BA (Hons) Design: Animation, Visual Effects and Game Art (4 years including foundation year)

Key facts

    Past students have been successful in national competitions such as the RSA Design Awards, D&AD and the Ffresh Student Moving Image Festival of Wales
    Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive staff who are knowledgeable, research active practitioners
    Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive staff who are knowledgeable,  research active practitioners
    Strong links with industry and professional bodies such as Skillset, NAHEMI and various animation associations
    Exhibit your work in high profile places. Past students have had work on show at the New Designers Exhibition in the Business Design Centre and Young Blood, London
    Study trips to animation festivals such as Bradford Animation Festival, Stoke Your Fires Film Festival, the international Animated Film Festival in Annecy and computer game expos
    Our Creative Futures events plays host to a range of visiting guest speakers and lecturers
    Opportunities to enter major design animation and game art competitions
    Strong pastoral care with a friendly creative community, emphasis on team building and collaborative links with other creative industries courses at the University
    Industry focused visits to gain first hand insight into how animation and visual effects companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations

Level 4

Design Principles (20 credits)
Design Language (20 credits)
Design Practice (20 credits)
Ideas and Concepts (20 credits)
Creative Media Production (20 credits)
Creative Futures 1 (Elective)(20 credits)

Level 5

Contextualising Design (20 credits)
The Message (20 credits)
Design for Society (20 credits)
Research Methods (20 credits)
Design Directions (20 credits)
Creative Futures 2 (Elective)(20 credits)

Level 6

Dissertation (20 credits)
Research Project Module (Negotiated Study 1) (40 credits)
Negotiated Study 2 (40 credits)
Creative Futures 3 (Elective)(20 credits)

Entry Requirements & Applying

240 UCAS Tariff points at GCE A Level or equivalent

The BA (Hons) Design programmes welcome applications from anyone who can demonstrate a commitment to the subject and the potential to complete their chosen programme successfully. This can be established by showing appropriate academic achievements or by demonstrating that they possess the knowledge and ability equivalent to the academic qualifications. All candidates will be interviewed and asked to display a portfolio of their work. Experience may also be taken into consideration depending on the extent and depth of such subject knowledge. Students from overseas, or who are unable to attend an interview, are asked to send their portfolio of work digitally for consideration.

An admissions tutor considers each application individually. Different qualifications are considered, including Scottish Higher, Irish Leaving Certificate, the Welsh Baccalaureate, the International Baccalaureate, Access courses, BTEC, VCE, GNVQ, A and AS levels as well as other overseas qualifications. In general we look for 240 UCAS tariff points at GCE A Level or equivalent, but relevant talent and experience will also be considered. Appropriate AS-Level and Level 3 Key Skills qualifications will also be taken into account. These entry requirements given are for guidance and reflect the general level of applicants to whom offers are made.

Four-year degree including foundation year

This is a new option. If you do not meet the entry requirements for the three-year honours degree you should consider this option. The creative industries’ departments and the University have created a “kick-start year” for students to study for one year before joining the honours degree.