Arts University Plymouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework.These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Plymouth College of Art has been granted full university status and formally recognised with the new title of Arts University Plymouth, following approval by the Privy Council. This makes us the City of Plymouth’s first specialist arts university. The title of Arts University Plymouth signifies a change to the way that the world will see us, our position within the sector and the mobility of our graduates; but not a change in the way that we see ourselves or what we do. Arts University Plymouth will build upon the existing strength of our unique culture and incredible community; we have no plans to change the specialist focus of the work we do together. The name Arts University Plymouth will appear on our qualifications, making it easier for employers and peers to recognise that our students were taught at a leading specialist arts university. 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. Bring your character designs and illustrative concepts to life with our BA (Hons) Animation & Games course, where you will invent new, imaginary worlds using the latest 2D and 3D software and techniques. You’ll develop the technical skills and production experience necessary to thrive in the top animation and gaming creative studios internationally. Globally the animation industry is estimated to be worth £170 billion, with the gaming industry predicted to be worth £140 billion by 2021. Whether your interest is in film, television, video games, online content, VFX, motion graphics or VR, we’ll help you enter the market with the knowledge and skills necessary for a leading role in the industry. In our state-of-the-art multimedia studio environment, you can explore the full range of the drawing, modelling, editing, rendering, and scripting techniques, giving you an unrivalled opportunity to take a multifaceted view of the animation and games world. Working within the creative incubator of our School of Arts + Media, you’ll not only gain knowledge of the latest software used in the creative industry and develop collaborative skills across disciplines, you’ll be encouraged to develop as an emerging artist-designer with your own unique creative voice. You’ll also have the opportunity to work alongside students from our award winning Film & Screen Arts course and Film Studies, as well as collaborating with Animation and Games students in interdisciplinary projects. Our animation and games studio facilities are fully equipped with industry-standard hardware and software such as Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, Toon Boom, 3D Studio Max, Maya, Marmoset Toolbag, Z-Brush and Adobe Master Suite. You’ll have your own high-spec, cloud-render enabled workstation with drawing monitors, as well as access to VR devices, cintiqs, a stop-motion studio, green screen studio and a state-of-the-art 3D printing and scanning studio. Core specialisms you’ll study include preproduction concept art for the entertainment industry, 2D and 3D world-building, drawing, environment art, environmental and particle textures, game play, level design, 2D and 3D character design, stop-motion animation, 2D and 3D animation, and special effects. Our Animation & Games students have gone on to work at leading creative studios such as Creative Assembly, Playstation, Rebellion Studios, and Industrial Light and Magic. Recent contributors to the course include Jim Parkyn from Aardman Studios, Jack Eaves and Frederic Fitzpatrick from Rebellion Studios, Tim Nguyen from Playstation, and Henry South from ILM (Industrial Light and Magic). Graduates can become:
- UX & UI designers
- Animators
- Filmmakers
- art directors
- Illustrators
- Special effects artists
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
25Jan
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
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
We will ask you to upload a digital portfolio or showreel, and may also invite you for a discussion with one of our academic staff if needed, which will help us make a decision about your application.
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
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit 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 |
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