Animation and Visual Effects BA (Hons)
Length:
3 or 4 year options
UCAS Code:
W618 (3 Year)
W617 (4 Year)
Institution Code:
N39
Optional Diploma Years:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 diploma), or Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 diploma), available between years 2 & 3
Develop the creative and technical skills behind the latest Hollywood blockbusters and learn from award-winning studio professionals.
BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects offers a perfect balance between mastering the fundamental principles of animation, visual effects, and breakthrough techniques. As you become an expert ‘world builder’, you’ll use visual effects to create character designs, enhance stories, work with directors or film your own shots, helping to develop a portfolio that could fast-track you into the animation or VFX industries.
Watch our BA Animation and Visual Effects showreel
Why study with us
- Explore the major animation and visual effects techniques including digital 2D, 3D, and compositing to underpin your visual effects projects.
- Develop an understanding of audience, context, film language, and the elements of compelling storytelling.
- Learn about a range of processes such as look development, lighting, texturing, rendering, and compositing.
- Attend masterclasses and guest lecturers from major studios and artists. Previous guests include studios behind Jurassic World, Star Wars, the Toy Story franchise, The Last of Us, Stranger Things, The Lion King, Avengers: Endgame, Ready Player One, Entergalactic, Prehistoric Planet, and Blade Runner 2049.
- Learn in a collaborative studio-based environment.
- Opportunities to engage with industry events such as FMX and the London VFX festival.
- Access education versions of industry-standard software such as Autodesk, Maya, Houdini, Unreal, Adobe Substance Painter, and Nuke during your study.
- Develop critical creative thinking skills through your course practice and expanded opportunist to engage with thought provoking lectures (VC talks), cross university activities (Interchange), and specialism linked essay tasks.
Recent success
Norwich University of the Arts is ranked as one of the top 30 creative schools in the world by the Rookies Global School Rankings 2023, which also placed us 7th for 3D Animation and 13th for Production Excellence in VFX in their global rankings.
Course Content
Integrated Foundation Year (optional)
Our Integrated Foundation Year is designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in their chosen degree subject. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to various disciplines, blending critical thinking and creative problem-solving with practical hands-on experience. This year serves as a bridge to undergraduate studies, allowing students to explore their interests within a supportive and inspiring environment, while familiarising themselves with the campus, workshops, and tutors.
Year 1
This unit will introduce you to the fundamentals that underpin all areas of animation and visual effects. You’ll work in 2D drawn animation, 3D computer animation, and visual effects. Through hands-on projects, you will cover a range of key production areas, including the principles of animation, ideation and concept development, drawing fundamentals and image manipulation. You’ll attend sessions on character design, film language and storytelling, the principles of animation, and an introduction to digital imaging and compositing software.
40 credits
In this unit you will explore and experiment with techniques, materials and media. You’ll build your knowledge of the animation pipeline and explore underpinning skills in drawing, design and techniques of film language, narrative structures and visual storytelling. You’ll consider the practical, conceptual, and theoretical pathways open to you as an animator or VFX artist and learn to use industry-standard software to support all areas of your work.
You will bring animated characters and scenes to life, working from initial concept to final outcome, exploring skills in 2D, CG and stop motion character animation, CG modelling and digital compositing.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Year 2
This unit will enable you to expand your specialist knowledge and skills, taking you to the next level in your creative development. This unit explores storytelling through a typical animation and VFX production workflow. There will be a focus on narrative elements to help construct a short piece or sequence. You’ll explore materials and processes, including 3D cinematography and lighting, pre-vis and rapid iteration, CGI compositing, and sustainable approaches in the industry. This unit aims to challenge students to develop problem-solving strategies resulting in believable and engaging outputs. You’ll also be encouraged to consider various contexts and audiences for your work, with sessions on industry pipelines, branding, and marketing strategies.
80 credits
This unit focuses on how you work with your peers and take ideas from concept to presentation through stages of an industry-styled production pipeline. This collaborative experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking. You’ll explore studio roles, teamwork dynamics, and the importance of working toward a common goal. You will build your knowledge through sessions on project planning, the responsibilities of different studio roles, conflict resolution, and creative decision-making. This is an opportunity to build a portfolio of work that reflects your interests and identify your long-term plans.
40 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Diploma Year (optional)
Students have the opportunity to spend a year after the second of their degree (or the third year if studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year) enhancing their employability options through a Level 5 Diploma. They can choose from courses designed to provide:
- opportunities to gain industry insight, developing employability skills through a series of supported experiences, expanding professional networks and building confidence in the workplace, or
- an introduction to creative computing, building an understanding of how coding skills can be used to advance and complement creative practice.
Final year
This is the shorter of the two units that make up your final year of undergraduate study. Through taught sessions and independent experimentation, you will advance your skills and prepare for the creative and professional challenges of bringing a conceptual idea to life. Sessions focus on advancing your creative practice, including 3D animation and VFX skills covering simulations, lighting, compositing, performance animation, and narrative storytelling. You will produce a research report that expands on the research ideas you developed in your second year. You’ll apply various research methods and approaches, informed by your creative practice and future career aspirations.
40 credits
Your final unit allows you to research, conceptualise and create a self-determined final-year project(s), building on the skills, knowledge and understanding you have gathered throughout the programme. You’ll consider your creative route, receive expert guidance towards completing your chosen project(s), and have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other disciplines across the University. The project will allow you to demonstrate your acquired creative and technical knowledge in a meaningful self-determined outcome. You’ll consider your future goals and aspirations with a focus on building a unique industry-facing portfolio that reflects the skills you have to offer, setting you up for a successful career in the industry.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Careers Information
By the end of your degree, you’ll have developed a professional portfolio of work and a plan to market yourself and show off your ‘creative edge’. Our graduates have gone on to work at ILM, DNeg, Framestore, The Mill, Electric Theatre Collective, Epic Games, Light VFX and Untold Studios, and have worked on films like John Wick: Chapter 4.
BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects is an active member of ACCESS: VFX, giving you access to top visual effects houses, animation and games studios, and its e-mentoring programme.
Typical career paths include
- Animator
- Texture Artist
- 3D Generalist
- 3D Environment Artist
- Roto Artist
- Match Move Artist
- Character Designer
- Producer
- Lighting artist
- Real-time artist
- Technical animator
- Compositor
- Matte Painter/Artist
- Modeller
- Architectural Visualiser
- Experiential Designer
You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our Business and Employability Team to help support you as you plan your career.
Alexis Diestro
Tabbed Section
Typical UK offers
A / AS Levels – GCE
GCE A/AS Levels 3 A-level qualifications at grades BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) or above. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, Norwich University of the Arts will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
A T Level in any subject with overall grade Merit or above
UAL Extended Diploma
Merit
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 26 points
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio (if required), responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications. Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
International applications
We accept qualifications from all over the world. To find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.
Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).
We also accept some alternative English qualifications. Learn more about our English entry requirements.
You can email us on international@norwichuni.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.
BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects portfolio degree guidance
Portfolios should show examples of your work — both finished and work in progress — that demonstrate your interests and skills. Your portfolio should be made up of work that reflects your creativity, personal interests and influences, as well as demonstrating your technical skills and ability. It doesn’t have to be perfect as we can assess your potential from your work in progress.
Your portfolio should show us you are passionate about animation and visual effects and that you want to learn to make seemingly realistic images that support amazing stories.
We need to see you are motivated.
Our course is guided by some of the leading animation and visual effects companies in the UK and they want people who are willing to experiment and dedicate themselves to full-time study with us.
We want to see examples of your imagination, in whatever medium and see how you manipulate images to make believable pictures.
We don’t expect you to have software expertise, or for you to have done animation or visual effects before. Our job is to take creative people and give them software expertise and practical experience. If you can show you are good at creating interesting visuals that communicate a story we want to see you!
You may wish to include some of the following:
- Drawings or collages that exhibit a playful imagination and eye for composition
- Use of Photoshop or other related image making/editing tools
- Digital animation or motion graphics
- Films you have made, edited or remixed
- Film reviews documenting the use of Visual Effects
- Storyboards
- Photographic work – telling a story with a sequence of photos, or document an interesting place with a selection of images
Further portfolio advice and tips
Get more advice on presentation formats, layouts and when to submit your portfolio in the application process.
2024/25 University fees for new entrants
Norwich University of the Arts will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs
Students from the UK or Ireland and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements. They will usually be eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning that they won’t have to pay Norwich University of the Arts’ tuition fees upfront.
Students who do not meet the necessary residency requirements will usually be charged ‘Overseas’ fees and will not be eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan. Since 2021/22, this includes new entrants from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who do not have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, because the UK has now formally left the EU.
| Fee status | Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £9,250 |
| Overseas | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £18,000 |
Inflation in subsequent years
The rules for inflation on fees in subsequent years depend on the type of fee status and level.
- For Home undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation may be applied to your fees in later years, if the UK government were to increase the fee cap beyond the current limit of £9,250 per year. If such an increase were to apply, we would confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we would limit the increase to the maximum allowed by the Office for Students.
- For Overseas undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation will be applied to your fees in later years. We will confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we will limit the increase to no more than the Office for Students’ recommended inflationary measure, which is RPI-X. RPI-X is calculated by the Office for Budget Responsibility. In setting fees for the following year, we will use the Office for Budget Responsibility’s RPI-X forecast for quarter 3 of the relevant year.
For Home and overseas postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
Financial support for UK students in 2024
Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are usually available to UK and some EU students, as well as non-repayable Norwich University of the Arts bursaries based on family income. Find out more about applying for funding.
International students
We offer a range of scholarships for international students to support your studies with us.
- Group briefings
- Academic tutorials
- Group tutorials
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Critiques (crits)
- Seminars
- Finished pieces of work
- Presentations
- Written work
- Your research
- A reflective journal
Work-based Learning Opportunities
Between Years 2 and 3 of this course, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional qualifications:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Professional Development Diploma gives you the chance to spend a year exploring your post-uni job options through a structured programme of input sessions and work-based learning. This year offers two much-sought-after industry placements – the first lasting six weeks, the second 12 weeks, and a group project or ‘hackathon’ exploring freelancing and business start-up.
Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Computing Diploma introduces you to coding and computational skills that will advance and complement your creative practice. No prior experience of coding is needed, just a curiosity about creative computing and a desire to push your own practice into new realms. You’ll also develop a wider knowledge of the creative tech industries, available roles and opportunities.
Integrated Foundation Year – BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects
An Integrated Foundation Year offers students a chance to build on their experience within their undergraduate course of choice.
An Integrated Foundation Year will help to build confidence and develop subject specific practical, creative and conceptual skills – making full use of University studios and workshops.
Typical UK offers and entry requirements for Integrated Foundation Year entry
GCE A/AS Levels
2 A-level qualifications at grades CC or higher.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
Pass (D or E on the core)
UAL Extended Diploma
An overall Pass
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
An overall Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 24 points
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio, responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
Find out more about four year degrees at Norwich
Teaching Staff
News
@norwichuniarts
Norwich University of the Arts is proud to announce that it has been named the inaugural Arts University of the Year by the Daily Mail University Guide…
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Body Matters AHRA International Conference
Thursday 21 November – Saturday 23 November 2024
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Take a look back at Norwich University of the Arts Graduation 2023
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