Arts University Plymouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Arts University Plymouth is an arts university for the 21st century, preparing students who are uniquely placed to provide creative solutions to the complex global challenges of a changing world. Formerly known as Plymouth College of Art, we were granted full university title in Spring 2022. We are now the city of Plymouth’s first and only specialist arts university, allowing us to offer our students a dynamic and unique learning experience. In May 2022 we were awarded the Best Small or Specialist University at the 2022 WhatUni Student Choice Awards, coming top in a list of well-respected specialist UK universities, based on unbiased and honest reviews from students across the UK, in a category that highlights the quality of our provision as a specialist creative university. A successful career in animation or games requires a highly creative mind, a strong knowledge of the creative software used to create new realities, and th ability to imagine within the constraints of a particular narrative. Graduates from this course are working in animation, video games, film and television, with leading roles in these industries. A degree in BA (Hons) Animation & Games prepares you for today’s highly competitive market and rapidly expanding environment in the entertainment industry. Through storytelling, prototyping and problem-solving, you will create and lead in interdisciplinary contexts, gaining knowledge that will be valuable whether you work for a multinational organisation or a small studio. With courses in animation and games, and other content linked to entertainment designs, integrated studies and the humanities and arts, you will develop a comprehensive and sustainable approach for creating dynamic and engaging animations and games. The objective of the course is to prepare each student to join a studio, having observed and practised the numerous phases required in the production of animated features and game development, including writing, concept art, storyboarding, art direction, animation, editing etc. During the first year, a significant part of the course is devoted to fundamental drawing practice such as: anatomy, characters, posing, animation etc. Then your skills will be developed further through working with the digital tools that are widely used within our focused industries. The yearly projects give students the opportunity to apply academic knowledge, project-based skills, and team/project management focus. The primary focus is on concept art and visual development towards outputs such as: characters, worldbuilding and asset creation. These are the kinds of creative skills required by artists working in the entertainment sector; during their second year, students will be able to select either an animation or games career development specialism. The animation path develops students in the disciplines of character animation, storyboarding, modelling, art direction and the principles of 2D and 3D lighting. The game arts path prepares students to create and communicate visual concepts through 3D and 2D prototyping, iteration and production.
Modules
In your first year, you’ll explore all aspects of animation through a range of short projects, covering key production skills such as narrative development, storyboarding and character performance. You will learn technical production skills in 2D, CGI and stop-motion methods of practice, giving you an opportunity to see which way you would like your own work to develop. Your second year is more focused, with an emphasis on production team working, as you share skills with others while you develop your own specialism. You will be supported in progressing your animation career path through professional development modules. In your final year, you’ll put your own stamp on a dynamic and professional showreel, which will demonstrate your production skills to the industry and associated sectors that use animation as a creative medium. You will have focused lectures on marketing and distributing your work either to the independent film sector or to the commercial end of the animation and games industries.
How to apply
31Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
We will look at your application on an individual basis, but you must evidence 120 Level 4 credits from another HEI
International applicants
Plymouth is the largest city in the county of Devon, and the safest big city in south-west England, listed in the top ten safest cities in the UK. The city has excellent travel links via car, train and ferry, with direct train services to London Paddington and the rest of the country and easy access to three nearby airports (Bristol, Newquay and Exeter). Plymouth is the gateway to the South West of England and is approximately 3 hours from London by train. The best airport to fly into is London Heathrow, which has a direct rail line to Paddington station. Our dedicated international team will be able to support you throughout your application and enrolment with us, giving you expert advice and guidance on everything you need, from accommodation to what to do once you arrive in the UK.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
Your application will tell us about your qualifications and previous experience, but studying the arts is about more than can be captured on forms. We need to find out about your creative potential, your abilities and idiosyncrasies, so we will invite you to talk about your work with a member of our HE academic team. You can tell us about your aspirations, and why you want to study at the university. It is also a good moment to find out what we can offer you. We encourage you to visit the university, so that you can see our facilities, meet our teaching and technical staff, and discuss any other queries you may have; however we appreciate this may not be possible, and are happy to talk to you via an online platform (such as Google Meet or similar). We accept a range of international qualifications and will look at each application individually.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
If your application meets our entry requirements, we’ll invite you to submit your portfolio, so that we can review your work and find out more about your creative potential. You will have the opportunity to submit your portfolio digitally, or in person at one of our Applicant Experience Days. At an Applicant Experience Day, you'll also get the chance to discuss your portfolio with a member of our academic team.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | IELTS (Level B2):overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores Listening: 5.5, Speaking: 5.5, Reading: 5.5, Writing: 5.5 |
| Trinity ISE | Pass | Integrated Skills in English II (Level B2), minimum grades required: Reading: Pass Listening: Pass |
| PTE Academic | 50 | PTE Academic (Level B2), minimum grade required: Listening: 50, Reading: 50, Writing: 50, Speaking: 50 |
Click here to find out the most up-to-date information on our English Language requirements
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| EU | £16500 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| International | £16500 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Arts University Plymouth
Tavistock Place
Plymouth
PL4 8AT