same is applicable for students who completed HND in Graphic Design, Illustration or Animation or direct year 3 progression upon successful completion of level 5/Year 2 by a UK awarding body.
English Language Requirements:
Graduates from a Schengen zone vocational academy/HND/ Level 5 progression by UK awarding body are not required to present an IELTS language test but required to pass BSBI English diagnostics test which will be provided by BSBI for direct entry year 3 BA Degree.
In recent developments of hybrid learning, we require each student to arrive equipped with a laptop. We, therefore, recommend the purchase of a design-friendly mobile laptop. Please click below to read more about the technical requirement.
Your Portfolio Submission
For year 1 entry you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal. Before submitting your artwork, please have a look through the Portfolio Cookbook
What is a Portfolio?
- Your portfolio is a collection of your best work. We want to see what inspires you, how you develop your work, your creative thinking processes, how and what you create and what makes you a unique creative individual.
What Should My Portfolio Contain?
- Your portfolio might contain sketches and paintings, digital art and design. It might also contain sound work, short films.
- Upload up to 12 pieces of work which can include audio or video files.
How do I Submit My Portfolio?
- We’ll only be accepting portfolios digitally. You can do this once you’ve applied via our online submission system within the Applicant Portal.
- You can also link to external websites such as Vimeo and YouTube.
Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided by our admissions team via our admissions portal once you have applied.
Learn all about what Hamburg has to offer as an international study destination by clicking here
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