Animation at UCA

We have a long and illustrious history of animation education at UCA Farnham - all started by Henry's Cat creator Bob Godfrey. Follow in the footsteps of the greats on our MA Animation degree.

During your time here, you'll take an interdisciplinary approach to the animated form, and we'll encourage you to experiment and speculate when you're making your work.

This course attracts students from around the world and has a rich cultural mix. You will come to the programme as an established animator but will be encouraged to take risks, explore new techniques, develop your interests and exchange, debate and discuss ideas.

Along the way, you'll be expected to produce original, high-quality and exciting films, and explore the wide range of creative possibilities of frame-by-frame filmmaking – all with the support of internationally renowned staff.

Our course is proud to have no house style and offers a wide range of technical resources covering the whole spectrum of contemporary animation. 

 

Course entry options

Select from the options below to find out more about the different study options available for this course:

Accreditations, partners and industry connections

CILECT logo

CILECT

The Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision (CILECT) was founded in France, in 1954, and is committed to developing and promoting high standards of education, research and training for film, television and related media.

British Film Institute (BFI) logo

British Film Institute (BFI)

The BFI is a charity and the UK’s leading organisation for film and moving image. It promotes and supports British film from newcomers to established makers, and cares for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive.

ARRI logo

ARRI

ARRI is a leading designer and manufacturer of camera and lighting systems for the film, broadcast, and media industries. The ARRI Certified Film School accreditation is awarded to institutions that meet rigorous standards of technical excellence, creative education, and professional development.

What you'll study

What you'll
study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Pre-Masters year.

On this course you’ll prepare for postgraduate study with a mix of online and face-to-face learning that will give you the study skills required to complete a Master’s, and you’ll also improve your English for academic study.

Research and Critical Approaches: Animation
You will explore the different modes of research related to the creative process, developing your skills in translating imagined film concepts into treatments, project proposals, screenplays and other forms of communicating film ideas. The first part of this unit is delivered jointly with MA Filmmaking and other film courses.

Skills and Development: Animation Practice
Through a series of practical workshops and lectures, you'll cover pre-production and research, sound design, storyboarding and animatics, animation techniques and editing in order to further your own knowledge and technical ability within your own practice.

During term two you begin developing your MA project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study.

Animation Production
The work undertaken in this unit should build on the research questions you initiated and explored in the previous units. This is the period within which you will undertake the majority of your production work for your film. Throughout the unit you will be encouraged to critically reflect on the development of your project.

In the third term of the course, you'll apply the knowledge gained through your research to create a final body of work.

Project Delivery and Professional Context: Animation
This allows you to reflect on the work that you've produced so far, and resolve it into a form that allows for completion and delivery of your animated film.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Fees & funding

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees

  • 2024/25 entry: £10,500

Tuition fees

Tuition fees

  • 2024/25 entry (MA): £18,000
  • 2024/25 entry (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - 30 weeks): £17,500
  • 2024/25 entry (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - 15 weeks): £8,750

Please note: the fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees please see our fees and finance pages

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Current UCA students and alumni may be eligible for a tuition fee discount.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of your Course Information for details of the costs you may incur.

Facilities

Animation facilities include stop motion studio with Dragonframe capture software, Canon DSLRs and professional camera stands, and stages pre-rigged with grips, stands and lights. Studios feature individual workstations, light boxes, Wacom tablets, line testers and batch scanners. Macs have the full Adobe Creative Suite as well as Toon Boom and Maya CG software, while there’s also sound and editing suites on campus.

View 360 virtual tour

Animation studio, UCA Farnham

Animation studio, UCA Farnham

Animation studio, UCA Farnham

Sound and editing suite, UCA Farnham

Explore our gradshow

Each year, we’re privileged to be able to share our graduates’ incredible work with the world. And now’s your chance to take a look.

Visit the online showcase
Marina Koleva

"I learned a lot during my MA course at UCA Farnham. The emphasis was on our artistic development and forging our own path in the animation industry. I am now looking forward to putting my skills and knowledge into practice."

Marina Koleva

Entry & portfolio requirements

Entry & portfolio
requirements

MA course

  • A good honours degree or equivalent qualification in a related discipline

and/or

  • Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.

Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.

MA Animation is designed for candidates with previous animation experience. Our course encourages you to refine your practice, rather than introduce you to the principles of animation.

Portfolio requirements

For this course we will need to see your portfolio for review. You can either submit a digital portfolio or request an in-person portfolio review with the course team. Further information will be provided once you have applied.

More portfolio advice

MA course

The entry requirements for this course will depend on the country your qualifications are from, please check the equivalent qualifications for your country:

MA Animation is designed for candidates with previous animation experience. Our course encourages you to refine your practice, rather than introduce you to the principles of animation. If animation is new to you, we'd suggest enrolling on the Pre-Masters course before undertaking our MA programme. 

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

You will be required to submit a portfolio for review. Further information on specific portfolio requirements and how to submit your portfolio will be sent to you after we have reviewed your application.


MA course with Integrated International Pre-Masters course

  • A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject.

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

You will be required to submit a portfolio for review. Further information on specific portfolio requirements and how to submit your portfolio will be sent to you after we have reviewed your application.


English language requirements

To study at UCA, you'll need to have a certain level of English language skill. And so, to make sure you meet the requirements of your course, we ask for evidence of your English language ability, please check the level of English language required:

Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?

You may be able to enter the course through the following entry pathways:

Apply now

Please use the following fields to help select the right application link for you: