Updated on Sep 2, 2025 06:02 IST

This course is all bout the art of expressing one's stories, using drawings, paintings, digital tools, or mixed media. Illustration courses help you to pursue a career in visual storytelling, publishing, advertising, fashion, gaming, or digital media. Read more to get more information on this course.

Illustration Course Details: Highlights

Before choosing any program, it’s important to know the key details of the course at a glance:

Highlights 

Details

Course Level

Certificate, Diploma, UG (BFA/BVA in Illustration), and PG (MFA/MA in Illustration).

Eligibility

UG: Class 12 along with entrance examination

PG: Graduation in any discipline or Theatre or Drama

Certificate: Class 12

PH.D: Completion of Post graduation degree.

Duration

Certificate: 6 months - 1 year

UG: 3 - 4 years

PG: 2 years

Ph.D: 3 – 5 years

Examination Type

Semester-wise

Subjects

  • Core Subjects: Drawing & sketching, digital tools, composition, perspective, character design, storytelling, color theory.

  • Electives: Typography, comics, animation basics, 3D illustration, creative advertising.

Fee Range

INR 50,000 – INR 6,00,000 (depending on course & college)

Top Colleges

Aligarh Muslim University, Avantika University, World University of Design,Skyblue Institute of Design, Ahmedabad,etc.

Average Starting Salary

INR 3 – INR 8 LPA (can grow with experience & portfolio)

Job Scope

Illustrator, Animators, Fashion Illustrator, Graphic Designer

Entrance Exams

NID DAT, UCEED, NIFT, CEED, College-specific exams

Top Recruiters

 

Information source: Multiple external sites, hence, may vary

Illustration Course links you might be interested in:

What is Graphics Art?

Design Sketching - Master Every Aspect from Concept to Creation

 

Table of content
  • Illustration Courses Eligibility Criteria and Admission 2025
  • Illustration Courses Entrance Exam 2025
  • Illustration Courses Syllabus
  • Best Illustration Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Illustration Colleges in India
  • Illustration: Salary, Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters
  • FAQs on Illustration Courses
  • Popular Illustration UG Courses
  • Popular Illustration PG Courses
View More

Illustration Courses Eligibility Criteria and Admission 2025

Refer to this section to know more about eligiblity criteria of this course:

Course Eligibility Criteria
UG Level
  • To pursue an Arts program at a degree or diploma level, you need to complete Class XII in any stream.
  • Sometimes universities/ colleges also demand basic knowledge of Illustration subjects to which candidates are applying.
PG Level
  • To pursue an Illustration program at a degree or PG diploma level, candidates need to complete their graduation in Arts with the minimum percentage stipulated by a particular university/ college in which they are seeking admission.
Certificate-Level
  • Illustration courses are short-term courses that candidates can pursue if they clear Class 10th. 

Information source: Multiple external sites, hence may vary.

 

Illustration Course Admission 2025

Here is the general step-by-step guide for Admission to the Illustration Course:
  1. Conduct personal-level research and know the eligibility for the course in your chosen college.
  2. Look out for whether the admission requires appearing in any entrance; if yes, then choose the exam accordingly.
  3. Register, prepare, and appear for the exams accepted/ conducted by the colleges and wait for the results.
  4. Apply to the universities/ colleges by filling out the application/ registration form.
  5. Check out the official websites for your score.
  6. Attend counselling sessions if shortlisted.
  7. Pay the fees and get your documents verified before you start with your classes.
 

Illustration Courses Entrance Exam 2025

Some top exams that are key to securing admission into esteemed institutions across India are as follows:

Entrance Exams 

Exam Dates

Exam Schedule 

CUET 2025

13 May ' 25 - 03 Jun ' 25

CUET Exam Date 2025

CUET PG 2025

Mar' 26 (Tentative)

CUET PG Exam Date 2025

JMI Entrance Exam 2025

Already conducted in Apr '25

JMI Entrance Exam Date 2025

Note: The exam dates and schedules mentioned above may vary depending on the latest updates.

