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BA (Hons) 3D Animation and Visual Effects
Key information
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Typical offer:
Entry requirements -
Fees: See below
Full details -
UCAS code: W282
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Institute code: H36
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Study abroad option
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Work placement option
Find out more
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Entry requirements
The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.
UCAS points A Level BTEC 112-120 BBC - BBB - An art and design or creative subject which involves drawing DMM-DDM Additional requirements
GCSE: Grade 4/C in English language and 4/C mathematics
Access course tariff: Diploma with 45 credits at merit.
All students from non-majority English-speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.
If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.
For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.
Find out more about International Entry Requirements.
UCAS points A Level BTEC Access Course Tariff 112 - 120 BBC - BBB - L3 in art & design or creative subject which includes drawing DMM-DDM - In art and design, games art, animation or creative media production Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit Additional requirements
GCSE: Grade 4/C in English language and Mathematics.
Interview: Interview required.
All students from non-majority English-speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.
If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.
For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.
Find out more about International Entry Requirements.
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Professional accreditations
The digital animation programme is accredited by The Rookies, SideFX and CILECT.
- 8th in the UK for Animation and Game Design (Guardian University Guide. 2024)
- Learn from staff who’ve worked on Harry Potter, Thor & Doctor Who
- Work on live projects with major VFX and animation studios
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Level 4
Module Credits Compulsory/optional Introduction to CG 30 Credits Compulsory This module offers a range of traditional and digital skills that enable the student to advance their knowledge of core areas of aesthetic design and software knowledge. This will form a solid foundation that much of the rest of their studies will to rest on. In addition to learning software skills and subjects such as perspective, composition, colour design, life drawing and photography the module also teaches students how to research visually and also record and reflect on this information. Students learn about successful note taking for their software classes to ensure that they have notes that they can refer to in future projects. The module introduces students to 3D modelling and the experience of bringing a character to life through a selection exercises that will enable students to think about animation and images in motion. Applying CG 30 Credits Compulsory This module progresses the learning of digital skills the students acquired in the previous semester and develops these further while adding a range of new skills. Students will be able to specialise in some areas of their learning, allowing them to study subjects that are specific to their pathways in greater detail. The module will include subjects such as organic modelling, procedural modelling, lighting, rigging, coding and compositing, storyboarding, motion graphics and character animation. In addition to the technical skills, students will experience a group project which requires them to develop their narrative, film-making and collaborative skills through the production of a live action short film. Alongside the practical teaching, a series of lectures about the history of their chosen field will allow students to understand the context of the origin of their subject and to give them a common language of important artworks and artists. Creativity, Concept & Story 30 Credits Compulsory Effective communication in the visual and digital media industries requires an understanding of factors such as narrative construction, composition, colour and character and environment design. This understanding is developed during the module via practical activities that focus on skills of creativity, observation and expression across a range of visual media. These practical skills are used in the creation of concept artwork and short visual narratives that inform, entertain and communicate ideas. The whole process is underpinned by the development of research skills and an awareness of the importance of research into visual and aesthetic traditions and practitioners. Animated Thinking 30 Credits Compulsory With an overarching aim of fostering critical thinking, this module introduces students to an array of perspectives - critical, theoretical, historical and cultural - that will allow them to understand the presence and impact of digital and visual media within society. Alongside this students will be equipped with skills pertaining to academic research and writing in order to craft informed and supported analysis of such media. In the first semester, students will receive a series of introductory lectures – supported by seminars and study skills sessions – that will provide a "toolkit" of critical theories that can be applied to their practice and will lead to an opportunity to exercise academic research and enquiry. In the second semester a series of lectures expands on key areas of focus within visual and digital media – also augmented by seminars and continuing study skills sessions – to support the authoring of a piece of written analysis in relation to a topic from the lectures. -
Level 5
Module Credits Compulsory/optional Year Abroad 0 Credits Compulsory The Year Abroad will provide students in Creative Arts with the opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first two taught years of the degree within a different organisational and cultural environment in a partner academic institution. The host institution will appoint a Programme Co-ordinator who will oversee the student's programme during the Year Abroad and will liaise with the appointed UH Supervisor. Progressing 3D and Visual Effects 30 Credits Compulsory This module allows the student to spend a period of sustained study developing their skills within the specialist area they have identified as being the main discipline they wish to pursue in industry. Alongside their specialist path, all students are taught coding and advanced skills in lighting, rendering and compositing. Creative Project 30 Credits Compulsory This module offers a period of sustained practice which consolidates and extends the animation, visual effects, games, comics and concept art skills established and developed earlier in the course. It enables the student to engage with the entire production cycle of a project, usually working as part of a group. Pre-Production & Professional Practices 30 Credits Compulsory This module allows students to gain experience of a variety of traditional artistic skills and further interlink these with the technical and professional skills of their specialism. Students are given the opportunity to apply their skills on industry live projects and as freelancers for other projects created within the Programme. Moving Visions 30 Credits Compulsory Building on skills developed during the Animated Thinking module at level 4, Moving visions furthers students' understanding of current theories surrounding their practice. The module equips students with critical thinking skills, knowledge of good academic practices and the analytical skills needed to develop their dissertation at level 6. -
