BA (Hons) Animation

When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

You can explore your passion for drawing, ideas and story telling through digital animation.
You'll be encouraged to develop original ideas and concepts expressed through moving image and sound.
You don't need need any previous experience with animation.
The course prepares you for a wide range of professions with the media and creative industries.
You'll gain the skill and abilities you need to work in video and sound editing, film and televison, special effects, motion graphics, short film and music video production.
You'll also gain advanced skills in industry standard animation and video and sound software including; Autodesk Maya; Adobe After Effects; Adobe Flash; Final Cut Pro.

About the course

The explosion of animation, moving image, and film surrounds us. We are entertained on mobile devices, television, on the web, and on big screens in public areas. Film, advertising and creative messages are part of our daily lives and this profession requires fresh thinking creative people to challenge and develop this media. This course reflects the endlessly changing animation market and puts you at the centre of this exciting field. It explores animation, with particular emphasis on the developments in technology that enable you to produce broadcast quality animations for the commercial world, or to communicate your own personal ideas.
You will explore sequential and interactive image making, 2D and 3D animation, character development, narrative, timing, creative storytelling, the web, scripting, sound, and the historical and contemporary context of your work. You will gain professional knowledge and skills in the creative application of digital software for animation, experimenting with state-of-the-art equipment and resources that are constantly updated.
During the course you will meet exciting and innovative speakers from the animation industry. Recent speakers have included; One Dot Zero and BAFTA award winning animator from the BBC Wonderland series, Jonathan Hodgson. You'll receive personal and guided tuition from approachable, experienced staff to ensure you reach your full potential.
You can study this course full time or part time.

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

Your career

Watch the Animation Course Showreel and films from our students

After graduation your career options will include animation for advertising, film, television and TV titles, games design, animation for web design, as a designer in a creative studio, in educational animation or as a freelance animator. Some students also go on to teaching or postgraduate study.

Students are promoted nationally and have been featured on the BBC Big screen, The Quad Arts Centre, and at animation festivals such as: Bristol Encounters, and the Wolverhampton Flip Festival.

Student work and our final year students graduation films were shown on the 2009 Glastonbury's BBC Big Screen.

What our students say

Interview with Cara Arpino a BA (Hons) Visual Communication (Animation) student.

More student interviews

"I chose the course because not only did it have an interesting module content but the tutors were welcoming and the University felt relaxed and cool!"
Cara Arpino, third year animation student

"The thing that attracted me to this course was the open plan of the studio and also the bright atmosphere."
Tony Tansley, third year animation student

"I would like to comment as a gradutate that the careers centre was very helpful and through the University I was able to be a volunteer at the local RSPCA as a graphic designer. This was a great experience and helped me find paid work in Graphic Design. Also the Student's Union has been very supportive by employing me as a graphic designer and allowed for flexible working hours to fit around my freelance work."

"There were loads of opportunities to enter competitions, do work experience and research future career paths."
Mair Perkins, graduate animation student

How you'll learn

You'll be taught through a range of teaching and learning methods throughout the programme in keeping with the aims and emphasis of particular modules. This includes: project work, workshop practice, lectures, demonstrations, seminars, groups critiques, work checks, individual tutorials, field study, cultural visits, reports, and assignments.

The main vehicle for teaching and learning throughout the programme is practical project work, which integrates technical, analytical, intellectual and organisational considerations of practice.

Full time students will be expected to attend on a daily basis according to the schedule of sessions given to you by the module leader, with periods of time allocated to self directed study.

As the course progresses you're expected to take more responsibility for the Independent Study module in the final stage.

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed by coursework, as relevant to each module. This may include; portfolios of artwork, exhibition, sketchbooks, research and background material, essays, reports and presentations.

Fieldtrips

The programme will be running joint fieldtrips with other visual communications courses.

Work placements

There is no formal work placement, however, we have good links with local, national and international companies and regularly run 'live' projects.

Anything else?

Have you thought about taking our Visual Communication MDes?

It's an undergraduate and postgraduate course combined. You'll study for four years and gain a masters degree in Graphic Design, Illustration or Animation, depending on which specialism you choose.

This means you don't have to worry about the expense and inconvenience of relocating for a separate postgraduate year. And you can get a student loan for all 4 years of the course. Find out more about the MDes.

Find out more about direct entry onto the second or third year.

Start dates

If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:

September 2012

If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:

September 2012

UCAS code

W615

Fees

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

Full time: £7,495 (each year)
Part time: £935 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total).

International students

Full time: £9,975 (each year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.