MA Animation
MA Animation USW's MA Animation course produces highly skilled artists able to make a significant impact and contribution in today’s evolving industry, developing new ideas for commercial platforms on the international stage.
Taught by our BAFTA award-winning staff and visiting industry professionals, graduates will be able to apply for a range of influential creative positions in the film, television, advertising, games, visual novels, and mobile app fields.
Graduates have gone on to work for multi-award-winning studios, including Aardman Animations, A Productions, DNEG, Framestore, Industrial Light and Magic, Passion Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Graduates have produced award-winning work, receiving prizes and nominations at animation festivals worldwide.
In a world of new challenges, the MA Animation course has adapted to reflect the world we now face. Taught in a blended method approach, the course has been designed for people wishing to continue learning through the educational experiences of a rapidly changing landscape. USW is committed to providing a fantastic student experience and a wealth of support in developing individual voices and the ability to work as team members in an exciting and rewarding industry.
Current work can be seen on our Vimeo and YouTube channels. You can also follow USW Animation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
| Study Mode
2024 |
Duration | Start Date | Campus | Campus Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 1 Year | September | Cardiff (ATRiuM) | B |
| Part-time | 2 Years | September | Cardiff (ATRiuM) | B |
| Study Mode
2025 |
Duration | Start Date | Campus | Campus Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 1 Year | September | Cardiff (ATRiuM) | B |
| Part-time | 2 Years | September | Cardiff (ATRiuM) | B |
You will develop a critical understanding of intellectual property and the evolution of animation into new forms of information delivery in today’s entertainment and communication industries.
The Animation course is designed to develop and produce your ideas through the following six modules:
- Animation Exploration
- Professional Practice: Animation
- Animation Application
- Animation Specialisation
- Major Project: Animation
- Animation Review
Teaching
The MA Animation is taught in a professional and friendly creative environment. All staff are industry trained and active in research and/or consultancy.
You will have studio and workshop tutorials that are supported by lectures, seminars, integrated case study analysis, discussion groups and multimedia presentations.
Assessment
Throughout the animation masters you will be assessed on the outcome of your practical work supported by written reports.
Assessment may also include individual or group presentations during seminar sessions, offering the opportunity to not only build your confidence in discussing your ideas to your peers, but also provide the opportunity to receive feedback on your progress and ways of developing your work.
Placements
USW's MA Animation course is also part of Film & TV School Wales, which provides students with the up-to-date skills, opportunities and specialist training required by today’s exciting Film, TV, VFX and Games industries.
Facilities
Our well-equipped studios include state-of-the-art facilities with industry-standard software packages.
As an Animation university student in Cardiff, you will benefit from being in the centre of a booming arts industry, from television production to independent arts venues, surrounded by countless opportunities during your animation course and after graduation.
Lecturers
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
A good Honours degree in a relevant discipline or appropriate professional qualification; or an HND/HNC and relevant experience; or equivalent international qualifications. Those without such qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, where prior experience will be taken into account. All applicants will be invited to a portfolio-based interview, which should include a showreel of recent work. During the interview, applicants will be expected to outline and discuss the project proposal for the Independent Study module and/or major project.
We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.
The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent. International applicants will need to provide a digital portfolio, you may chose a relevant site where we can access your film/video and other artworks. These can be personal websites, video channels or artwork sites or you may have a presence on part or all of these. Please indicate the links clearly within your application.
However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us at [email protected]
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: £15850
Part-time UK: TBC
August 2025 - July 2026 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC
Part-time UK: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
USW Postgraduate 20% Alumni Discount 2023/24
The University of South Wales is offering a 20% reduction in tuition fees for all University of South Wales* graduates starting a taught/online*** MA,MSc, LLM,MBA or DBA course from September 2023 (this includes students starting a course in January/February 2024). T's and Cs apply. Click here for more details and eligibility criteria: USW Postgraduate Alumni Discount 2023/24
USW's Animation masters produces flexible, highly skilled animators who can make a significant contribution to the field. Our graduates have successfully gained work at multi award-winning and internationally recognised studios, including A Productions Ltd, Aardman Animations Ltd, ArthurCox, Bermuda Shorts, Beryl Productions International Ltd, Blitz Games, Disney Interactive, Double Negative, MTV, Nexus Productions, Rushes and Tinnopolis.
Graduates can also progress to a PhD or research degree.
Our Careers and Employability Service
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.
Graduate Stories
Our Cardiff Campus is right in the city centre – the perfect home for our creative industries students. We’ve just finished a new phase of campus investment and development, so we can offer even more specialist facilities.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.