Animation
| Award | Attendance | Study | Duration | Start | Domestic fees | International fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) | On-Campus | Full-time, Sandwich | 3 - 4 years | September | find out | find out |
https://www.port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance
About Animation, BA (Hons) - at University of Portsmouth
Overview
Animation combines drawing, crafting, experimentation, filmmaking, and storytelling. It gives artists many skills to tell powerful, personal stories.
On our Animation degree, you’ll learn the artistic insight, technical skills, and creative vision needed for animation. You’ll step into a growing creative industry, which includes film and TV animation, motion graphics, and illustration. Our degree covers both 2D and 3D filmmaking.
Work on various projects to learn about character animation and visual storytelling. Then, you can explore production, compositing, and editing.
You’ll also learn from professionals from all walks of the animation industry. Some have worked for Disney, Sony, and Cartoon Network. Others have led visual effects for popular films like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Chronicles of Narnia.
Animation is more than art and technology. At Portsmouth, you’ll also think about how media affects society and the ethical side of animation.
Why study Animation at Portsmouth?
- Develop your voice as an artist and filmmaker in both 2D and 3D, using traditional and digital techniques.
- Learn key skills and methods used in the animation, film, and design industry.
- Master professional production methods at our next-gen facilities—featuring motion capture and virtual production.
- Use industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Adobe Creative Cloud, TV Paint, and Wacom Cintiq Drawing Studio.
- Show your final work at our annual Graduate Shows to impress the public and potential employers.
- Consider taking a placement year for valuable experience. You can work with a company or be self-employed.
- Earn Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) accreditation to show your skills to the industry.
- Compete in our University GameJam to test your skills and artistry.
- Opt to do a foundation year with ICP to get uni-ready ahead of this course, then take up a guaranteed place on this full Bachelor's degree when you successfully finish your foundation year.
Careers and opportunities
The UK’s animation industry creates pioneering content and visual effects worldwide for commercials, websites, games, and interactive technologies. Animations for events, concerts, theatre performances, and theme parks are also on the rise (Animation UK). With the rapid development of future technologies such as virtual, mixed, and augmented reality, animation continues to be a growing sector of the global media and entertainment market.
Upon completing our Animation degree course, you can be part of this vital industry that transcends all sectors.
Graduate roles
Our graduates have worked in a wide range of artistic roles, including:
- animators
- concept artists
- directors
- compositors
- creative directors
- art directors
- modellers
- user interface (UI) designers
- post-production technical directors
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have worked at renowned companies such as:
- Climax
- Framestore
- The Mill
- Sony Pictures Animation
- Kuju Games
- Centroid 3d in Pinewood Studios
- Cartoon Network
Graduate productions
Some of our alumni have worked on high-profile feature films and cartoons, including:
- Avatar
- Life of Pi
- Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
- The Amazing World of Gumball
Ongoing careers support
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Careers and Employability Service to help you find your perfect role.
Placement year (optional)
After your second or third year, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.
You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.
Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our Careers and Employability team can support you every step of the way.
Supporting your creative career
Our dedicated Careers and Employability team have extensive recruitment experience across a multitude of areas including the creative sector.
They can provide you with supporting and advice, including:
- Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
- Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
- Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
- Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route
- Researching placement opportunities and applying for creative opportunities
The team will continue to support you throughout your placement year and beyond, providing you with help for up to 5 years after your graduate.
Placement destinations
Students have completed work placements at Oscar and BAFTA winning companies such as:
- Mosaic Films
- Framestore
Entry requirements for this course
Contact University of Portsmouth to find course entry requirements.
View all courses at University of Portsmouth