Diploma of Screen and Media (Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects)

Program Overview

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Diploma of Screen and Media (Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects)

Course Overview

Activate your career in screen and media with this diploma qualification. Learn the specialist skills needed to be a game designer or game developer. This course is ideal for creative people seeking employment in the film, television, games industry, and screen and media industries.

What Can I Do?

• Game Designer
• 3D Game Animator
• 3D Game Modeller
• Game Concept Artist
• Game Texture Artist
• UI Designer
• Game Developer
• Junior Programmer

Course Outcome

CUA51020 Diploma of Screen and Media (Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects)

Choose Your Specialisation

This course offers industry specialisations for you to choose from: post-production, specialist make-up services, animation, gaming and visual effects also screen and media with a focus on film and TV production or 3D Animation and Visual Effects industries. Choose the specialisation that suits your interests and career goals.

Study Games and Interactive Design

Be a part of the next generation of Australian games makers and media designers with our games and interactive design courses. Develop the skills you need to work across a variety of roles behind the scenes in design, illustration, development, software engineering, animator, and management. Learn more

What You Will Study

The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all core and 11 elective units from the list below.

Core Units

• UNIT CODE: CUAIND412
  • UNIT NAME: Provide freelance services
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work as an independent operator within the creative arts industry. This includes promoting self to potential clients, negotiating work arrangements, managing financial and business aspects of services, and undertaking strategic planning.
• UNIT CODE: CUAIND512
  • UNIT NAME: Enhance professional practice using creative arts industry knowledge
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain creative arts industry knowledge and monitor and manage own professional practice. This includes applying industry knowledge to research-based work activities, when interacting with others, and when engaging in professional practice in the music industry.
• UNIT CODE: CUAPPR411
  • UNIT NAME: Realise a creative project
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to experiment with ideas and techniques to find an individual style or voice throughout a creative project that results in a completed work.
• UNIT CODE: CUAPPR515
  • UNIT NAME: Establish and maintain safe creative practice
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to determine and respond effectively to broad and specific safety requirements in a professional practice.

Elective Units

• UNIT CODE: CUAANM302
  • UNIT NAME: Create 3D digital animations
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to animate simple 3D models and create 3D animations, which may include audio components. The models are for inclusion in interactive media products, short stand-alone animated sequences and basic games.
• UNIT CODE: CUAANM313
  • UNIT NAME: Create 3D digital models
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to create 3D digital models that are produced primarily for online and mobile device application, and meet technical and design specifications.
• UNIT CODE: CUAANM411
  • UNIT NAME: Create advanced 3D digital models
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare 3D digital models to a high level of finish, ready to use in different contexts.
• UNIT CODE: CUAANM412
  • UNIT NAME: Create digital visual effects
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use different industry software applications and material to create digital visual effects sequences for projects in film, television, games or digital media productions.
• UNIT CODE: CUAANM511
  • UNIT NAME: Create 3D digital character animations
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use different industry-current software to create 3D digital character animation for film, television, interactive media products, stand-alone animated sequences and games.
• UNIT CODE: CUAANM512
  • UNIT NAME: Create 3D digital environments
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to create 3D digital environments using appropriate software, reference material and established designs.
• UNIT CODE: CUADIG413
  • UNIT NAME: Create user interfaces
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to create a user interface for animation, gaming and/or visual effects products.
• UNIT CODE: CUADIG414
  • UNIT NAME: Write and apply scripting language in authoring
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to write and apply scripting language in authoring interactive media products.
• UNIT CODE: CUADIG516
  • UNIT NAME: Design interactions
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to generate ideas, design drafts and test interactions for interactive media products.
• UNIT CODE: CUADIG518
  • UNIT NAME: Refine digital art techniques
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to refine digital media techniques and to develop own digital art style in a body of creative work.
• UNIT CODE: ICTGAM535
  • UNIT NAME: Develop complex 3-D software for games and interactive media
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to employ multiple 3-D frameworks and libraries, build a graphical user interface (GUI) and develop complex 3-D software with documentation generated using applicable tools.

Ways to Study

• On campus
• International

Choose Your Study Location

• Greater Brisbane
• Sunshine Coast

On Campus

You'll learn face to face with a teacher in a classroom or simulated workplace environment. You may access learning materials through our online learning management system Connect. Learn more

Campus Information

South Bank

• Study Mode: On Campus
• Start Date: 14 Jul 2025
• Duration: 1 year
• Workload: Full time 4 days per week
• What You'll Pay:
  • Concession: $12,015
  • Subsidised: $13,365
  • Full fee: $17,880
  • International: $21,000

Mooloolaba

• Study Mode: On Campus
• Start Date: 27 Jan 2026
• Duration: 1 year
• Workload: Full time 2 days per week
• What You'll Pay:
  • Concession: $12,015
  • Subsidised: $13,365
  • Full fee: $17,880

Payment Options

• Payment plan
• Upfront payment
• VET Student Loan - $18,838 cap
• International student payment

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Selection Criteria

• Domestic students:
  • School leavers must have completed Year 12 or equivalent
  • Non school-leavers are selected according to eligibility and merit, vocational experience, previous study and personal competencies.
  • If you’re under 17 years of age, special enrolment conditions may apply.
• International students:
  • English Language Proficiency: Academic IELTS 6.0 (no individual band less than 5.5) or equivalent
  • Academic Requirements: Completion of Year 12 (or equivalent). Non school-leavers must have relevant work experience or qualification that indicates likely success of course completion.

Resources Required

It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software. This equipment and software are available for use at all TAFE Queensland locations.

You will also be required to have access to and bring to class some design resources and a portable external hard drive (500MG minimum). Details will be provided after enrolment or during orientation.

Assessment Methods

Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning.

University Pathways

If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.

How to Apply

• Direct application
• Apply through QTAC
• For International students

Course Disclaimer

All information was accurate at time of publication, however TAFE policies, tuition fees, available subsidies, and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfers

Fast track your way to a formal qualification by earning credit for the things you already know. We can assess your skills, directly apply credits from previous successful study, and give you advanced standing in your course.