Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
(Oakville)
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Overview
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Courses
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Admission Requirements
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Careers
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Internship
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Fees & Financial Aid
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Learning Outcomes
Learn to make great art while making a great living.
Program Overview
Our studio-focused curriculum prepares you for the real world
- Explore drawing and painting* and digital approaches like motion, 3D and the web
- Take more illustration-specific courses than most visual communication programs.
- Develop illustrations for publishing, film and motion, games and editorial
- Get professional experience during a 14-week work term.
*Note: You'll be required, as part of the curriculum, to study life drawing and painting. This regularly includes drawing the nude figure and the study of human anatomy.
Standing out in a crowded marketplace
Illustration students at Sheridan explore both material and digital media. You'll also develop a visual philosophy to go along with your technical mastery. This broad-based approach will enable you to apply your Illustration degree across a wide range of career paths, while preparing you to adapt to exciting developments in visual communication.
Telling stories
Illustration technology is constantly evolving, but the core skill — the ability to tell stories and communicate ideas visually — never changes. In Sheridan's Illustration bachelor's degree program, you'll learn to create images with a purpose that stand out and make an impact.
Work placement and portfolio
Sheridan's Bachelor of Illustration degree program includes a 14-week work placement between the third and fourth years. Our office will help you arrange your placement, which may be located as far away as New York City or Europe.
You'll also develop a workplace-ready portfolio and website.
Technology requirements
The Illustration program requires each successful applicant to supply their own iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. You'll use these tools throughout all four years of the degree. Your iPad Pro and Apple Pencil will be required for both in-class work and projects outside of class. Learn more about Illustration technology requirements.
Sheridan has been granted a consent by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer this degree for a further seven-year term starting May 12, 2021 and subject to renewal thereafter. Application the Ministry for renewal of the consent is a prescribed and cyclical requirement for degree programs at all Ontario colleges. Sheridan will ensure that all students admitted to the Honours Bachelor of Illustration program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame. Credentials earned during the period of consent remain valid, even if Ministry consent to offer the program is withdrawn in the future. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (e.g. acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies, or other educational institutions).
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Faculty
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Designation
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Helpful links
Courses
Creative, innovative learning is at the core of all Sheridan’s courses. Here are the courses you’ll take in this program.
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Semester 1
CODE TITLE CREDITS ILLS 15098 Illustrative Structural Drawing 1 3 ILLS 14370 Illustrative Life Drawing & Painting 1 3 ILLS 10101 Illustration Conceptual Process 1 3 VDES 10101 Illustration Design Principles 1 3 ENGL 17889GD Composition and Rhetoric 3 Total credits: 15
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Semester 2
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Semester 3
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Semester 4
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Semester 5
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Semester 6
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Semester 7
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Semester 8
Courses subject to change.
Current students should refer to their Academic Requirements in myStudentCentre to track their academic progress and outstanding course requirements.
Find course details for electives:
Board Undergraduate Certificates
As a Sheridan degree student, you can earn a Board Undergraduate Certificate alongside your degree without taking any additional courses. Earn one of the following specialized credentials by completing a specific collection of electives as part of your program:
Book a campus tour
Faculty
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Designation
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Helpful links
Admission Requirements
Program Eligibility
Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, including these required courses:
- English, Grade 12 (ENG4U)
plus
- One Visual Arts credit (Grade 11 or 12 U, M or O level or equivalent postsecondary credit course)
- Four other Grade 12 subjects (U or M)
- Minimum 65% overall average
or
- Two semesters of postsecondary education including required English (ENG4U) or equivalent and Visual Arts course listed above with a minimum 65% overall average
Portfolio
Applicants are required to submit a portfolio. The detailed portfolio requirements including due date and submission instructions will be posted in your Sheridan Application Portal. Please note that there is a portfolio assessment fee.
Sample portfolio instructions for reference purposes only are also available.
Applicant Selection
Eligible applicants are selected based on previous academic achievement (the average of their six highest senior-level credits, including the required courses listed above), plus the results of their portfolio.
Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program may be advised individually regarding other related programs.
