The UK is home to some of the top animation institutes around the world. Explore the best animation colleges in the UK, courses offered, entry requirements, and more.
There are some of the world’s best animation institutes in UK that offer a variety of animation courses. Those who are interested in studying animation can find top-quality courses at universities throughout the UK, including Teesside University, Norwich University of the Arts, the Royal College of Art, etc. Animation courses in the UK range from full-time programs to short-term courses and involve workshops that aim to develop specific skill sets.
As an animation student in the UK, you will receive a high-quality education, creative freedom, and practical skills to build up a successful career in the field of animation. Modules in animation courses include design, illustration, visualisation, and animation for digital films and computer games.
Table of Contents
- Top 10 Animation Institutes in the UK
- Entry Requirements to Study Animation in the UK
- Careers in Animation
Top 10 Animation Institutes in the UK
We have listed below some of the leading animation institutes in UK where you will be able to develop the necessary skills for a successful career in animation:
- Bournemouth University
- Falmouth University
- Teesside University
- Royal College of Art
- Norwich University of the Arts
- Staffordshire University
- Middlesex University
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Bolton
- Solent University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University offers a BA (Hons) Computer Animation Art and Design program within the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA), which is regarded as the most well-established animation centre in the country.
This course emphasises the creative side of computer animation while integrating both traditional artistic disciplines with technical ones. Graduates of this program will be able to make a difference in areas such as computer animation, video games, and visual effects. The table below shows popular animation courses offered by Bournemouth University:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) in Computer Animation Art and Design | 3 years | £15,250-£16,500 per year |
| BA (Hons) in Computer Animation Technical Arts | 3 years | £15,250-£16,500 per year |
| MSc in Computer Animation and Visual Effects | 1 year | £14,250-£16,000 per year |
| MA in 3D Computer Animation | 1 year | £14,250-£16,000 per year |
Read More: Bournemouth University
Falmouth University
At Falmouth University, the Animation and Visual Effects course will help you develop the skills required to succeed in the animation field. Through this program, you will be able to develop creative ideas and master directing and producing skills at the same time.
In addition, you will be working on briefs for well-known organisations around the world. Furthermore, you will get an opportunity to meet and interact with industry mentors. Animation courses offered by Falmouth University include the following:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Animation & Visual Effects BA (Hons) | 3 years/ 4 years | £17,460 per year |
| Illustration BA (Hons) | 3 years/ 4 years | £17,460 per year |
| Illustration MA/PGDip (online) | 2 years | £11,300 |
Teesside University
Teesside University's Computer Animation BA (Hons) program is ideal for those looking to become 3D animators or motion picture animators. The focus of the course is on creating 3D computer animation for games, films, and TV.
Students will obtain the skills necessary to work in any animation role, such as drawing, cinematography, pre-visualisation, etc. Tabulated below are the popular animation courses offered by Teesside University:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) 2D Animation and Stop Motion | 3 years | £11,822 per year |
| BA (Hons) Visual Effects | 3 years/ 4 years | £11,822 per year |
| BA (Hons) Computer Animation | 3 years/ 4 years | £11,822 per year |
Read More: Teesside University
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art provides an MA in Animation program and inspires students to explore their creativity and create masterpieces. For international students, the course fee is £32,000 and the duration of the program is 1 year.
The university's curriculum includes a number of lectures, tutorials, discussions, screenings, and workshops. If you are applying for the Animation program at this university, you need to select one of the following specialisations:
- Experimental Animation
- Documentary Animation
- Narrative Animation
Norwich University of the Arts
The Norwich University of the Arts is known for its animation and visual effects course. This course will help you acquire outstanding skills in animation and visual effects, emphasising architecture, creative design, urban design, virtual reality, etc.
