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Animation and VFX (Full-time) (BA Hons)

Swansea
3 Years Full-Time
120 UCAS Points

Our Animation and VFX degree programme offers an exciting opportunity to bring your creative visions to life. This course covers both the creative and technological developments in the field, including animated and virtual production design elements. By studying with us, you will have the chance to build a strong portfolio of studio production work, focusing on both Animation and VFX preparing you for a promising career in this dynamic industry. 

Throughout the course, you will learn to manage the entire production cycle of digital animation and visual production artefacts. This will expand both your practical knowledge and intellectual knowledge of the subject. You will explore contemporary opportunities in Computer Animation and VFX creatively and imaginatively, considering the social and cultural context in which these works communicate. 

Our dedicated Computer Animation facilities, featuring industry-standard software like MAYA, Z-Brush, and Unreal, support your learning with workshops on various production stages. 

Your lectures and learning process will focus on developing your intellectual skills. This includes analysis, inventiveness, and critical assessment. These are designed to examine ideas and theories that will enhance your artistic abilities and technical skills. 

The course covers a broad range of topics, providing you with creative skills and the ability to understand and apply technological developments. You will work on animation and VFX-focused work, which will be integral parts of your portfolio. These experiences will prepare you for professional practice in the games industry, film, and television. 

You will also have opportunities to engage with virtual production design and animated content creation. This course ensures you develop problem-solving abilities and a comprehensive understanding of the production process, from initial concept to final product. 

Our Animation and VFX programme equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in this dynamic field. By the end of the course, you will have a portfolio of work, showcasing your abilities in digital animation and visual production, ready to pursue a successful career in Animation and VFX. 

Course details

Start date:
ÃÜÌÒ´«Ã½ modes:
  • On-campus
  • Full-time
Language:
  • English
  • Bilingual
Institution code:
T80
UCAS code:
AVF1
Course length:
3 Years Full-Time
Entry requirements:
120 UCAS Points

Undergraduate Fees
Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £15,525 per year

Why choose this course?

01
We have the only simulated production environment in the UK that connects Animation to Film and Music Tech and Performing Arts — all under a singular studio pipeline, replicating animation productions made in Hollywood!
02
We task you to you create for your industry - and for your audience, with live briefs for film, television and beyond.
03
A connected, collaborative creative environment. Industry-facing projects, all stemming from some twenty year relationships with a community of artists, animators and digital artists.

What you will learn

Our Philosophy 
We believe in a holistic approach to learning and teaching that combines creative exploration with technological mastery. Our goal is to equip students with both practical skills and intellectual insights, fostering innovation and professional development throughout their studies. Our staff are passionate artists and animators, dedicated to providing the best support to help your work stand out.  

We offer opportunities to bring your imagination and storylines to life, find your passion, and realise your dreams. Whether you are interested in film, conceptual design, modelling, or any form of animation, we help you find what you love and bring it to life. Whether 2D, stop frame, 3D — it’s all-immersive in digital animation. 

In your first year, you’ll build a solid foundation in animation and VFX through modules such as Visual Studies and Introduction to Character Animation. You will explore virtual production, 3D modelling, and environment design, while also developing your academic and professional skills. You will gain insights into animation perspectives and the positive impact of VFX. 

Visual Studies

(20 credits)

Introduction to Virtual Production

(20 credits)

Introduction to Character Animation

(20 credits)

Environment Design

(20 credits)

Academic and Professional Development

(10 Credits)

Introduction to 3D Modelling

(10 Credits)

Animation Insights and Perspectives

(10 Credits)

VFX for Positive Impact

(10 Credits)

The second year focuses on advancing your skills with modules like Advanced Character Animation and Body Mechanics and Creature Animation. You will explore virtual production design, experimental animation techniques, and visual effects, while evolving your creative craft. Sound design will complement your visual work, enhancing your overall production quality.

