Launch your Computer Animation career by bringing your characters and stories to life. Develop your skills creatively and technically, while joining graduates who have worked at top studios on Oscar and BAFTA-winning films.

How to apply Register for open day Chat to us

Image Find your creative voice in a technical and hands-on Animation course.Find your creative voice in a technical and hands-on Animation course. Play video

I’m looking to study in [Select]

Show me course details for [Select]

Starting in [Select]

UCAS Code

Start Date

September 2026

Location

Campus Code

UCAS Points

Home students: £9,790*

International students: £16,800*

September 2027

International students: £17,600*

In this section

* Overview

* Course Content

* Teaching and Assessment

* Career Prospects

* Entry and Fees

How to apply Register for open day

## Course Overview

With BAFTA-winning lecturers, excellent industry connections and 30+ years’ expertise delivering this course, you will join graduates behind Oscar-winning films, hit TV shows and award-winning games worldwide.

Build your skills and portfolio through core projects, collaborations, live briefs with industry clients and studio visits to leading animation companies.

Your pathway to mastering 3D CG technical skills will include character animation and performance, concept design, story creation, production workflows and animation directing. Graduate with a range of specialist skills showcasing creativity and expertise, ready for the global creative industries.

## Why study this course?

### Global Recognition

Certified by The Rookies as an international School of Excellence for Digital Entertainment Media.

### Industry Experience

Work on live client briefs, visit UK animation studios and gain hands-on experience through placements.

### Industry-Standard Tools and Workflows

Master industry-standard animation software using pipelines that mirror professional studio practice.

## What you'll study

[Button: Year One][Button: Year Two][Button: Year Three]

You will explore character design, movement and visual language, while mastering industry-standard tools and workflows.

Working in a collaborative studio environment, you will complete a series of animated projects, laying the creative and technical foundations you will build on throughout the course.

## Introduction To Animation and 3D CG Art Techniques

Master animation foundations by creating convincing motion with simple shapes, while learning modelling, texturing and lighting your own character design.

## Bodymechanics and the Human Form (3D CG)

Analyse and translate real-world motion into sequences that demonstrate essential skills, including capturing weight, timing and personality, while learning rigging, skinning and animating.

## Narrative Strategies

Explore the art of storytelling through semiotics, film language and visual narrative design. Translate your ideas into dynamic visuals through an industry-standard storyboard and animatic with sound.

## Characters and Scenes (3D CG)

Design and develop an original character, refining personality and style, then bring it to life with acting, facial animation, and lip sync to create expressive, believable performances.

## Drawing and Visual Language

Sharpen your observational skills through life drawing, anatomy studies and quick sketches. Transform these insights into dynamic characters, expressive movement and compelling animated scenes for your portfolio.

## Contextual Studies: Animation

Explore animation as an art form and storytelling medium by studying historical and contemporary practitioners, understanding how ideas are communicated and applying these insights to your own creative work.

In your second year, you will refine specialised animation skills through creative and production-focused workflows, collaborative crew projects and self-initiated ideas, while working on live client briefs.

This builds professional expertise, confidence and creative momentum in preparation for your third year.

## Character Creation, Animation and Implementation for Games

Create 3D CG art or animation assets for games, integration with games engines and pipelines.

## Creature Creation, Animation and Implementation for Film/TV/VFX

Create 3D CG art or animation assets for VFX, integration with post-production techniques and pipelines.

## Business and Employability

Explore animation historically, contemporarily and personally, shaping career paths and professional attitudes, while developing industry-ready skills and creating a CV, portfolio, showreel and website under expert guidance.

## Critical Studies

Study animation’s history and evolution, linking past techniques to today’s industry practices, then research, analyse and apply your findings to create a guiding proposal for final-year projects.

## Animation Pipeline

Experience the full production process individually and in groups, developing teamwork and skills through live client briefs, preparing you for the creative challenges of your critical third year.

In your critical final year, you will fully realise the creative and professional ambitions developed in your second year.

You'll produce a body of work that highlights your specialism and talent, preparing you for industry opportunities, independent creative work, or both.