Pathways opportunity
If you do not meet the admission requirements above, successfully completing Sheridan's Art Fundamentals, Media Fundaments or Visual and Creative Arts program with a minimum 65% overall average will help you meet the admission requirements for this program.
These programs are a stepping stone to further, deeper study in your field of interest. They introduce theory and practice to students who want to assess their talent, build a basic portfolio or skill set, and chart a course for further study.
English Language Proficiency
All applicants whose first language is not English must meet Sheridan’s English proficiency requirements.
Book a campus tour
Faculty
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Designation
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Helpful links
Career Opportunities
Many illustrators develop highly successful freelance careers or work in creative studios. Sheridan will prepare you for employment by teaching you business and marketing skills. Learn how to run a small business, pitch an idea, assemble a dynamic portfolio, collaborate with a team, manage copyright and more.
Sample Career Fields
- Games/Concept Art
- Children's Books
- Film and Animation
- Editorial
- Comics/Graphic Novels
- Information and Design
- Publishing
Book a campus tour
Faculty
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Designation
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Helpful links
Internship
This program contains a mandatory internship for all students during the summer (May–August) between the 3rd and 4th year.
Internships are a form of work-integrated learning that links classroom learning with work experience within a professional environment. Internship work terms are related to the academic studies of the student and may be paid or unpaid. The work terms provide an opportunity to learn by doing. You'll apply theory to practice, develop a meaningful view of the working world, and cultivate an awareness of yourself as a professional.
Students receive in-class and 1-on-1 career education support to help prepare for the Internship. The Internship component is delivered by Sheridan's Co-operative Education Office, which facilitates over 1,800 Co-op/Internship work terms per year Sheridan-wide.
Learn more about Cooperative Education and Internships at Sheridan.
Book a campus tour
Faculty
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Designation
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Helpful links
Program Fees
Fees shown here are estimates only. Fees are in Canadian dollars and include tuition, health insurance and ancillary charges.
The fees shown here are for the 2025–2026 academic year, and are subject to change. The fees displayed are for the first two (2) academic semesters of study at Sheridan unless otherwise noted; fees for subsequent semesters are not reflected on this website.
Fees for Canadian students
$10,071.54Notes: In addition to the tuition/fees for this program, students should plan to spend approximately $2,000-$5,000 on technology and supplies. Co-op students must pay an additional fee of $535 in the term prior to each co-op work term.
Fees for International students
$28,233.54Financial Aid & Awards
Your education is a big investment, and we're here to help! Keep an eye on our Financial Aid & Awards page for regular updates, and check out these important links:
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
- Scholarships, awards and bursaries
- Work Study Assistance Program
International Entrance Scholarship
International students beginning their full-time postsecondary studies at Sheridan may receive an entrance scholarship. A separate application is not required. Visit the International Entrance Scholarship page for details.
Book a campus tour
Faculty
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Designation
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Helpful links
Learning Outcomes
Critical Performance Statement:
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to create a body of technically competent and visually compelling Illustration that is culturally informed and reflects the individual voice. Furthermore, they will have demonstrated the ability to apply the entrepreneurial skills required to sustain a professional practice in a rapidly changing global market place.
A graduate of the Illustration Applied Degree program will have demonstrated the ability to:
- Create illustrations from the development of the original concept to final execution.
- Apply theories and principles of design and communication to the development of effective illustrations.
- Communicate visually using drawing as a means of visual exploration, idea analysis, problem solving and expression of thought.
- Use a variety of technologies to create, capture and manipulate illustration elements in producing a final product.
- Work in a professional manner, maintaining professional relationships and communicating effectively with clients, coworkers, supervisors, and others.
- Apply appropriate and effective business practices when dealing with clients.
Book a campus tour
Faculty
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Designation
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Duration
4 years (8 semesters)
Location
Trafalgar Road Campus
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Helpful links
Program availability
Honours Baccalaureate Degree
Full-time 4 years Program code: PBAAI
| Start date | Campus | Delivery | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | Trafalgar Road Campus (Oakville) |
In Person
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Domestic Closed
International Closed
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