Animation and Games Art BA (Hons)

Apply Online

If you are applying for the part-time course or from outside the UK/EU, click apply now.

Course starts: 17 September 2018Apply now

If you are applying for the full-time course from within the UK/EU, click apply now.

Course starts: 17 September 2018Apply now

Apply Now

Combine theory and practice to cover all aspects of animation. Gain expertise in industry-standard digital software. Realise your dream of working on the next big animated movie or game.

Register your interest

Overview

The film, games and VFX industries are always searching for new talent. BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art will allow you to explore the pre-production pipeline and be able to apply animation to a wide range of media. You will study and develop traditional animation techniques, plus key digital skills in 2D and 3D, while learning the core principles of character-led animation. 

The University of Sunderland is a member of the Design and Art Directors Association, and working on live projects is an integral part of the course. You'll be working on entries for festivals and competitions such as Encounters Film Festival and E4 Stings. It's all part of our commitment to mixing academic rigour with practical skills.

We place animation and game design within a broader context of principles and theories of design, and you will gain an overall knowledge of design that keeps your career options wide open. You will also have the creative freedom and flexibility to develop your specific areas of interest, gaining transferable skills crucial to employability.

Why us?

  • Graduates work throughout the film, special effects, games, television and computer industries, on projects including The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Grand Theft Auto, Miffy and Corpse Bride
  • 'World-leading' research in Art and Design, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF)
  • 94.2% of our graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2015/16 (based on UK undergraduate students)
  • Gives a strong foundation in traditional animation principles while also teaching key digital skills in both 2D and 3D
  • Allows you the creative freedom to work in any medium and technique
  • Choose from a broad range of specialisms to take with you into industry

Course structure

Teaching is almost entirely practical and studio-based, supported by lectures, seminars and tutorials. Our academic team encourage you to express ideas and push the boundaries of creativity. Assessment is mainly through coursework. In your final year you will prepare for your Degree Show which will be visited by industry experts and potential employers. 

Part-time study

If you study this course on a part-time basis you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day time and you will be studying alongside full-time students.

View our student galleries.

Year 1 (national level 4):

  • Introductory Classical, Digital and Performance Practice (60 credits)
  • Animation Techniques (40 credits)
  • Design Theory 1 (20 credits)

 

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

  • Preproduction Practice (20 credits)
  • Maya for Beginners (20 credits)
  • Animation for Music, Titles and Idents (40 credits)
  • Animated Performance – Dialogue (20 credits)
  • Design Theory 2 (20 credits)

Final year (national level 6):

  • Applied Animation (20 credits)
  • Professional Practice (20 credits)
  • Final Major Project (60 credits)
  • Dissertation (20 credits)

The David Puttnam Media Centre,
Sir Tom Cowie Campus,
St Peter's Way,
Sunderland,
SR6 0DD

54.911899,-1.372815

  • The University provides generous studio spaces, well-equipped workshops and excellent facilities for Animation and digital design.

    • A dedicated stop motion room with 3 portable workstations, each with Dragon Stop Motion software
    • Line-testing room with 6 rostrum cameras, a multiplane camera and light boxes for 2D work on paper, cut-out and other mixed media techniques
    • Two 16mm projectors for direct animation
    • Shadow Motion Capture system
    • Personal studio space for each student
    • HTC VIVE for VR work
    • Motion capture suite
    • Green screen TV Studio
    • Digital design suite with Macs and Wacom Cintiqs with Adobe Creative Suite Design Premium. 

    Software includes: Toon Boom, Harmony Premium, Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, Illustrator and Photoshop, Pixologic Z brush and Unity. Our specialist technical staff, including qualified Adobe and Maya Certified Instructors, offer back-up and help in making the most of the software.

    Animation facilities

  • The University provides generous studio spaces, well-equipped workshops and excellent facilities for digital design.

    Within our digital design suites, there are Apple Macs, PCs, HTC VIVE VR and Wacom Cintiqs with Adobe Creative Suite Design Premium. This includes software such as ZBrush, Unity 3D, Maya, Blender, Cinema 4, Dreamweaver and Adobe Creative Suites. Our specialist technical staff, including qualified Adobe and Maya Certified Instructors, offer back-up and help in making the most of the software.

    Design facilities

  • FabLab Sunderland offers a diverse range of specialist digital design and fabrication equipment. Based at the Hope Street Xchange in Sunderland city centre, it is a creative space where anyone can make (almost) anything. Our students gain free access to FabLab's machines which include:

    • Epilog laser cutter
    • ShopBot CNC router
    • The Roland Modela MDX-20 milling machine
    • Roland Vinyl cutter GS-24
    • Dimension 1200es Series 3D Printer – ABS plastic (large capacity 3D printer)
    • Ultimaker 2 (small scale 3D printer)
    • Ulitmaker 2 Extended (medium scale 3D printer)
    FabLab

  • The University Library subscribes to a comprehensive range of academic journals and databases so you can access reliable and up-to-date information.