## Final Major Project Pre-Production (3D CG)

Whether focusing on a short film, showreel, trailer or specialised portfolio, this module lays the foundation for your final-year project, balancing creative vision with practical execution.

## Minor Project (3D CG)

This module supports your third-year specialisation, whether individual or team-based, and includes industry projects and placements, providing tailored training and hands-on crew experience.

This module connects you with the industry through festivals, networking, specialist workshops and expert guidance, all preparing you to showcase your work at the Animation Graduation Showcase.

## Final Major Project Production (3D CG)

Bring your final project to life with full academic and technical support, presenting it at the USW Animation Graduation Showcase in our state-of-the-art spaces for industry guests.

## Critical Research: Animation Optional

Develop research and critical thinking skills through in-depth study of a chosen topic, evaluating animation practices, trends and history to inform your creative work and professional approach.

We regularly review our courses to keep pace with changing skills and employer needs. If a review leads to significant changes, we’ll contact you to explain what’s changing for the coming year.

## Teaching and Assessment

From the start, you will receive personalised mentorship and specific guidance to develop your creative voice and professional skills. Through in-person lectures, workshops and studio-based projects, you will build confidence in your learning. This immersive experience ensures you build industry-ready skills, a strong portfolio and the confidence to succeed in a competitive creative career.

## [Button: How you’ll learn ]

Our learning strategy combines in-person lectures with practical, collaborative projects and workshops. This hands-on, industry-focused approach develops your technical skills, creative problem-solving and professional confidence, with ongoing support and feedback to refine work, grow your portfolio and prepare for a career in animation for film, TV, games and VFX.

## [Button: How you'll be assessed ]

A ssessment on this course is entirely coursework-based, with no exams. You will be evaluated through practical projects that reflect real animation briefs, including concept development, production work and final outputs. Learning combines lectures with hands-on workshops and collaborative studio projects, helping you build technical skills and creative problem-solving abilities.

You will receive regular feedback to refine your work and grow your portfolio. Industry engagement is built in, with studio visits and live collaborations offering behind-the-scenes access to leading animation and VFX studios, preparing you for a career in film, TV, games and digital media.

## [Button: Placements ]

In your second and third years you will work on live briefs set by industry studios and animation festivals.

These opportunities give you essential experience s, professional networking and real insight into industry pipelines.

## [Button: Facilities ]

Working alongside students in Games, VFX and Motion Graphics reflects real studio practice. All equipment and software are provided at no extra cost, with technical support available throughout to help you produce professional-quality work and prepare for industry.

### Course Leader

### Jonathan Edwards

Led by Jonathan Edwards, whose 30-year career spans 3D CG, VFX, animation and live-action production, the course is shaped by extensive industry experience. You'll learn through practical projects, develop industry-relevant skills and gain insight into professional workflows, preparing you for careers across film, television, games and commercial production.

Email Jonathan

## Career Prospects

### Your future career

Computer Animation is a global industry reaching across film, TV, games and digital media. This course prepares you to enter professional studios by developing your creative voice, technical expertise and understanding of the full animation pipeline, from concept to final production. You will build a specialist portfolio through projects, collaborations and live briefs, graduating with the skills, confidence and industry awareness needed to begin your career.

Potential career paths include:

3D CG Animator

3D CG Artist

Character or Concept Artist

Pre-Visualisation Artist

Animation Director

### Salary Expectations

An Animation degree can open opportunities across the Animation and Film sector. Animation careers offer strong earning potential:

Median wage

UK: £51.4k per annum

Wales: £41.5k per annum

Total jobs in 2025

UK: 1.26m

Wales: 30,764

### Build your own career

Your career doesn’t have to mean working for someone else. If you want to freelance, start a business or develop an idea, USW Enterprise can help with one-to-one mentoring, practical workshops and funding opportunities through the USW Enterprise Startup Fund.

You’ll also have access to Startup Stiwdio spaces in our Cardiff, Newport and Treforest campuses. After graduating, you can get free membership for up to three years, giving you workspace and a network of other founders.

Whether you choose employment, freelancing or starting a business, we’ll help you build the skills, confidence and connections to move forward.