Level 6
Module Credits Compulsory/optional Pre-Production for 3D and Visual Effects 30 Credits Compulsory This module explores and develops students' understanding of pre-production and design processes within the animation and visual effects industries. While the module is freestanding, the outcome of this activity is the development of a proposal that may form the basis for projects in the Professional Practices & Degree Project module. Professional Practices & Degree Project 60 Credits Compulsory The module engages students with the world of employment and places their work in the context of the standards required for employment entry. Students work with staff to negotiate and complete a major degree project in which they perform creative production processes within simulated or live professional environments. Concepts in Motion: Articulated Research & Writing 30 Credits Compulsory The module allows students to develop research and writing informed by and useful to their practice. Students select a topic for an extended enquiry that involves analytical and contextual interpretation of one or two relevant artefacts, with attention to their visual aesthetics and critical, cultural, theoretical and historical relevance. Year Abroad 0 Credits Optional The Year Abroad will provide students in Creative Arts with the opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first two taught years of the degree within a different organisational and cultural environment in a partner academic institution. The host institution will appoint a Programme Co-ordinator who will oversee the student's programme during the Year Abroad and will liaise with the appointed UH Supervisor. Study Abroad (Creative Arts) 0 Credits Optional Study Abroad will provide students in Creative Arts with the opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first taught year of the degree within a different organisational and cultural environment in a partner academic institution. The host institution will appoint a Programme Co-ordinator who will oversee the student's programme during the Study Abroad period and will liaise with the appointed UH Supervisor. -
Study abroad
An opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.
This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.
If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.
Find out more about Study abroad opportunities
Please note Erasmus+ funding is only available until May 2023. For students starting their course in September 2022 and wishing to study abroad in 2023-24 or 2024-25, please refer to the Turing Scheme.
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Work placement
Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.
This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.
Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process.
If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.
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What if I need support?
You’ll get a personal tutor to guide you through your course, offering academic and pastoral support all the way to graduation. Individual and group tutorials, seminars and regular access to our teaching and technician staff will support you every step of the way. In the School of Creative Arts, we also have a dedicated student liaison officer so you can access academic support with someone who understands the requirements of creative arts courses. Plus, there’s additional support if you have dyslexia. For international students, we also have a creative arts international support officer.
You might also want or need extra support during your time with us. For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and online tutorials. Both our LRCs run drop-in study skills sessions. And the best thing is, it’s all free. You can feel confident that for all your educational, wellbeing and disability needs, we’ve got you covered.
Why choose this course?
You dream of seeing your name in the credits of a Hollywood blockbuster
Whether it’s a feature film, cartoon series, commercials or idents, you want millions to see your work. You may want to pursue the creation of Pixar-style 3D animation. Or perhaps designing photorealistic visual effects for film and television is where your heart lies? Whether you imagine yourself as a creative artist or a technical director, you’re excited to gain the skills to master your dream. From character animation, cinematography and modelling to rigging and compositing, we have a lot to teach you. You’ll immerse yourself in our animation studios, which are kitted out with everything you need to bring your creations to life. Our Learning Resource Centre contains clones of our animation labs (software and hardware) so if you want to continue your animation studies late at night or during the weekend you can. Plus, you can use our motion capture suite, digital photography and filmmaking equipment to work on your own projects. Kickstart your future by graduating from an internationally renowned animation school. Our graduates include a BAFTA award-winning director, so you’ll be in excellent company.
You want to join a prestigious course in the No.1 Animation School in the UK and Europe (and No.3 in the World) as acclaimed by The Rookies Awards 2020.
This course is ranked 2nd in the world for production excellence, offering you a real-world studio environment. You’ll gain a thorough understanding of the production process to help you thrive in a demanding and exciting industry. Our course is also in the top 7 for 3D animation courses in Europe. Our students have won Visual Effects Film of the Year at the Rookies, twice! Learn more about our Rookies ranking and view examples of our student work here. We’re also the only UK university to be shortlisted at the Visual Effects Society Awards in Los Angeles in the past 18 years (as of 2020). Our digital animation programme as a whole, is accredited by The Rookies, SideFX and CILECT. This means, you’ll be joining a department that’s gained international recognition for training the animators of the future. We run live projects with the major VFX and animation studios in London, giving future employers the chance to get to know you as you develop as an artist. By choosing Herts, you’ll benefit from our reputation, quality of teaching, outstanding facilities and links to industry.
You want to join an exciting animation community
You want to train under the guidance of experienced animators. To get career insights from staff who’ve worked on games, films, TV series and commercials. Our teaching team are known for their contribution to The Hobbit, Tintin and Harry Potter. We care about your projects and have experience to share. Develop your skills with confidence, knowing they’ll be relevant to the industry you’re going into. You’ll have the opportunity to work on live projects to gain a working knowledge of the industry and begin to build a network of industry contacts. When you graduate, we’ll invite you to join our active alumni community, many of whom have senior positions in the animation industry. Our graduates have worked on Oscar winning films and blockbusters such as Star Wars, Gravity, Jungle Book, Lion King, Inception, Avatar, the Harry Potter films, The Chronicles of Narnia and Game of Thrones.
