Making your mark in a competitive employment market is tough, and for those aiming to work in the creative industries, it’s increasingly important to have an edge over the competition. Master’s programmes in art and design at UCLan allow you to elevate your professional practice to a higher level and become a specialist in your chosen area.
Jack Cole chose to study the MA in animation at UCLan because he felt the expertise and contacts he gained through the programme would be invaluable. He also found it cost him less to study on the MA than it would to hone his craft independently, as much of the software he needed to develop his skills was either free or heavily discounted for students.
MA children’s book illustration student Charlotte Casswell studied fine art at BA level, but wanted to specialise in illustrating for children. She felt the MA would give her more context and knowledge of her area of study and would help her to network and ultimately find work once she graduates. She says: “You can’t get a job in illustration from the newspaper or the internet, you have to go out and network. You really do get to speak to industry professionals constantly throughout the course and that’s the main thing to take away from it.”
For some, studying an MA can be a way into a new career. John King came from a background in engineering and computing, but found himself more and more involved in video games work. He says: “The MA in games design gave me a fantastic opportunity to look at following a different career path and find my way through in that particular direction. I found it to be life-changing - it provided exactly what I needed, but also gave me a passion for something I didn’t realise I was so excited about.”
