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DEGREE GUIDE

Animation

What do Animation degrees involve?

Animation degrees teach you how to bring stories and ideas to life using digital and traditional techniques. You will explore key areas such as 2D and 3D animation, visual effects, character design, motion graphics, and storytelling. These courses help you develop both creative and technical skills while using industry-standard software and tools. You will also learn about animation theory, production pipelines, and the role of animation in film, television, gaming, and advertising. Many degrees offer opportunities to build a professional portfolio, collaborate on real projects, or gain industry experience, preparing you for careers in animation, visual effects, and digital media.

     Example
Modules

  • Animation Fundamentals: Learn the core principles of animation, including timing, squash and stretch, movement and storytelling using both hand-drawn and digital tools.


  • Character Design and Development: Explore how to create expressive characters through anatomy, gesture, personality and style that bring ideas to life on screen.


  • Storyboarding and Narrative: Plan and visualise scenes through storyboards and animatics, focusing on structure, pacing, and clear visual storytelling.

Common Degree Names

💼 Many Animation degrees offer a placement year in a studio or creative agency.
🌍 Study abroad is available at some universities.



BA (Hons) Animation
BA (Hons) Computer Animation
BA (Hons) Animation and Illustration
BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects
BA (Hons) Animation and Game Design

A bright animation workspace with a drawing tablet showing character sketches, open sketchbooks with storyboard panels, and a monitor displaying character designs, illustrating the blend of traditional and digital skills in animation study

Level 3 (A-level / IB Diploma (HL) / Scottish Highers)


Animation combines artistic creativity with technical skills to bring characters and stories to life. Universities focus on your portfolio and creative potential more than specific qualifications.


Subjects that can help:


  • Art or Art & Design – very useful for drawing and design skills

  • Graphics or Design & Technology – helpful for visual communication

  • Media Studies, Film Studies, or Photography – useful for narrative and composition

  • Computer Science or IT – can support digital animation, but is not usually required


✨ Your portfolio matters most – that's what will really open doors. Art or related creative subjects help you build it. See Other Requirements for portfolio guidance.


Universities may also accept:


  • BTEC Extended Diplomas in Art and Design or Creative Digital Media Production

  • BTEC National Extended Certificates or National Diplomas alongside relevant A-Level subjects

  • UAL Level 3 Diplomas in Creative Practice or related pathways

  • T-Level in Media, Broadcast and Production (limited acceptance) with portfolio

  • IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) with at least two IB Higher Level subjects (ideally three) alongside your Career-Related Study; an Art & Design pathway would be directly relevant


Entry requirements can vary widely between courses. Always check the university's website for specific requirements.

Level 2 (GCSE / MYP / Nat 5)
You’ll typically need:


  • GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent qualifications like National 5s or MYP


🎨 If your school offers Art, Graphics, or IT, these can help build a foundation for future study. 


Animation often involves writing about your creative process, so strong English skills are important too.

Is this degree right for you?

Members can explore whether this degree fits who they are:

  • Skills you'd develop and whether they match your strengths

  • How this aligns with your interests, motivators and values

  • Career paths and where graduates end up

Full access to all self-discovery tools and guides. Cancel anytime.

Skills you would develop in X degree
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Skill Name

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Is this a good fit for you?

Use the tabs to explore the kind of person that this would be a good fit for. Do you share the Interests, Motivations, Values, Work identity and skills that people who thrive in this course tend to have?

Not sure what these things are?  Explore your Identity Tree with us first.

Interests that connect well with an Animation degree

Students who enjoy this degree often share these interests. You don't need to feel strongly about all of them, and interests develop over time. If one or two catch your curiosity, or sound like something you'd like to know more about, that's a good sign.

Film, Photography & Screen Media: Animation is screen-based storytelling through the moving image. You'll work with timing, cinematography, lighting, editing and post-production, studying how animated films, series and shorts are made and shaping your own work within the wider craft of screen media production.


Visual Art, Craft & Design: The visual craft of animation is central. You'll draw, study anatomy and gesture, design characters and environments, explore figure drawing and concept art, and develop the visual storytelling skills that underpin every frame, from rough sketch through to finished sequence.


Games, Apps & Interactive Design: Much of what you learn in Animation feeds directly into games. You'll build characters, rig 3D models, use motion capture and animate assets that work for interactive worlds as much as for film, opening a route into games art and cinematics.

Careers an Animation degree could lead you to

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