Students can choose from a variety of career paths after completing animation courses from this prestigious university. Some of the job roles include animator, texture artist, art director, roto artist, producer, 3D generalist, architectural visualiser, lighting supervisor, and many more. Following are the popular animation courses offered by Norwich University of the Arts:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) Animation | 3 years/ 4 years | £17,500 per year |
| BA (Hons) Games Art and Design | 3 years/ 4 years | £17,500 per year |
| BA (Hons) Illustration | 3 years/ 4 years | £17,500 per year |
| BA (Hons) Graphic Design | 3 years/ 4 years | £17,500 per year |
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University provides challenging and industry-relevant animation courses. The university places emphasis on employability, so during the course, you will build a portfolio that will showcase your creative style. Staffordshire University offers the following animation and illustration courses:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Animation BA (Hons) | 3 years | £14,500 per year |
| Animation with a Foundation Year BA (Hons) | 4 years | £14,500 per year |
| Illustration BA (Hons) | 3 years | £14,500 per year |
Middlesex University
Students at Middlesex University can develop their skills as artists, animators, designers, and directors. You will be able to acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge through different programs available at this university. You will also gain insights into the evolution of animation, the changing practices, and the new concepts in this field.
During the module, you will get an opportunity to create your own animated film. The animation courses offered at Middlesex University are tabulated below:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Animation and Games BA Honours | 3 years | £14,700 per year |
| Animation BA Honours | 3 years | £14,700 per year |
| Illustration BA Honours | 3 years | £14,700 per year |
Read More: Middlesex University
University of Central Lancashire
The university offers various animation courses that allow students to create their own original characters through the freedom of creative thinking. This course will provide you with valuable insights into current industry practices, including character design, animation, storyboarding, editing, and sound design.
Students are given the opportunity to customise this program to meet their unique interests, and for the past six years, UCLan students have won regional prizes from the Royal Television Society. Some of the animation courses offered by the University of Central Lancashire include:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Animation BA (Hons) | 3 years | £13000 per year |
| Animation with a Foundation Year BA (Hons) | 4 years | £13000 per year |
| Animation MA | 1 year | £13500 per year |
Read More: University of Central Lancashire
University of Bolton
The animation programs at the University of Bolton help students build the necessary skills and knowledge required to become successful in the animation field. At the initial stage, the courses will cover the fundamentals of animation and illustration.
Candidates will be given an opportunity to specialise in a particular area of animation in the second part of the course. The animation courses offered by the University of Bolton are tabulated below:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Animation And Illustration BA (Hons) | 3 years | £12,450 per year |
| BA (Hons) Animation and Illustration with foundation year | 4 years | £12,450 per year |
| Visual Effects And Animation BSc (Hons) | 3 years | £12,450 per year |
Solent University
Solent University provides three-year animation courses that allow students to gain practical knowledge and become successful animation professionals. During the course, students receive training from professionals and create a portfolio.
You will have the choice to complete an industry placement during your second year of study, where you will work in a professional studio and create works for professional clients. Solent University offers the following animation courses:
| Course | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Animation BA (Hons) | 3 years | £14,250 per year |
| Animation with a Foundation Year BA (Hons) | 4 years | £14,250 per year |
| Digital Animation BA (Hons) | 3 years | £14,250 per year |
| Film Visual Effects BA (Hons) | 3 years | £14,250 per year |
Entry Requirements to Study Animation in the UK
The entry requirements for studying animation at UK universities will vary from one to another, but the following are some of the general requirements:
- Creative portfolio: The majority of animation institutes in the UK do not specify which subjects you must have studied at school. However, they do require you to submit a portfolio of your best work as part of the application process.
- IELTS requirements: A total score of 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in any one component.
Careers in Animation
Animation is a highly demanded profession in the UK, as jobs in this field fall under the UK shortage occupation list 2021. With the introduction of a 2-year post-study work visa, it has become easier to find job opportunities in the UK after completion of your degree.
After the completion of your animation course in the UK, you will have the opportunity to work for a company or as an independent animator. Similar to other fields, the average salary in the field of animation depends on your experience and skillsets. Some of the popular roles in animation include animator, producer, art director, compositor, texture artist, modeller, architectural visualiser, and 3D generalist, among others.