What's the course about?
We deliver a mix of teaching methods, from project work to software and art-based workshops and lectures. You’ll be assessed on group and individual project work. We’ll ask you to submit portfolio submissions, sketches, storyboards, CGI artwork and presentations. Plus, you’ll develop your analytical thinking, critical curiosity and easy writing skills.
In your first year, you’ll benefit from common modules within the wider animation programme, gaining valuable knowledge of the digital media industry. You’ll study alongside peers on comics and concept art, 2D animation and games, expanding your network from day one. You’ll practice life drawing, designing characters and environments. You’ll explore animation and film history, bringing cultural context to your craft. You’ll gain experience as a 3D artist, gaining confidence in modelling, texturing and shaders. We’ll teach you specialized VFX skills. At the end of this year you’ll have the choice to switch to a different animation degree course if your passion has led you in a new direction.
In your second year, you’ll choose from a range of elective projects. This is your chance to focus on what interests you. Whether it’s cinematography or character concept art, you’ll start turning your passion into expert knowledge. Start packing out your CV with specialist skills including matte painting, rigging and coding. Gain a thorough understanding of FX simulations, working with destruction techniques, hard and soft body collisions and pyrotechnics. Whether you want to hone your skills in compositing 3D renders into live action plates or filming live action, this is the year to experiment. You’ll work on live industry projects and make your first short 3D or VFX film. We’ll encourage you to use this team project to identify the job role you want to work towards. Wherever you see yourself, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
In your third year, you’ll write your dissertation on an area of popular culture, linked to 3D animation and visual effects, that fascinates you. You’ll choose your area of specialism and immerse yourself in real world practices. This is the time to make sure you’re fully prepared for employment. You’ll get stuck into an ambitious final film project. Put your learning into practice and achieve great things. You’ll guide your idea through every stage of production to showcase your talent, your skills and your potential to succeed. Your final film project will be screened at our Animation Exposé show where you can enter it for different awards, judged by a panel of industry experts. View the show’s live stream from 2020. Plus, we’ll encourage you to enter your work into international competitions like The Rookies. Previous students have won The Rookies Visual Effects Game of the Year, in 2020 and 2019. You’ll graduate with a showreel and professional website to launch your career. We saw your potential from day one, now it’s time for others to see that too.
Your main campus is College Lane
This is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based. This means you’ll share the campus with future nurses, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus pub or cafes. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.
What will I study?
Degree programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5 and 6. These correspond to your first, second and third/final year of study. Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each.
I really can't imagine what my life would have been like had I not done the animation degree, I owe you a lot! So grateful for the opportunities it has given me.
Lisa Mae Evans, animation graduate
Look development artist, Blue Zoo Animation Studio
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What's next for my career?
The digital animation programme prepares you for a range of careers within the industry. These include 2D animator, concept artist, 3D animator, 3D generalist, FX technical director, compositor, environment artist, character artist and a huge variety of roles in between. Our graduates have gone on to work at ILM on Star Wars films, to Epic Games to work on Fortnite, to Blue Zoo to animate cartoon series, and to Sony to work as concept artists.
Our graduates also work in the visualisation industries, using their design skills in the fields of architecture, product design and automotive design. As a result, we have animation graduates employed by Foster and Partners, Taylor James and McLaren F1. Many start their own companies, some of who have become leaders in their fields.
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Key staff
Dr Daniel Goodbrey
Digital Animation Joint Programme Leader
Find out more about Dr Daniel GoodbreyMark Wallman
3D Animation and Visual Effects Course LeaderMartin Bowman
Digital Animation Joint Programme Leader -
Further information - includes assessment method
Course fact sheets BA (Hons) 3D Animation and Visual Effects Download Programme specifications BA (Hons) Digital Animation Download Additional information Sandwich placement or study abroad year
Optional
Applications open to international and EU students
Yes Course length
- Full Time, 3 Years
- Sandwich, 4 Years
Location
- University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
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How to apply?
International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK
Apply through our international/EU application portal
Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
Apply using the links below:
2024
Start Date End Date Link 18/09/2024 31/05/2025 Apply online (Full Time) 20/09/2024 31/05/2025 Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich) 2025
Start Date End Date Link 18/09/2025 31/05/2026 Apply online (Full Time) 20/09/2025 31/05/2026 Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich) 20/09/2025 31/05/2026 Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich) -
Interview
Applicants apply via UCAS or through the International Admissions Office and are then processed by the admissions department based on their current and predicted qualifications. Those selected will be offered an interview and asked to submit online portfolios for review
If you are invited to interview, during the interview you’ll need to talk through the contents of your online portfolio of artwork. Please see below for guidance regarding artwork selection. You’ll then have a one to one interview with a member of staff on campus. Successful applicants are offered a place on the course.
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Fees and funding
Fees 2024
UK Students
Full time
- £9250 for the 2024/2025 academic year
EU Students
Full time
- £15500 for the 2024/2025 academic year
International Students
Full time
- £15500 for the 2024/2025 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.
View detailed information about tuition fees
Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet
Other financial support
Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students
Living costs / accommodation
The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.