Computer Animation Arts BA (Hons)

If you opt to complete a professional practice year, this will take place in year three. You will undertake a placement within the creative industries to further develop your skills and CV.

While on your Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee for that year. This fee will be determined using government funding regulations. Based on current regulations, we expect this to be a maximum of 20% of the tuition fee rate that you are charged for your second year of study. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during this year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this as you approach your Professional Practice Year.

Please note: If you are an international applicant, you will need to enrol onto the course ‘with Professional Practice Year’. It will not be possible to transfer onto the Professional Practice Year after enrolment

Minor
You’ll produce a refined body of work demonstrating knowledge of professional practices representative of CG industry pipelines. The project’s scope should be achievable within the constraints of the project framework but demonstrate creative ambition, advanced proficiency and consistent professionalism.

A Minor project proposal may be continued into the Major project if first agreed with participating tutors.

Major
You will demonstrate innovative, sophisticated and professional approaches to the production of ambitious computer generated imagery and animation, supported by expert creative methodologies. Showing independent learning, reflective practice and pipelines commensurate with professional practice are essential.

Thesis
This unit consists of a substantial period of individually negotiated research on a subject related to the contextual and/or theoretical concerns of your creative practice towards the provision of a cogent written argument.

You’ll utilise a range of research skills and develop an identified methodological approach appropriate to their chosen subject area, reflecting upon and articulating a clear and sustained argument which conforms to academic conventions and demonstrates detailed analysis and evaluation.

Or

Extended Thesis
Extended Thesis enables you to engage exclusively with individually negotiated research on a subject related to the contextual and/or theoretical concerns of your creative practice towards the provision of a cogent written argument. You are expected to develop an identified methodological approach appropriate to their chosen subject and articulate a clear and sustained argument that conforms to academic conventions. The investigation should be appropriately ambitious and characterised by extensive, wide-ranging research.

This course offers the opportunity to study abroad for part of your second year. To find out more about studying abroad as part of your course please see the Study Abroad section:

Study abroad information

Tuition fees
The course fees per year for 2022 entry will be available here shortly. 

As a guide the fees for 2021 entry are:

• UK students - £9,250 
• EU students - £9,250 (see fee discount information)
• International students - £16,950 (standard fee)
• International students - £16,270 (full early payment fee)

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee for that year. This fee will be set by the government in their funding regulations. Based on current regulations, we expect this to be a maximum of 20% of the tuition fee rate that you will be charged for your second year of study. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Additional course costs
In addition to the tuition fees please see the additional course costs. The details for 2022 will be available here shortly. As a guide please see the additional course costs for 2021 entry.

Further information
Find out more about our course fees and any financial support you may be entitled to:

• UK course fees
• International & EU course fees
• General additional costs for students

These fees are correct for the stated academic year only. Costs may increase each year during a student’s period of continued registration on course in line with inflation (subject to any maximum regulated tuition fee limit). Any adjustment for continuing students will be at or below the RPI-X forecast rate.

Our professional staff have close connections with alumni of the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, West Hollywood, as well as with new and established CG arts, animation and creative media opportunities.

Possible career destinations include:

• Art directors
• CG artists and animators for film and game
• Concept artists
• Creative project managers
• Creative writers
• Freelance creatives
• Post-production designers
• Pre-production artists
• Production artists
• Production managers.

Graduates have gone on to work at companies such as:

• Double Negative
• Framestore
• The Mill
• Glassworks
• Squint/Opera
• Butch Auntie.

Watch the interview with graduate Urvashi who after graduation worked in industry and then has also continued onto a postgraduate course at UCLA in America: Interview For UCA

You may also like to consider further study at postgraduate level.

The standard entry requirements* for this course are:

One of the following:

• 112 new UCAS tariff points, see accepted qualifications
• Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
• Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
• Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
• 112 new UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
• 27-30 total points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 15 IB points at Higher level, see more information about IB entry requirements.

And four GCSE passes at grade A*-C and/or grade 4-9 including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2).

Other relevant and equivalent Level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered on an individual basis, and we encourage students from diverse educational backgrounds to apply.

*We occasionally make offers which are lower than the standard entry criteria, to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance and who were expected to achieve higher results. We consider the strength of our applicants’ portfolios, as well as their grades -  in these cases, a strong portfolio is especially important.

To view the equivalent entry requirements for your country please select it in the list below.

• Non-UK equivalent qualifications
• English language requirements

For this course, you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via your UCA Applicant Portal. Ultimately, we're looking for highly motivated, creative individuals who want to become successful digital artists and professionals. Previous experience of digital work isn't essential or required. We especially welcome portfolios that demonstrate creative imagination, developed ideas, interest in storytelling, artistic ability (such as life drawing) and cultural interests. So, your portfolio might include examples of life drawing, digital painting, illustration, sculpture, video, photography and animation. Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided once you have applied. If you receive an offer, you’ll be invited to attend an Offer Holder Webinar where you can meet the course team and learn more about the course.

More portfolio advice