Graduate career-ready

Games, Animation and Visual Effects

Study Games, Animation, and Visual Effects at USW and discover how to bring stories, worlds, and characters to life.

close up of screen with animation programme on showing animated male

If you love creating immersive experiences, whether through games, film, or digital art, our courses give you the skills, tools, and industry connections to turn your ideas into reality.

Industry-standard Facilities

Train in professional studios with motion capture, green screen, VR and 3D labs.

Industry Connections

Work alongside partners like Screen Alliance Wales and Bad Wolf Studios through talks, visits and collaborative projects.

Collaborative Learning

Create games, films and animations with students across creative disciplines.

Portfolio Focused

Build a professional portfolio that showcases your skills and creativity to future employers.

Games and Animation Academy of Wales

At the Games and Animation Academy of Wales, we’re all about unlocking talent, sparking innovation, and putting Wales on the global map for digital entertainment.

Animation and Games student working on some artwork in the classroom

Visual Effects and Motion Graphics student working on an animation on a computer.

An over the shoulder view of a student working on designing a game on a computer.

dark image with blue and purple illuminated lighting show computer screen with visual effects image on, other screens and people in background

Computer Games Design Showreel

animation student working on a clay sculpture

Animation - MA

MA Animation is a place to hone your craft and push your creative practice further, in 2D, CG, or Stop Motion, or a combination of these, and help you build on your existing skills and turn bold ideas into powerful, well-crafted stories.

Games, Animation and Visual Effects Add to course compare

Animation - BA (Hons)

With BAFTA-winning lecturers, excellent industry connections and 30+ years’ expertise delivering this course, you will join graduates behind Oscar-winning films, hit TV shows and award-winning games worldwide.

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Animation (2D and Stop Motion) - BA (Hons)

Bring your characters and stories to life with Animation at USW, where you will develop your creative voice through real-world projects, collaborations, live briefs and studio visits.

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Game Art - BA (Hons)

Working on live projects across various gaming media, you will have the opportunities to master industry standard tools such as Unreal Engine.

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Games - MA

As part of becoming a video game making master, you will develop several game projects that have robust documentation, detailed business strategy and, of course, a game to be proud of.

Games, Animation and Visual Effects Add to course compare

Games Design - BA (Hons)

Create and produce games from day one.

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Visual Effects and Motion Graphics - BA (Hons)

Embrace creative freedom and a sense of belonging as you develop the skills and experience desired by the world’s top film, TV and commercial studios.

Games, Animation and Visual Effects Add to course compare

Did you know?

100%

of USW BA (Hons) Visual Effects and Motion Graphics students were satisfied with their course for the second year running.

National Student Survey 2026

Top 20 for Production Excellence in Console Games. (Rookies 2025 Global School Rankings)
Top 50 Schools in the World for Animation, Games and VFX. (Rookies 2025 Global School Rankings)

Did you know?

100%

of USW BA (Hons) Animation (2D and Stop Motion) students were satisfied with their course.

National Student Survey 2026

Top 20 for Production Excellence in Console Games. (Rookies 2025 Global School Rankings)
Top 50 Schools in the World for Animation, Games and VFX. (Rookies 2025 Global School Rankings)

Inside the Subject

Games Academy - Game Animation student work

Discover the Games and Animation Academy of Wales

We’re shaping the future of digital creativity in Wales, connecting talented students, industry experts and innovators to drive the next generation of games and animation. Explore our courses, meet our graduates, and see how we’re putting Wales on the world stage for creative excellence.

Games and Animation Academy of Wales

A group of students taking a selfie in front of a green screen.

Industry-ready Facilities

Our studios feature high-spec PCs, Wacom Cintiq tablets and industry-standard software, with remote access for flexible work. You’ll also have access to motion capture, green screen, VR/AR, and dedicated spaces for life drawing, stop motion, 3D printing and laser cutting — all designed to mirror real studio environments.

Creative Graduate Festival

Creative Graduate Festival is an online showcase of final-year work from students across the University of South Wales’ creative courses. It highlights the ideas, skills, and projects developed by students as they prepare for careers in the creative industries.

Creative Graduate Festival

Success for Film and Animation Students at RTS Cymru Awards

USW Film and Animation sweeps the board with eight Royal Television Society Cymru awards

My Journey Back to Education at USW

Robert Fish

Visual Effects student

Developing a Creative Career at USW

Lucy Clover

Visual Effects student

The MA Animation course at USW laid a strong foundation for my career

Ida Mirzaee

Animation graduate

Studying Animation at USW has given me endless opportunities

Chloe Kacperski

Animation student

Studying Computer Games Design helped to boost my confidence

Luke

Computer Games Design student

Lecturer support and flexibility helped me develop from a beginner to an expert

Siddharth Ravindran

Game Art student

Crafting a future in Stop-Motion Animation

Adiee Romans

Animation student

Growing my craft in Cardiff’s animation community

Hayden Powell

Animation student

Take a virtual tour

Study in the heart of Cardiff

Cardiff is one of the most affordable cities in the UK too, so it’s perfect for cash-strapped students. There’s always something happening or new places to discover.

Cardiff Campus

Explore our facilities

Games, Animation and Visual Effects facilities

Create worlds that will immerse audiences, from animating films and building visual effects to designing unique video game characters and generating striking art pieces. We’ll give you the skills, tools and industry connections to turn your ideas into reality.

Your student experience

Students' Union

Four students sat on steps outside the Cardiff Campus.

Support and Wellbeing

Student holing a lacrosse stick and wearing a USW Women’s Lacrosse tshirt.

Clubs and Societies

Upcoming Open Days

View all Open Days

Come and meet us on campus and see what makes us special. Discover our facilities, explore the campus, and meet academics from your course.

Undergraduate Open Day

24 October

Undergraduate Open Day

21 November

Digital Prospectus

Create your own personalised digital prospectus and explore the University of South Wales your way. Check out career-focused courses, see what student life’s really like, and build something around what matters to you.

Digital Prospectus