BA (Hons) Visual Communication (Animation)

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

Why choose this course?

Final year student Mair Perkins was awarded first prize in the Animation section of the international competition, Design Against Fur.

Do you want to communicate issues and ideas through animation?
Are you enthusiastic about media and film?
Are you passionate about drawing?
Do you want to contribute to the future of digital animation for the internet, broadcast and
film?
Would you like the opportunity to work alongside illustration and graphic design students in our dynamic visual communication studio?

You'll gain industry standard knowledge and skills in the creative application of digital software for animation. You'll work with software such as; Adobe After Effects, Adobe Flash and Autodesk Maya.

You'll get lots of support and expert advice on careers in our Professional Studies modules, at every level of this course.

About the course

The explosion of animation in advertising, entertainment, television, interactive educational materials, mobile communications and on the web provides many new opportunities for animators with appropriate abilities and skills.

This course explores digital animation, with particular emphasis on the developments in technology that enable you to produce broadcast quality animations for the commercial world, or to communicate personal issues and ideas.

You'll explore sequential and interactive image-making, narrative, timing, creative storytelling, the web, scripting, sound, and the historical and contemporary background of your work.

You can choose to study our MDes which is an undergraduate and postgraduate course combined. You'll study for four years and gain a masters in Animation. Find out more.

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

Year one

Visual Problem Solving - this module explores your personal approach to communicating visual ideas. You'll tackle creative projects through drawing, image making and letterforms.
Visual Exploration - this practical studio based module encourages you to explore communication through drawing, the figure, digital photography, video, printmaking and letterforms.
Digital Studio Practice - this workshop module introduces you to the fundamental skills of digital design and image creation.
Communication and Culture 1 - this lecture based module investigates visual communication and its influence and impact on history and society.
Professional Studies in Visual Communication 1 - this module introduces you to personal planning

Year two

Directed Projects in Animation - this module focuses on developing your individual approach to animation, with emphasis on effective communication. You're expected to push the boundaries, research, critically analyse and challenge existing ideas.
Design Solutions - this optional module explores design solutions for magazines, books and posters, literature, identity and new media formats.
Digital Moving Images - this optional module provides you with an opportunity to focus on making and manipulating digital moving images for short films.
Sequential Illustration - this optional module focuses on creating sequential and narrative illustrations to communicate ideas effectively in a variety of formats including books, exhibitions, in magazines and the press, and on packaging.
Advanced Digital Studio Practice - this workshop module enables you to build on the knowledge and skills you developed in the Digital Studio Practice module.
Communication and Culture 2 - this lecture based module explores visual communication issues and themes including gender, age and ethnic identity, as well the cultural role of visual communication in society.
Professional Studies in Visual Communication 2 - this module explores the many aspects of visual communication and encourages you to explore your specific areas of interest with regards to postgraduate opportunities and your future career.

Year three

Negotiated Study in Animation - for this module you'll complete a challenging practical project, which will express your individuality and direction within animation.
Research and Planning for Independent Study - this module forms the initial decision making, planning and preparation phase for your final major project. You'll select, plan, explore and experiment with work to your own theme.
Independent Study in Animation - this module enables you to define yourself as an animator by completing a substantial piece of work that expresses your individual creative and professional potential.
Resolution - this module challenges you to respond to a 'live' project brief from an external company, with individuality and professionalism.
Communication and Culture 3 - this module gives you the opportunity to research an area that interests to you, and write an extended essay.
Professional Studies in Visual Communication 3 - this module explores professionalism in the visual communication industry, and encourages you to investigate careers and further study routes.

Your career

Student Jemima Williams won a Wellcome Trust Design4Science competition for her film in August 2007. And Kim Robson was chosen to show one of her films at the Bristol Encounters Film Festival in 2007.

Watch films by Jemima and Kim...

Once you've graduated, you can go on to a career in animation for advertising, film, television and web based moving imagery, computer games, or educational animation, as an employee of a company or as a freelance animator. Or you may want to move on to postgraduate study.

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.

We will be accepting applications up until the 24 March 2010 however we encourage you to apply by the 15 January 2010.

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 2010 (part time only, if available)
September 2011

See a list of courses we are still taking applications for in September 2010.

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

September 2010
September 2011

UCAS code

W615

Fees *

UK/EU students

Full time: £3,290 (per year)
Part time: £270 per single module (you usually take 24 of these modules in total)

International students

Full time: £8,500 (per year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2010 and August 2011. 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.

What financial help can I get?

Course length

Full time: three years, or four years with Year Zero.
Part time: available by negotiation.

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements are usually 180-240 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent ...

More...

Standard entry requirements

More about staff, careers, the department...

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