AUB vs falmouth university for BA illustration

I can't speak to AUB or Falmouth Illustartion (Although I applied to Falmouth for their games art course several years ago, and got a good impression of the university) but I can speak about comic and concept art.
We're seeing more and more "Comic & Concept Art" Courses, most of them originating within the last 5-10 years, if not more recent, while the opportunities are becoming scarcer and scarcer. I'm assuming you say you want to work in this industry because you've seen universities offering these courses, but correct me if i'm wrong.
The reason I say that is because "Concept and Comic Art" isn't a collective, or a single industry - they're quite different and require different approaches. The only reason we see them lumped in together is typically because of these newer courses.
Concept art is an industry, typically freelancers and people working on short-term contracts working for film, tv and games companies. it typically involves working to specific briefs and deadlines. (i.e. draw multiple different angles of a sci-fi styled lamppost) You might draw over the top of 3D models in order to meet tight turnarounds or meet standards to maintain consistency. There are some full-time, permanent concept artists out there but they are a scarcity- Really not many in the country.
Comics and freelance artists in general, i.e. the type you see running stalls at conventions, are less of an industry and more of a collective ... While comics can get published they are more often than not being self-published and the people writing them are typically self employed. These are typically people working to their own budgets, organising getting their own stock made by talking to distributors (i.e. liaising with people that print comics and prints and keyrings etc), managing social media profiles, and generally coming up with their own ideas/drawing whatever they want, but under strict budgets with small profit margins.
And sure... i'm sure there's (a very small number of) instances of people working freelance for more popular comic artists where they are probably primarily drawing backgrounds or inking etc... but this is not really a career path, at least in the UK.
The main things I would say, having worked with concept artists, if you are absolutely set on being a concept artist:

Best of luck to you, feel free to reach out to me with any Qs

hi again...! i keep asking questions, but i'm a really indecisive guy and could really do with some advice :')
i was previously mostly considering falmouth and norwich uni of the arts for this course, but since have ended up doing more research on AUB and now i'm really stuck between it and falmouth! i have offers for both, which i'm pretty much certain i'll be able to meet the conditions for.
i've been to an open day at falmouth, and absolutely loved it! the campus and location are beautiful, and i could really see myself living there. i'm not really one for buzzing and busy cities, so i liked how cozy it felt, and i adored the natural atmosphere. the application process felt a lot more personalised, mostly due to the interview, and i felt like they really did take a lot of interest in applicants, which i liked! i also know the course has a great reputation and great industry links, so that's definitely a pro. on the other side, i do like some parts of city life, such as going to concerts for bands i like (which i know cornwall isn't a popular destination for,) museums, and other places/events like this... i also have family in london, and am an international student so i'd have to fly out of the uk to visit family, so transport and travel would be a big issue for me living here, although it would be manageable but definitely very tiring!
i haven't been to an open day at AUB and won't be able to, but i also quite liked the course! i noticed that, on paper, there seems to be a bigger focus on narrative illustration, which is pretty much what i want to go into after graduation (comic and concept art.) i also quite like what i've seen of the facilities on the 360 campus tour online, and some of the student work that i've seen is a lot closer to my specialisation than what i've seen from falmouth. also, i know their animation production course is very renowned, so i’d like to be able to potentially collaborate with students there and possibly attend lectures and workshops for it, if that’s possible, because it’s another interest of mine! i just didn’t want to box myself into just animation, so i applied for illustration. however, i recently saw a review stating that although collaboration between courses is encouraged, it’s not very facilitated, whereas it’s definitely moreso at falmouth. since the town is bigger, i also feel a lot more at ease with the idea of having access to necessities and the like, plus it's close to london and has really good transport links! but i'm worried that the more city-like feel of the campus and town as well as the influx of tourists might get overwhelming, and i've noticed that it tends to rank lower than falmouth for art and design... since i haven't been to an open day i'm not as familiar with this uni or location and would like some more information before i make a decision.
i've been talking with students on unibuddy and have heard great things about both courses and universities! there's a lot of different things i like about both, which makes it hard to compare the two! it's been really hard and stressful, and i'm scared i'll end up regretting my decision it feels stupid to not go to falmouth when i've gotten an offer considering its reputation and industry connections, as well as me liking the town as much as i do. i could probably sort out transport, but the idea of traveling 9 hours by coach to london whether it be wanting to visit family or go to a concert or whatnot and spending approx £500 on flights is really daunting... is the university experience and town life worth it? besides, the narrative focus at AUB would be nice, but i'm not sure if the more broad approach falmouth offers would be objectively more beneficial in the long run, if that makes sense. i do like the town a lot too, but at the same time i loved falmouth as well D: i'm also a disabled student, so support and accommodation regarding that is definitely also important, as it affects my learning and academic performance. i’d also like information on employability and industry at both unis, it’s worth noting i’d be doing a placement year at both
i'd really appreciate input from people who've either studied or currently study at either uni, or really know anything :') thanks a lot!

Hi rudasg,
I had a read through your post and as I study BA Illustration at Falmouth I hope I can help you even a little!
I fully understand your struggle and worry with 'boxing' yourself into an area. In my experience, the course is structured so as to give you more personal freedom as you go through the years. 1st year is spent experimenting in different areas of illustration (editorial, concept art, poster design, book covers etc...) with set live briefs to allow you to adapt to an environment with a high project turnover. Afterwards, 2nd and 3rd year is all about becoming independent and managing your own projects, allowing you to specialise in your chosen field while still being supported by tutors. The course also adapts every year based on student feedback!
I myself have spent my 3rd year developing art for games and graphic novels, and know friends and students who have ran projects by working with other courses or local businesses (I have a friend who worked with a writing/coding students to create art for a published game!) . Although I can't speak for other universities, at Falmouth I would say there is a definite emphasis on collaboration, be it within your own course or between courses. Alongside group projects, it is quite normal for students from other courses to reach out to illustration students such as: writing students for book covers or internal illustrations, film students looking for poster design or prop art, event students for infographics etc. There is also nothing to stop the vice versa from happening.
Falmouth can be quite hilly, so to get around I would say buses are the main form of transport or the train. I travel to London myself to go back home and use either the coach to London Victoria, or the train to London Paddington). The prices vary but I find it mostly affordable if you book in advance. There are a lot of students here who travel home for holidays, but of course you know yourself best and what would work for you. Personally, I like the smaller town vibes as I feel there is always something going on, markets/ local gigs/ art events/ sea shanties, and there are a lot of local places you can visit - the beach is always a classic.
For opportunities, the university likes to invite in art directors to look at students works exhibited, and to give talks. There are also a variety of live briefs proposed to students from real clients, for example the St austell printing company likes to work with illustration students to design yearly calendars. Students have also worked with local hospitals, museums, and students have been encouraged to join in on artistic competitions such as the penguin book covers. There are more, but these are the ones I have personally taken part in
As for accommodation, this is what the university currently offers: https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/accommodation
I would recommend getting in touch with the accommodation team to receive accurate guidance. The team is very lovely and the university will always try to fulfil any adjustments a student might need. You can contact them by phone on 01326 253639 or email them at [email protected]
The accessibility team is also great for helping students that need academic adjustments and support while at university, such as with DSA or extra time: https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/experience/support/accessibility
I very much encourage you to reach out to both of these teams as they will be more qualified to discuss anything support related with you!
And in the event you change your mind, I would like to reassure you you are never stuck! You would still be able to change courses or unis, I myself transferred to BA Illustration, just make sure to reach out and talk to your tutors and they will be able to guide you! I hope this has been of help, and I wish you luck with wherever you choose to go.
Nat