Course summary

• Work across a variety of forms including 2D drawn and digital-based animation, stop motion and 3D CGI animation.
• Specialise in your preferred animation discipline for your major project film.
• Produce a portfolio of project work to showcase your skills to potential employers.
• Learn a broad range of techniques and theoretical knowledge underpinning the form, including storyboarding, life drawing and concept art with this practical animation course. You graduate with the experience to enter the animation industry, or in a wide range of other creative sectors.

 The course is an Aardman Academy Partner, giving access to exclusive opportunities from industry professionals.

 How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

 

At every level of the course, you will have the opportunity to engage with live projects set by Animation studios in collaboration with professionals. You can apply to access placements, volunteering opportunities, workshops on professional skills, internships, and work experience engaging with the employability team. Our lecturers are passionate about what they do and are involved in current research and personal practice. This means you may have the opportunity to engage with, and apply, research-based knowledge to real-world projects, making you stand out to employers. Some of the course briefs are designed and delivered in collaboration with industry. Through our Aardman Academy partnership, we can provide relevant learning opportunities for students to thrive in creative industries.

Throughout the course you will experience a range of teaching methods, from specialist workshops in bespoke studios, to lectures and seminars, individual tutorials, and group work. You will be able to develop your own area of interest and specialise in your preferred animation discipline for your major project piece (including 2D drawn, stop motion or 3D CGI animation).

You learn through:

• coursework
• portfolios
• projects
• written reports
• peer critique groups
• Aardman masterclasses

 

You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through a number of key areas. These include:

• access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development.
• access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.
• industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities.
• portfolio critiques by Aardman Animation (after selection process).

 Future careers

This course prepares you for a career as a:

• 2D Animator
• Stop motion animator
• 3D CGI animator
• set designer
• puppet builder
• texture artist
• modeller
• rigger
• compositor
• producer
• Editor
• Background artist
• storyboard artist
• character designer

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:

• A Productions
• BBC (CBeebies)
• Blinkink
• Broadcast Media Services
• Calex UK
• Doodledo
• Double Negative
• Flix Facilities
• Fudge Animation Studios
• Fumb Games
• Grizzle
• iHasco
• Industrial Light and Magic
• Kerrupt stop-motion animation
• Squideo
• Twinkle

Equipment and facilities

You will have access to excellent specialised facilities such as our animation studios equipped with industry-standard technology:

 

• Stop motion studio with green screens, Dragon Frame, stages, and lighting.
• 2D animation studio with cintiq tablets, Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe CC Suite.
• Industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, 3D Studio Max and VRay Render engine, among others.
• Bookable equipment for photographic cameras, audio recording equipment.

 

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students. Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Final year

Compulsory modulesModuleCreditsAssessmentDissertation20Coursework
Major Animation Project80Coursework
Elective modulesModuleCreditsAssessmentLife Drawing20Coursework
Professional Design Project20Coursework
Sound Design And Sonic Arts Practice20Coursework
Visual Effects Project20Coursework