USW Enterprise

### The Games and Animation Academy of Wales

The Games and Animation Academy of Wales equips you with the creative, technical and professional skills needed for a successful career in games. Through industry-led teaching, collaborative projects and real-world experience, you'll graduate with the creative, technical and professional expertise employers are looking for.

The Games and Animation Academy of Wales

### Industry Partners

The course's strong links with film, TV, and games companies give you opportunities to network with industry professionals and develop industry connections.

## Entry Requirements

### Additional

The University normally requires a minimum of 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

### Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

How to apply Contextual admissions policy Ask us a question

96 UCAS points or above

#### Typical qualification requirements

A Level:

CCC to include a relevant Art and Design subject

Welsh BACC:

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C and CC at A Level with a relevant Art and Design subject

BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Merit Merit in a relevant Art and Design subject

Access to HE:

Pass an Access to HE Diploma in a relevant Art and Design subject with a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points

T Level:

### International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages .

International students Pre-Sessional English

### English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages .

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages .

## Fees and Funding

UK Full-Time Fee £ 9,790

per year

Fees and funding Scholarships and bursaries Cost of living support

## [Button: Further information ]

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.

We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

## [Button: Additional costs ]

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

Sketchbooks/ Art Materials

Cost: £20 to £50

Field Trips

We will normally cover costs of local trips. We may ask students to cover costs of transport for optional trips further afield.

Cost: Up to £50 per year

International Full-Time Fee £ 16,800

## What sets us apart?

Animation and Game Design at USW is 7th in UK and Top in Wales.

Guardian University Guide 2027

Image: Games Academy - Game Animation student work

Ranked among the world’s top creative schools by The Rookies, recognising the quality of student work and industry readiness (The Rookies Awards).

Top university in Wales and 24th out of 123 universities in the UK.

Image: Three USW students walking outside of Cardiff Campus - Atrium

10 subjects ranked in the Guardian University Guide 2027 Top 10, including two at #1.

Image: Three students studying in a pod in the library at Cardiff campus

Top in Wales for new business startups for the 6th consecutive year, and 7th in the UK. (HEBCIS)

## Explore our facilities

Image A creative hub where games and animation thrive. Play video

## Games and Animation Facilities

## Media Loans

Access industry-standard cameras, lighting, sound and recording gear, supported by free Media Loans and experienced technicians. We have everything you need to help you experiment, refine and bring your work to life with confidence.

## How to apply

All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS

You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).

* ### Animation

* Full-time, 3 years

* September

* Cardiff

Apply direct

## Advanced entry

If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.

Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.

## International admissions

International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.

* Learn more

* Application toolkit

## Student Stories

> "The hands-on projects and supportive faculty helped me gain confidence in my abilities and nurtured my creativity."

Ida Mirzaee Animation student

View student profile

> "Seeing how hands-on the course was made the decision easy, and I left feeling excited to start learning the tools I’d always wanted to master."

Donna Williams Animation student

## Related stories and highlights

Image News Article

### USW Film and Animation sweeps the board with eight Royal Television Society Cymru awards

### Games and Animation Academy of Wales launches at USW

### Students create winning idents for Cardiff Animation Festival

### Animation student features in Lego Star Wars film festival

### 73 USW graduates up for British Animation Awards

## Ready to apply?

* Apply via UCAS

* How to apply

### Still exploring your options?

Student life Our locations Accommodation

## modal video

## Find us on social

* * * * * About Us

* University Services

* Schools and Colleges

* Job Vacancies

* Visit Us

* Our Locations

* Virtual Tours

* Quick Links

* Staff Portal

* Student Portal

* Research Explorer

* Accessibility

* Modern Slavery Statement

* Freedom of Information

* Privacy Policy

* Terms and Conditions

© University of South Wales. The University of South Wales is a registered charity. Registration No.1140312

Hide footer

Ask me anything

院校未公布 DSE 對應等級，請向院校確認。

請查看下方完整入學要求原文，或向院校確認。

成績符合不等於錄取；資料取自院校官方公開頁，取得日期見各課；最終以院校為準。

報告這課資料錯誤