MDes 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.
Our MDes is equivalent to any other Masters degree. You can also apply for student loan funding to cover all four years of full time study.

About the course

This four year course incorporates undergraduate and postgraduate study, enabling you to be committed from the early stages as a deep thinker, risk taker and innovative practitioner in animation. You'll study the same modules as BA (Hons) Animation students until halfway through your third year, when you will move on to study at masters level for the final 18 months.

You will explore sequential and interactive image making, 2D and 3D animation, narrative, timing, creative storytelling, character design, 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.

In your final year you will produce in depth, challenging and original creative ideas through a Final Major project. We will encourage you to consider the ethical impact of your practice and individuality as a designer, by questioning and challenging what the subject can be and pushing boundaries.

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

Your career

After you've graduated from this distinctive course, you'll be one step ahead of others in the graduate jobs market. You will achieve a Masters award at the end of four years study without needing to change universities or find postgraduate funding. You'll already have a highly professional and innovative showreel of creative animation work.

Anything else?

For direct entry to year three, you'll need a foundation degree or DipHE in a related subject, or practical or professional experience.

For direct entry in January of year three when the Level 7 masters modules begin, you'll need a good honours degree or equivalent in a related subject and work or creative practical experience.

We're a member of the Association of Illustrators (AOI) and D&AD (Design and Art Direction).

Our students regularly work in association with many high profile design companies, such as Macmillan Children's books, Penguin Books, The Chase, Big Fish, K Design and at in house positions with the Southern Derbyshire Health Trust and Rolls-Royce PLC.

We've also run 'live' projects with: Anglia Television, Southern Derbyshire Health Trust, the National Trust, Oasis Fashion Retailer, Smith East Associates, Design Group, the Bridge Group of design consultants, Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby City Council, Derby Literature Development, NewEnglish Design Group in Leicester, and the University of Derby Marketing Department.

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

W618

Fees

Taking the full 4 year course?

UK/EU students will pay £3,375 per year
International students will pay £9,250 per year.

Starting the course at Masters level?

If you've already got a BA (Hons) and want to go on to the MDes, you'd start half way through Year 3 and study for 18 months. Fees for this 18 month period are:

UK/EU students

£285 per single module (you usually take 12 of these modules in total)

International students

£9,700

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2011 and August 2012. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year and there may be extra costs eg for exams, trips or special modules.