If you are looking to make your mark as an animator, illustrator or computer animation artist, our BA and MA animation degrees will help you get there.

You might see your future as a director, storyboard artist, book illustrator or character designer – whatever your ambitions in this dynamic field, our courses will give you the tools and confidence you need.

As you study, you'll link up with students on other courses to collaborate on exciting projects and competitions, and benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of visiting lecturers and industry experts. Working in our state of the art suites and studios, you'll use the latest software and innovations to create your work. Learn more about our facilities.

Over the years we are proud to say we've taught some of the biggest names in the industry, including BAFTA-winner Grant Orchard, Golden Globe winner Chris Butler and the creators of Peppa Pig and the Compare the Meerkat characters.

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Discover the stories of our Animation students

Open Days at UCA

We know that Open Days play a big role in helping you decide which university is right for you. Booking is now open for our on-campus Open Days.

Book your place

What’s it like being an animation student at UCA?

That’s a big question. Get some answers from people who are studying right here, right now.

Chat to a student

Explore our gradshows

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.

View our online showcase

Careers in
Animation

Animation is one of the most significant and rapidly expanding media fields, with an enormous range of career opportunities. Some of these include:

  • Directing
  • Producing
  • Animation (for commercials, films, broadcast, online media and games)
  • Editing
  • Character design
  • Model making
  • Production design
  • Pre-vis artistry
  • Compositing
  • Storyboard artistry
  • Post-production

Many well-known studios have been set up by our alumni, including:

  • Animade
  • Astley Baker Davies (makers of Peppa Pig)
  • Film Fabrik
  • Honeycomb Animation (makers of Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids)
  • Mackinnon & Saunders
  • Moth Collective
  • Slurpy Studios
  • Tandem Pictures.

This gives our course very solid links to a vibrant industry, and we enjoy connections with a range of creative talent, studios and potential employers.

Join the award-winners

Our animation students dominated the most recent British Animation Awards, with Meg Earls taking home a prize for Best Undergraduate Film.

Graduates like Grant Orchard have gone on to create iconic characters like Hey Duggee, winning two BAFTAs.

Alumnus Chris Butler recently took home the Golden Globe as director of his animated feature film, Missing Link.

Sinéad Stoddard

"In my first year I was petrified to pitch my ideas - by the third year, I couldn't wait to do it. I'm so proud of the achievements that have come from my animation projects. Between them, two films I made in my second year have won seven awards worldwide." Sinéad Stoddard, BA (Hons) Animation

Sinéad Stoddard