    Our experienced Library team provide a high-quality service and are sensitive to the requirements and working methods of our students. A dedicated Academic Liaison Librarian supports students and staff in the arts, design and performing arts disciplines.

    Students are encouraged to develop their research skills, working with lecturers and library staff to cultivate their knowledge of contemporary and historical perspectives of art and design, as well as the wider contexts of their subject.

    The key resources for your course include:

    Discover: The Library’s multi-disciplinary search tool

    Art Full Text: A major resource for media and arts information

    JSTOR (short for ‘Journal Storage’): Giving access to important journals across the humanities, social sciences and sciences

    Lexis: A major resource on full-text newspaper articles and legal information

    Library Services - arts and design

Facilities

The David Puttnam Media Centre provides well-equipped facilities and industry-standard design software so it's easy to make a seamless transition from your studies to the workplace.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is


  • GPA 3.0 or above from High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade - SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement


If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at admissions@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

We also require three passes at GCSE grade C or above, which must include Mathematics and English Language, or an equivalent qualification, for example; a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have studied for a new GCSE for which you will be awarded a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

If English is not your first language we will require an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 6.0 and at least 5.5 or higher in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. An alternative approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) can also be considered if the applicant's element scores are equivalent to those required for IELTS.

Portfolio/Interview

If the above criteria is met you will be asked to attend an interview. For this interview please prepare a portfolio of work, which should be simply mounted and accompanied by preparatory work. Sketchbooks are an important feature of your preparatory work and should be included. Where possible, 3D and large 2D work should be photographed. Digital and screen-based work should be saved on a CD or memory stick.

If you are an international applicant, please supply your portfolio on a CD.

Suitable items for a portfolio include:

‡ Drawing: examples of observed drawing and exploratory drawing

‡ Projects: evidence of project work together with your sketchbooks and development work

‡ Self-initiated work: that you have done out of personal interest

‡ Research: examples of various forms of investigation undertaken for projects

‡ Writing: examples of reports, essays or journals

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is:

  • £9,250 if you are from the UK / EU
  • £10,750 if you are an international student

Part-time fees

Tuition fees for part-time students are £5,000 per 120 credits.

Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.

If you are not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

You are viewing entry requirements for visitors from United States. Not from United States? Change your country preferences.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

W221casestudy
Hannah Potter, BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art graduate, CBBC Scream Street Shorts winner

Employment

Our graduates have gone on to work throughout the film, special effects, games, television and computer industries, and worked on projects including The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Grand Theft Auto, Creature Comforts, Miffy and Hey Duggee.

Recent employers have included:

  • Animation studios such as Blue Zoo, Aardman and Studio AKA
  • TV companies such as Cartoon Network, CBeebies and CITV
  • Games companies such as Rockstar, Ubisoft and Sumo Digital

Placements and visits

You will have opportunities to apply for internships and we actively encourage you to build up a compelling creative portfolio. We also encourage you to participate in competitions and award schemes.

In addition, our students are actively encouraged to attend annual animation festivals such as the Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), as well as visits to arts venues across the UK and in cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam and New York.

Guest speakers

Through our links with industry we attract professionals in animation to come into the University and give talks. These help you gain valuable insights and contacts in the world of work.

Past visiting speakers include quadruple-BAFTA Award-winning Jardone Sage (CITV) - a graduate of the course, Curtis Jobling (creator of Bob the Builder), Susannah Shaw (Aardman), Barry Purves (Lord of the Rings), alumni and BAFTA Award-winning Catherine Salkeld (Story Artist and VR director at Blue Zoo Studios), and Andy Davies (Sony Games).

Work experience

All students studying on-campus undergraduate Animation and Games Art courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp.

By the term placement, we mean we are offering you a taste of the industry which might last anything from two days to four weeks on a part-time basis.

  • Sunderland stood out by a mile because of their excellent facilities.
    Alex-Collier, Animation and Games art graduate

    Alex Collier

  • We got to make contacts in LA - that was really exciting!
    Catherine Skelald

    Catherine Salkeld

  • Thanks to the University, I now run my own UK based animation and design company.
    Rosario Rivas Leal

    Rosario Rivas Leal

Meet our academics

Ros Allen

Programme Leader Animation and Games Art

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art programme specification

Page last updated: 08 May 2018

Sign up to receive more information

Sign up to receive emails about your subject area.

Oops! You've not opted in to receiving other useful information about the University of Sunderland.

Sign up

Using Your Personal Information
The University of Sunderland is collecting this data in order for you to receive information on your chosen subject(s). Your information will be stored securely in our Customer Relationship Management system which is provided by a 3rd party and used only for the administration and provision of this information. Should you choose to opt in to further communications we will also use your information to facilitate other useful marketing information based on your preferences. Further information on how your data is stored and used can be found in our Privacy notice - marketing.

Close