Routes to Education

In the main Animation is taught as a Higher Education degree subject. Often a university will accept an entrant directly into an animation degree course if they have completed a recognised foundation course at a Further Education College or if they have relevant work experience. Most Higher Education Art Colleges run their own Foundation or General Courses. These courses are designed to provide a broad introduction to art and design and will generally reflect the specialised courses on offer at the individual institution.

Further Education Colleges may also run some courses that include animation which could be counted towards entry to an animation degree course. Additionally some colleges and other organisations may run part-time, evening classes or summer school classes in animation which can provide a taste of the subject. Use the Directgov link below to search for Further Education and Adult Learning opportunities.

Requirements / qualifications

If you are considering applying for entry to a course you will be expected to show some proof of your abilities. As well as the academic qualifications required by each college or university you'll be asked to provide a portfolio of work. Unlike many academic courses, entry to an art and design course is primarily judged on the applicants apparent creative potential. When applying to an animation course you'll not be expected to have produced your own animation but whoever looks at your portfolio will be looking for key attributes, such as a passion for drawing and a lively imagination. Each institution has its own entry requirements so be sure to do your research before applying.

Choose the right course

Choosing the right course to suit individual needs and circumstances is never easy. Use the sites below to help your search. The UCAS site allows you to search degree courses by subject and area, so you can make your initial sweep as wide or as narrow as you like. A description of each course will either be on the UCAS site or available as a link from the site. The language used to describe courses can sometimes be tricky to understand so be sure to check out individual course websites. These should provide some visual indication of typical output from the course. All colleges and universities print a prospectus which can be requested for free through the post and more often than not these days can be downloaded as a PDF. Most colleges and universities run open days once or twice a year, so if you've done your research in good time you'll be able to visit your short list before starting the application process.

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