Mar '26

PUBDET 2026 Applications

TENTATIVE

10 Sep ' 25

PUBDET 2025 2nd Round Seat Allotment

Sep '25

MAH AAC CET 2025 Cut-off Date for all type of adm...

TENTATIVE

Sep '25

MAH AAC CET 2025 Last date of uploading the data

TENTATIVE

Mar '26

CUET 2026 Application Process

TENTATIVE

May '26 - Jun '26

CUET 2026 Exam

TENTATIVE

Illustration Courses Syllabus

Refer to this section for more details on the subjects in this course:

Subjects

Drawing with Basic Shape Tools Shape Controls
Line Tools, Variable Width Strokes, & Rotate Tool Building Complex Shapes with Basic Shapes
Social Media Graphics with Type, Photos, & Vectors Drawing with the Pen Tool
Join, Average, & Aligning Points Strokes: Dashed, Dotted, Gradients, & More
Patterns Blending Objects
The Appearance Panel & Multiple Strokes 3D Text
Generate Vectors with Adobe’s AI  How to make a moving image (GIF)

Information source: Multiple external sites, hence may vary

Read more:

 

Q:   What are the core subjects in an Illustration course?
Q:   Do Illustration courses include cross-disciplinary subjects?

Best Illustration Colleges in India

Check the table below for more details and similar options: 

Colleges Tuition Fee
Aligarh Muslim University INR 800
JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Vile Parle West INR 3,999
Samskara Academy INR 7,080
Arena Animation, Chembur INR 25,000
Istituto Marangoni, Mumbai INR 1.66 Lakh
Skyblue Institute of Design, Ahmedabad INR 2.40 Lakh
Avantika University INR 2.40 Lakh
INR 4.80 Lakh
World University of Design INR 4.14 Lakh
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology INR 6.66 Lakh
Indian Institute of Fashion Technology NA

Data source: Official/counselling body and institute/exam

1 Course
800
3 L
4.0
6.9 L
7 LPA
2.4 L - 4.8 L
1 Course
1.66 L

Popular Private Illustration Colleges in India

1 Course
800
3 L
4.0
6.9 L
7 LPA
2.4 L - 4.8 L
1 Course
1.66 L

Illustration: Salary, Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters

One of the biggest questions students have is “What can I do after an illustration course?” This section explores the different career options and industries where illustrators can find opportunities. From book publishing to fashion design, illustrators have a wide creative scope.

Courses

Average Salary

Illustrator INR 2.6 LPA - INR 23.8 LPA
Animators INR 2.3 LPA - INR 8 LPA
Concept Artist INR 2 LPA - INR 12 LPA
Fashion Illustrator INR 2.7 LPA - INR 3.5 LPA
Graphic Designer INR 2.5 LPA - INR 7.5 LPA
UI Designer INR 1.8 LPA - INR 11.6 LPA

Salary source: Ambitionbox.com and may vary.

Illustration Courses Top Recruiters

Here are some of the Top Recruiters who hire illustration courses Graduates:

Top Recruiters
Accenture Ogilvy Raymond
Infosys Rockstar Games EA Sports
Aza Fashions Toonz Animation Reliance Animation
Byju’s FabIndia Hindustan Times

 

 

FAQs on Illustration Courses

Here are some important questions related to Illustration Courses:

Popular Illustration UG Courses

Following are the most popular Illustration UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Illustration PG Courses

Following are the most popular Illustration PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a month ago

Yes, Depending on the college, students also learn the following subjects along with advanced-level Illustration:

  • Photography & Cinematography basics
  • Graphic Design for branding
  • UX/UI with illustration integration
  • Creative Writing for visual storytelling

A

Aashi Rai

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a month ago

Most of the Illustration Courses includes the core syllabus mentioned below:

  • Fundamentals of Drawing & Sketching
  • Art & Design Principles
  • Digital Illustration (Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, CorelDRAW)
  • Anatomy & Figure Drawing
  • Typography & Calligraphy
  • Storyboarding & Visual Narratives
  • Children's Book Il

...Read more

K

Kritika Tyagi

Contributor-Level 7