Historical and Cultural Studies explores, analyses and theorises the context of illustration and how it communicates with its audience, essential for all students. It is fully integrated with the studio-based units of the course which require awareness of audience, context and genre as the basis for successful illustration practice. Contextual study is built up in levels 1 and 2 through lectures, seminars and tutorials, with essays and presentations as assessed tasks. In level 3 the Historical and Cultural Studies unit, which comprises 20% of the degree assessment, is a dissertation, analysing a subject of individual interest within visual culture chosen by each student.