In your final year, you will undertake an Independent Project to showcase your abilities. You will study emerging trends and advanced character performance, while also focusing on personal portfolio development. Advanced lighting and rendering techniques will refine your technical skills, preparing you for a career in the industry.

Advanced Character Animation

(20 credits)

Body Mechanics and Creature Animation

(20 credits)

Virtual Production Design

(20 credits)

Evolving your Creative Craft

(20 Credits)

Experimental Animation Techniques

(10 Credits)

Visual Effects

(20 credits)

Sound Design

(10 Credits)

Independent Project

(40 credits)

Emerging Trends

(20 credits)

Advanced Character Performance

(20 Credits)

Personal Portfolio Development

(20 Credits)

Advanced Lighting and Rendering

(20 Credits)

Course Page Disclaimer

  • The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.

    You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.

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Staff

Our People

You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Facilities

Facilities

Based on our Waterfront Campus our Creative Games Design and Animation & VFX degrees as well as specialised facilities, students have access to a comprehensive library and ample study spaces.

A student sits upright at a PC; behind him, a large screen reads: Unreal Engine 4 Technical Artist – Showreel.

Further information

  • 120 UCAS tariff points  

    • e.g. A-levels: ABB, BTEC: DDM, IB: 33 and Portfolio 

    The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a  for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    We are interested in creative people who demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and, therefore, we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. 

    We arrange interviews for all applicants to assess suitability for the chosen course. Your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered, as well as your portfolio of work. 

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    GCSE grade A*-C (grade 9-4 in England) in English and Mathematics is also required. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    Alternative entry routes text  

    If this course interests you, but you don’t have the entry requirements to join our bachelor’s degree you could consider:  

     Admissions Advice and Support  

    We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    English language requirements  

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses. 

    Visa and funding requirements  

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study. 

  • A lot of the briefs and coursework and submissions ask you to create something fresh, new, inspiring — and all industry leaning. You have creative input on new worlds and imaginings.

    Visually enriched tutorials, lectures, presentations, overviews and exercises — always with an eye on concept; always thinking on how to extend this work for showreels. Feedback can often be illustrated and/or filled with more visual tips and guides to help with alternative designs, movements, narrative structure, etc, etc.

    We ask you to engage with some amazing kit. We harness technology — we control it - via drawing, cintiqs, model-making, 2D and 3D software, production techniques and skillsets.

    We provide a lot of the basics, with specific challenges to get you off the ground  â€” and in HE — ask you to fly high.

  • Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.

    However, it is likely that art and design students will incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining in optional study trips, and printing.

    Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment with them when they commence the course.  We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your programme of studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.  

    A basic ‘art and design kit’ will cost approximately £100 but you may well already have much of the equipment required so check with us first.  Also, although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework you may wish to bring your own digital devices, again check with us first before making a purchase.

    Depending on distance and duration, optional study visits can vary in cost from approximately £10 to visit local galleries and exhibitions to £200+ for overseas visits – these costs cover things like transport, entry to venues and accommodation and are normally at reduced rates for our students.

  • Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.  

    If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies. 

    We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.  

    Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities 

    There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

    Opportunities to Learn Welsh 

    We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

  • Students can also take up the opportunity to study a semester in the USA and Canada.

  • Stepping stones to industry!

    An animation degree under your belt allows you to think about a lot of different industries — and you will have transferable skills to make these moves. Some of our graduates have their own games, visualisation or production companies. Some work as entrepreneurs on their own animation brands. A lot find work on some outstanding projects, feature films and in production houses.

    Graduates have gone on to work in Oscar-winning teams and on the feature films

    • Boxtrolls
    • Captain America
    • Chronicles of Narnia
    • Fantastic Beasts
    • Guardians of the Galaxy
    • Hotel Transylvania
    • Iron Man 2
    • Jungle Book
    • Kubo and The Two Strings
    • Man of Steel
    • Prometheus
    • Skyfall
    • Thor
    • World War Z

    and many, many more.