BA (Hons) Animation Production

Duration: 3 or 4 years full-time
Placement year: Optional 1 year
Course code: W615 (UCAS)
Institution code: A66 (UCAS)

BA (Hons) Animation Production course details

On BA (Hons) Animation Production, we’ll introduce you to the fundamental skills of drawing and painting which underpin animation in all forms. Along with training in industry-standard software, you’ll be able to apply your skills to hand-drawn, stop motion, and CGI work. Working as part of a team in an animation studio environment, you’ll develop your personal portfolio and produce graduate films.

We have industry-standard facilities, where you’ll have access to the following throughout your studies – PC workstations with WACOM Intuos Pro Tablets, Xencelabs drawing screens, a render management software, Adobe Creative Cloud, Toon Boom Harmony, Storyboard Pro, Dragon Frame, Maya, ZBrush, and Da Vinci Resolve.

Visits from industry practitioners and opportunities for studio placements will add to your knowledge and prepare you for a career that could see you work in film, commercials or even video game production. We’ll teach you skills to shape the future of the industry.

Three reasons to study BA (Hons) Animation Production at AUB:

We use traditional drawing and painting skills extensively, to underpin the development of technical abilities relevant to contemporary professional practice.
There are elective workshops to promote an exploratory approach to learning and teaching, allowing you to navigate practice on both a group and individual basis.
In the final year, you'll work on a group-based filmmaking project that simulates a real-world production scenario, helping to prepare you for roles in the industry.


Course duration	3 or 4 years (full-time)
Placement year	Option of a 1-year placement
UCAS course code	W615
UCAS institution code	A66

Placement year

All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.

If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.

Exchange and international summer programmes

Students on BA (Hons) Animation Production have the chance to broaden their horizons through exciting exchange and international summer programmes. These opportunities allow you to study abroad at one of our brilliant partner institutions, experience different cultures, and enhance your academic journey.

Level 4 (first year)

First year introduces you to the fundamental principles of animation. Through workshops, seminars and lectures, you’ll learn traditional animation techniques and how to use contemporary software. We’ll teach you the 12 Principles of Animation in theory and practice, using 2D animation exercises that are used by professionals. You’ll learn to use the industry-standard software, and study layout and background design. Using sketchbooks to explore a variety of media, you'll develop a more subtle understanding of character performance and cinematic storytelling.

You'll study critical theories, concepts and analysis, and develop an understanding of historical and contemporary practice within the specialism.

Level 5 (second year)

In second year, you’ll develop your individual role within animation production by working on team-based projects. From conception to post-production you'll enhance your understanding of animation through workshops.

You'll also advance in your drawing and painting skills and abilities in 2D, CG and stop-motion. You'll research and develop your own personal project as part of a pitching process in line with industry practices, and be given the opportunity for industry experience or overseas study – you may also look at completing an optional work placement.

Level 6 (third year)

In your third year, you’ll successfully demonstrate your commitment to the collective responsibility of production and post-production. You’ll identify your specialist role and develop a portfolio as part of a 2D, CGI or stop-motion film production.

A big focus will be communication, team-working skills and mentorship guidance. Enhancing your skills as an animation practitioner through exploration of theory and practice, you'll develop strategies for personal planning and self-reflection, consider career aspirations and produce a targeted portfolio.

You’ll have the opportunity to pitch your story idea and take part in the process of selecting which films go into full production.

Pink image with cropped images of student work, copy reads: Join our creative community.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Now that you've found the perfect course, it's time to apply.

Check out our handy 'how to apply' guide and our portfolio top tips.

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People gathered on AUB Campus on an Open Day.

OPEN DAYS

Open Days are a great way to get a feel for undergraduate life at AUB. At an Open Day, you'll be able to explore the campus, talk to course teams and discover our industry-standard facilities.

Visit us on:

6 December
10 January

Book an Open Day

AUB SHOWCASE

We're proud of our alumni, and rightfully so.

Explore the incredible work of our graduates in our online AUB Showcase.

Browse work by course, student or theme.

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Teaching, learning and assessment

Within this area of performance experiential learning is a key principle of study and your work throughout the course reflects the collaborative nature of acting. Each unit is assessed separately, and the assessment forms part of the unit. Assessment both provides a measure of your achievement, and also gives you regular feedback on how your learning is developing.

Throughout the degree you'll experience both tutor-led learning, including the participation of professional practitioners, and self-directed methods of learning (through independent learning, negotiated practice and research work). In this way, you'll be able to develop an increasing independence and a positive attitude towards life-long learning.

The course objectives are met by deploying a wide variety of teaching and learning methods including rehearsal, performance, ensemble working, workshops, lectures, seminars, group critiques and tutorials. In consultation with the Course Leader, staff are responsible for co-ordinating individual units of study, and for selecting appropriate methods of delivery according to subject matter and student experience.

The methods employed induct you to the disciplines required of a creative practitioner and promote the development of transferable skills.

Ensemble working reflects the importance of team work in the discipline of acting and there are many opportunities to work in teams to learn the value of peer co-operation.

The integration of theory and practice is promoted and reinforced through a team teaching approach. Lectures, seminars and tutorials may be delivered by team members, as appropriate, in the creative learning environment.

The study time allocated to each unit in the course incorporates a balance of formal teaching, tutorial support and independent learning. The course is structured progressively to provide increased opportunities for independent learning as you reach the later stages of the course.

The progressive promotion of independent learning reflects your anticipated maturity as a student and allows you to direct your learning towards individual goals. The teaching in Level 4 is directed at providing you with the knowledge, concepts and skills to take increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning as you move on to Levels 5 and 6.

Contact hours include all scheduled teaching sessions, but also supervised time in the workshop or studio. In line with national guidance, we include in our calculation of contact hours all the time which is scheduled in the studio for independent study which is also supported by staff (either academic staff, or technicians).

The information provided below gives the proportion of your study time which constitutes contact hours. Where there are optional routes through the course, we have used the figures for the most popular option.

Year 1 (% time)	Year 2 (% time)	Year 3 (% time)
75	75	77

For every unit of your course, we'll inform you of what you're expected to learn; what you have to submit; how your work will be assessed; and the deadline for presenting your work for assessment. This is made available through Unit Information, which is on your course Canvas pages.

You'll receive a final mark for each unit in the form of a percentage, which will be recorded on your formal record of achievement (transcript). Each component of assessment is graded using a notched marking scale, whereby only certain marks are used within each grade. The only marks available within any ten-point band are *2, *5 and *8 (e.g. 62, 65, 68). These marks correspond to a low, mid, and high level of achievement within each grade band.

All learning outcomes must be passed to successfully complete the unit.

On successful completion of your Honours degree course, you'll be awarded a degree classification based on your unit marks. The final classification is determined using all unit marks at Levels 5 and 6 using two different algorithms, which are detailed in the HE Student Regulations. If the two algorithms produce different results, you'll be awarded the higher class of degree.

If you have joined Level 6 through either the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route or having completed a Foundation Degree (FdA), the final classification is determined using only your unit marks at Level 6.

For further information on assessment, progression, awards and classifications, please visit viewpoint.aub.ac.uk.

View our student films

Want to be inspired? Take a look through some of our BA (Hons) Animation Production graduate films, many of which have gone on to be screened at international film festivals and win awards.