Animation with Foundation BA Honours

Program Overview

---

Animation with Foundation BA Honours

Overview

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster.

Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.

Our foundation year in Art and Design is designed to provide you with an introduction to our range of subject areas, and to prepare you for the discipline of your choice. It will give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within the field. It begins in the first semester with the development of fundamental Art and Design skills, as well as practical exploration across all of the disciplines in our Art and Design foundation programme. In the second semester you are encouraged to specialise in your own discipline and are supported by our experienced staff team as you prepare your work for an end of foundation year public exhibition. You will also benefit from workshops in our high-end facilities, and from working with leading academics who will encourage you to become a confident and creative thinker. Your practical development is accompanied by modules in both semesters on foundational academic skills – skills that will be essential as you progress to your chosen full degree.

On successful completion of the Foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Animation BA Honours degree over a further three years study.

Our exciting specialist course will enable you to develop your imaginative and creative skills, while giving you a sound knowledge and understanding of animation processes, techniques and critical theory.

Commercial animation is a rapidly growing and vibrant industry, encompassing a broad range of rewarding and fascinating creative job opportunities. Our strong emphasis on creative practice will help you to develop your skills in drawing and design, along with the imaginative development and innovation of ideas expressed sequentially. These skills, together with the professional practice aspects of the course, will ensure that you have the confidence and expertise to succeed in industry, whether as a producer, technician, designer or manager. You’ll also develop the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

Throughout the course, there are opportunities for you to take part in national and international competitions and film festivals. Our course is delivered by a large team of experienced animation practitioners, staff and industry visitors, and you’ll work in dedicated specialist animation studios with facilities for blue screen, rostrum animation, CGI, drawing, stop-frame, film, photography, set building, sound and video.

Successful animators need to be flexible and able to adapt to changing cultures and new initiatives, and our course seeks to reflect this fluidity. You’ll rapidly develop your own practice in animation, and will be encouraged to work on shared initiatives. Based at our Harrow Campus – home to the Westminster School of Arts and the Westminster School of Media and Communications – you’ll work alongside students from film, photography, music, fashion and journalism, in a unique creative hothouse.

Top reasons to study with us

• Master multiple animation methods – You’ll have the chance to master a wide range of animation methods, both traditional and cutting-edge
• Learn from expert tutors – In-depth subject-specific support is provided by our large team of animation tutors, each with their own areas of expertise
• Showcase your animation – Your work will be shown at our Regent Street Cinema – the birthplace of British cinema
• Study in a creative environment – Our Harrow Campus offers opportunities for collaboration with artists, musicians, filmmakers and designers from around the world

Course structure

You'll learn through high-level, tutor-guided studio practice, and by doing – we actively promote experimentation, reflection and the sharing of enthusiasms and influences.

The unique integrated theoretical elements of the course provide a critical framework within which you can examine animation and related time-based practices, and will significantly support and inform your own practice.

All modules are assessed through coursework, and we offer a range of methods including crits, submitted work, research plans and seminar presentations.

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

• Foundation
  • Critical Thinking in a Changing World
  • Explorations in Art and Design
  • Extended Project in Art and Design
  • Fundamentals of Art and Design
  • Introduction to Academic Practice
  • Themes in Art and Design
• Year 1
  • 2D Computer Animation
  • Animation Principles
  • Contexts and Approaches
  • Creative Industry Skills
  • Storytelling and Narrative
• Year 2
  • 3D Computer Animation
  • Collaborative Practice
  • Documentary Animation
  • VFX for Film and Games
• Placement Year
  • Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll have the option to spend a year abroad at a partner institution or in employment to progress your career.
• Year 3
  • Innovation in Animation
  • Major Project (Animation)
  • Professional Practice

Programme recognition

The Animation BA Honours is delivered through a partnership with BAFTA albert Education, which provides staff and graduates with the tools and techniques needed to learn about environmentally responsible working practices and their professional relevance. The partnership will help students develop knowledge about sustainability, carbon footprinting and planet placement in programmes.

This course is also delivered in collaboration with our industry partner, Aardman Animations, the UK’s leading animation production house. Aardman Animations is responsible for creating some of the world's best-loved animation films such as Wallace and Gromit. The partnership will allow students to have access to Aardman’s training materials and masterclasses organised by their staff members.

Programme training opportunities

This course is committed to health and safety training, and has partnered with the Mark Milsome Foundation to offer an optional online course for students wishing to develop their skills in this area. The Mark Milsome Foundation Skillset Production Safety Passport course ensures that students are equipped with essential safety knowledge, as they venture into careers in the film and TV industry. Created in memory of Mark Milsome, the course provides a Level II Production Safety Passport valid for 5 years from ScreenSkills. This additional course is available free of charge to University of Westminster students studying this Undergraduate course.

Programme membership

The International Association of Film and Television Schools (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision – CILECT)

We are full members of CILECT, the International Association of Film and Television Schools (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision), the prestigious global network of top-tier film, television, and animation institutions.

CILECT unites over 180 leading media schools from more than 63 countries across six continents, fostering collaboration among students and staff to share the best professional, educational, and artistic practices.

Our CILECT membership is in recognition of our exceptional facilities, the high quality of our students’ work, and our commitment to the highest standards in research, education and training in the moving image.

Entry Requirements

• UK
  • A levels – DD (48 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 48 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate – 48 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – PPP
  • BTEC Diploma – MP
  • Access – 48 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
  • GCSE English Language grade 4/C - IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths Not Required
• International
  • International Baccalaureate – 48 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
  • We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out about a range of university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.

English language requirements

• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with a score of 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments. Find out more at English language requirements.
• If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, then we offer online and on campus pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills to the required level before you start your course. Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.

Portfolio guidance

• Number of recommended portfolio pieces: 10 (minimum) to 15 (maximum) images of art, design or media work to reflect your course of interest.
• What should I include in my portfolio submission?
  • We accept drawing and painting, graphic design and illustration, photography, printmaking and digital prints, sculpture and installations, moving image, 3D and product design.
  • Film, video and animation files should be uploaded on YouTube or similar website and links should be provided as part of your Portfolio.
  • If you include moving image, then there should be a maximum of 3 video files – and each file must be no longer than 3 minutes duration. Please ensure that all files are in common formats, e.g. PDF; Word, .DOCX, etc.
• How should I structure my portfolio?
  • Please compile all items of your portfolio into a single file (preferably PDF), or you may wish to create a simple portfolio website, and send us the link. Some DOs and DON’Ts:
    • DO provide a single PDF file uploaded to our system. If your file is too large try reducing the file size or upload to Google Drive or DropBox and upload the link to your file instead.
    • DO make an online portfolio website on Wix, Blogger or similar with link uploaded to our system, if you prefer this format rather than an uploaded file.
    • DON’T upload your portfolio to our system as many separate files – this makes it difficult for us to view your work.
    • DON’T use any platform that requires log-in, password, or an account to view – for example Tumblr, Instagram.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £9,535 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)
• Funding: As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies. Find out about undergraduate student funding options.
• Scholarships: The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees. Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods: Our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Assessment: All modules are assessed through coursework, and we offer a range of methods including crits, submitted work, research plans and seminar presentations.

Supporting you

• Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
• Study support: workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors: support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team: provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities: volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Course Location

• Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.
• Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.