Level 6

Animation BA (Hons)

Duration Age Group Study Start Cost Available Locations
3 YEARS ADULT FULL TIME 18/09/2025
£8500 per year * Centre for Digital Technologies – Basildon
Duration Age Group Study Start Cost Available Locations
3 YEARS ADULT FULL TIME 18/09/2025
£8500 per year * Centre for Digital Technologies – Basildon
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If you require any support with your UCAS application, please contact the HE Admissions team headmissions@southessex.ac.uk

Overview

UCAS Course code: W615

This course is validated by the University of the Arts London (UAL)

BA (Hons) Animation is a practise-led course, with the option to choose one of two specialist pathways: Pre-Production or Auteur. You will develop production skills, setting your goals within the business of animation and managing your workflow to succeed as a creative.

You will study traditional art, design and production skills and the principles of animation. This aims to support further studies in 2D & 3D animation, VFX and VR design.

Digital drawing sessions will broaden your knowledge and technical skills. Weekly workshops will help to express yourself and develop your creative process.

As you progress through the course you will be encouraged to think about the pathway you are going to choose in Year 3.

The Pre-Production pathway will focus on creating an expansive portfolio that could be taken forward to a future production. You can explore a range of outcomes including, but not limited to, an animation, an interactive story through VR or visual novel, or choose your own adventure game. This is for those who may be more interested in the illustrative elements of the course.

The Auteur pathway will focus on you as a visionary. You will produce a much smaller pre-production portfolio but also produce an animation or an animation related outcome as part of your process. This is for those who are more interested in the animation elements of the course.

Entry Requirements

You will need a minimum of 64 UCAS points from one or more of the following:

  • A levels
  • T levels
  • BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma
  • Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Or Equivalent EU/International qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • Plus English GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C)

This list is not exhaustive other qualifications may be considered. Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application looking primarily at your portfolio/showreel of work, personal statement and reference.

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence.

Course Structure

Year One units (Level 4)

  • Theory as Practice 1
  • Animation & Art Fundamentals
  • Storytelling
  • Pre-Production 1
  • Production 1

Year Two units (Level 5)

  • Theory as Practice 2
  • Creative Industry Practices
  • Performance & VFX
  • Pre-Production 2
  • Production 2

Year Three units (Level 6)

  • Theory as Practice 3
  • Creative Industry Brief
  • Pre-Production 3
    • Pre-Production Pathway
    • Auteur Pathway
  • Production 3
    • Pre-Production Pathway
    • Auteur Pathway

Teaching & Learning

Contact Hours: 13 hours per week. Plus Independent Study (suggested 30 hours per week).

Assessment & Feedback

All assessment on BA (Hons) Animation is via coursework; there are no exams.

Coursework is assessed in a range of different ways to accommodate a variety of learning styles and aptitudes.

You will receive on-going feedback as part of your one-to-one sessions with your unit teachers. You will also receive summative feedback on all formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your unit leader. Feedback can be given in a range of different ways in order to accommodate a variety of learning styles and aptitudes including group critiques, recorded verbal feedback and written feedback.

Course Cost

Adult, full_time: £8500 per year

Fees are per academic year for Home/UK students.

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

  • Guest speakers, visiting lecturers and industry focussed workshops will be included in your course over the three years.
  • Third Year students will have the opportunity to showcase their final year work at the end of their studies. This may be a local, national or online platform. Event/exhibition costs will be covered by the Faculty of HE. In the past this has included Vertex Conference. Students will be responsible for any additional costs associated with the production of their personal project (ie: printing, materials).
  • Annual £20 of printing credit per year.

Additional course costs can be found here

What Next...

Progression & Recent Success:

Many of our graduates find employment with animation and design studios or set up as freelance animators, designers, or illustrators. Some have chosen to continue their studies at the postgraduate (Masters) level.

Live briefs:

Students have engaged with many opportunities including: 
BBC, Creative Basildon, D&AD New Blood, Estuary Festival, Metal Culture, SEESOW, Six Red Squares, The National Gallery, Tinmouse, Village Green Festival.

Recent graduate destinations include

BBC, Cinesite, DNEG, ILM, Six Red Squares, Storytime Magazine, Toon Boom, Universal.

Recent post-graduate destinations include:

MA Animation at UAL, MA Illustration at Falmouth or MA Film and Television at University of Bristol. We also provide a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education course.