BA (Hons) 3D Animation

There is a year zero option available for this course, which is a preparatory year as part of a four-year BA (Hons) Animation course. This will be ideal for you if you wish to further develop your portfolio skills ahead of degree study.

If you apply via this current page, you will skip the year zero option. If you are interested in this option, you can read more about the animation with year zero extension and apply via that page. 

In year 1, you will study fundamental animation skills, including timing, posing, movement and behaviour. Throughout year 1, you will be encouraged to experiment and improvise with your ideas.  

You will gain industry insight from the outset; attending guest lectures, completing tasks set by practitioners and receiving direct feedback on the work you submit. 

A blend of skills will be explored throughout the course, including visual language, storytelling techniques and drawing. 

• Animation Fundamentals (3D)
• Animation Character Mechanics (3D)
• Look Development for 3D
• Pre-Visualisation for (3D)
• Professional Life Practice- Developing your Practice 
• Professional Life Practice- Exploring your Practice.

In year 2, you will advance your skills in animation through acting workshops and exploration into dialogue and emotions. This will be teamed with the development of skills in rigging and preparation for industry. In your second year, you will be given the opportunity to work on live projects with mentors there to assist you.  

You will also start to work independently, exploring your own individual area of interest and building an understanding of which sector your unique skill set is best placed within. 

Industry guests will continue to support the modules in Year 2 through a series of masterclasses and workshops. There will also be an opportunity to engage in either a live brief or secure a work-based learning opportunity within industry, at the end of Year 2. 

• Animation Character Performance (3D)
• Modelling and Rigging (3D)
• Animation Industry Exercises
• Professional Life Practice- Applying your Practice
• Work-Based Learning.

In Year 3, you will focus on enhancing your chosen specialism in preparation for employment. You will focus on how to brand yourself, prepare for life as a freelancer and develop a showreel which is relevant to the sector of your choice.  

You will be encouraged to collaborate with fellow course mates and work alongside those in other courses such as Games Design, Illustration for Communication and Music and Sound Design.  

Over the three years, you will be taught how to develop creative responses to all your modules, while integrating both theory and practical workflows to bring out a strong and individual creative vision.  

You will also be taught the importance of building both personal and professional life skills, to adapt to the opportunities and the challenges of today’s world of work. 

• Animation Industry Prep
• Animation Production 
• Professional Life Practice- Situating your Practice
• Animation Portfolio.

You will be continually assessed through the presentation of project and written work. You will produce practical work and in the final year make or contribute to the making of a short animated piece.

Essays, blog entries, business plans, reports and a dissertation also form part of the requirements of the course.

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade CC or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 64 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. We still think exams are important and look forward to hearing about your successes, but we place just as much importance on the work you will share with us as part of our interview and/or portfolio process.

Selection criteria:

Students should ideally have a background in art, creative media or design. Applicants are expected to submit a portfolio of work which shows a range of their skills and demonstrates why they would be a good fit for the course.

We may also consider a combination of portfolio and academic qualifications and take into consideration progress made during studies and/or relevant work experience.

UK students

Simply select your chosen start date using the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate course page on the UCAS website. The UCAS code for this course is located in the course overview bar at the top of this page. 

The UCAS website will guide you through the simple application process. You can also apply through your school or college using the UCAS system.

Learn more: how to apply for an undergraduate degree course

The entry requirements for this course can be found in the relevant section above.

International students

International students can apply directly via our Online Applicant Portal. Please see bespoke advice for international students in the dedicated section below. 

For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England,  language and entry requirements, application requirements and access to international agents, please visit our international section.

Quick links:

• How to apply
• Student route visa admissions
• International Education Agents
• Visas and immigration
• Student Route visa CAS deposit & fee refund
• International student FAQs

Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of an interview and portfolio (or showreel). 

If you wish to study our BA (Hons) Animation degree course, we will need to see examples of previous art, new media and/or design work that showcases your suitability for the course. 

Please provide a digital portfolio of no more than 10 pieces of work.

A piece of work can be: 

• An animation
• A storyboard
• A concept piece, which could be of an environment or character design
• Life drawings (one sheet of paper with multiple drawings on it or one developed drawing showing tone or colour)
• Any personal work representing design, drawing, colour and research.
• 3D work (a single model, an environment or samples of texturing and lighting skills)
• If you feel other work is suitable such as photography or model making then please feel free to add it if it is relevant to animation.

This page offers great tips for completing your portfolio/showreel and preparing for your interview. 

You can’t learn in a vacuum. At Ravensbourne University London, industry connection is ingrained into everything we do. We will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries, ensuring you are truly industry ready upon graduation. Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links.

You will be part of a diverse community of creatives, working collaboratively to explore new professional practices. Ravensbourne have strong industry links with a range of high-profile companies, including: Apple, Barclays, the BBC, European Space Agency, Marks & Spencer, Museum of London, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Samsung and many more.

Animation is an increasingly widespread form of media and good animators are becoming more sought after in film, television, visual effects (VFX), gaming and the web.

Animation graduates often go on to secure work as 3D/2D generalists or specialists in areas such as: concept, modelling, animation and VFX production.

Past Ravensbourne University London animation graduates have been employed in roles within film and television, VFX, advertising, post-production, apps and games.

Find out more about our tuition fees and whether you qualify for financial support during your studies. 

Key links:

• Undergraduate fees and funding
• Paying your fees
• Scholarships, bursaries and other discounts

If you have any questions, we'd love to hear from you. 

Get in touch with a member of our admissions team:

T: +44 (0) 20 3040 3998

E: [email protected]

If you have specific queries about being an international student, contact [email protected]

For general information, call +44 (0) 20 3040 3500

You can also chat to our students 

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• Prospective students
• International students
• Students with a disability
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