Seagull hitting hammerhead with a hammer animation

Animation BA(Hons)

Bring your ideas to life through the world of animation.

Key details
Location
Penryn Campus
Course duration
3 years / 4 years
Attendance
Full-time / Professional Placement
UCAS code
W615/FY23/PY53

Course overview

Join this Animation degree and learn to craft believable worlds through animation, a dynamic medium for imaginative storytelling. This course blends traditional and life drawing techniques with 2D, 3D and stop-motion animation methods used in industry today. You’ll explore all aspects of animation before specialising and developing your personal style, preparing you for an exciting future in animation.

On this Animation degree, you’ll learn in an authentic studio set-up, using professional pipelines and working in the collaborative teams this industry thrives on. With the ability to pitch, present and produce, you’ll graduate as a capable, career-ready animator.

You will:

  • Study at a university which is a member of CILECT, the association of the world’s best film, TV and animation schools
  • Learn from staff with industry backgrounds and experience in film, children’s TV and advertising
  • Work in multi-skilled teams, reflecting industry practice
  • Develop technical and creative knowledge through character animation, storytelling, concept art and the use of software
  • Hone your skills in the production of 2D, 3D and stop-motion animation, working in professional-standard facilities
  • Underpin your creative work with theoretical and historical understanding
  • Gain a working knowledge of industry practice
  • Graduate with a varied and professional animation portfolio

 

Lead image by Lucy Gatenby and Rebecca Hardess.

Course details

Animation BA(Hons) | Falmouth University

On this Animation degree, you'll have the opportunity to gain a BA(Hons) degree over three years or the option to study Animation BA(Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year and/or professional placement.

Through this course, you'll develop your creative and technical skills, build professional practice approaches and hone your personal identity and autonomy within animation production. You'll master the art of your specialism in either 2D, 3D or stop motion animation and learn to present and pitch your ideas. Mirroring industry, you'll also work with multi-disciplinary teams to produce exciting, unique animation productions ready to make your mark in industry.

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

A young woman dressed in a red sari
Amrutha Nair headshot

"I love learning new ways of enhancing my ideas with my talented peers and my lecturers, many of whom still work in the industry."

 

Amrutha Nair, current student

A CILECT School of Film and Television

We're part of the International Association of Film and Television Schools. This means you'll be part of a global network of interconnected film schools able to tap into equipment and expertise around the world.

In 2016 The School of Film & Television was invited to join CILECT. Founded in Cannes in 1954, CILECT consists of the best film schools from around the world. CILECT institutions are found in 65 countries on six continents.

Animation student posing a model figure in a studio
Animation students posing a model figure

How you'll learn & be assessed

This course could be for you if...

  • You like to communicate in through different media
  • You enjoy the process of creating and the final outcome
  • You want to learn more about different mediums and their cultural and historical contexts
  • You're self-motivated and resilient
  • You enjoy working with others
  • You want to have the opportunity to grow your skills and explore your creativity

 

Ask Abby a question

Facilities

The multi-million-pound, industry standard School of Film & Television offers professional facilities including:

  • Three animation software studios, containing powerful Dell Precision Workstations with Cintiq 24" & 27" pen displays. Industry aligned software available includes Autodesk Maya (3D), TV Paint & Toon Boom (2D), and Adobe Creative Cloud Suite eg. Premiere, Photoshop
  • Two dedicated stop-motion animation studios, equipped with stages, Canon EOS camera bodies, Nikon lenses, Dedolight and Rosco lighting fixtures, Manfrotto grip and Dragonframe image capture software.
  • Access to life drawing studio
  • Nine Mac Pro edit suites with Avid Media Composer, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite & Da Vinci Resolve.
  • Four large production studios:

Production Studio 1: multipurpose studio equipped with three Sony HXC-FB80 studio cameras, chromatte grey screen and full lighting rig. Integral live gallery includes 4-input Tricaster Ultra HD production system.
Production Studio 2: multipurpose studio and support area for studio 1.
Production Studio 3: multipurpose studio with lighting rig.
Production Studio 5: Specialist green screen studio with infinity cove & 360 degree subject lighting rig. Access to Xsens motion capture kit and VR/AR/MR equipment.

  • 129-seat cinema, with Christie M Series 2.5k projection and 7.2 surround sound.
  • Two 28 seat ‘Post Hubs’ for post-production software training - equipped with dual screen Apple iMacs. Software available includes Avid Media Composer, Adobe Creative Cloud, Da Vinci resolve and Pro Tools. Production management software is also available.
  • 25-seat dubbing theatre with Avid S6 mixing desk and Pro Tools Ultimate.
  • Three further post-production audio suites – all equipped with Pro Tools Ultimate.
  • Foley/ADR suite with access to wide range of mics, foley traps and props.
  • All post-production suites network-linked to Avid NEXIS shared storage system for seamless access and integration of projects.
  • Digital cameras (HD to 4K) including Arri Alexa, RED, Sony, Canon, Blackmagic, Panasonic alongside Arri SR3 and Bolex 16mm film cameras. Odyssey 7Q+ External Recorders are also available.
  • Wide range of hot and cold (LED) lighting equipment including systems by Arri, Dedo & Kino Flo alongside traditional blondes and red heads.
  • Grip and gimbal systems available include Free-Fly Movi M5, Wally Dolly, Indie Dolly, PD1 Dolly, Koolertron Sliders, Glidecam 2000, Libec and Camcrane Jibs.
  • Audio equipment includes Sound Devices 633 mixers, recorders and an extensive range of microphones.
Animation drawing of desert mountain landscape
Animation desert mountains

Staff

Our staff members are award winning experts with multiple awards to their name. From working in 2D, 3D & stop motion in directing, production, design, layout and animation, the academic team have extensive industry-wide experience.

We pride ourselves on our industry partnerships which reach beyond the UK to some the best animation studios around the world. This provides essential networking opportunities for our students and alumni and helps inform and shape our curriculum.

Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.

Careers

"Falmouth is one of the few universities we work with as part of the Envy Academy. Due to the quality of the curriculum and staff, they are regularly producing employable talent"

- Tom Morgan, Head of Client Services, Envy Post Production

Animation still of a headless silhouette with a red hand
Animation & Visual Effects_Main

What can I do with an animation degree?

An Animation degree can open up lots of opportunities for you. Whether you want to go into the film industry, or pursue careers in other media sectors such as gaming, publishing, marketing or sport.

Read more about careers in animation

Our Animation graduates have worked as:

  • Riggers and Compositors at Blue Zoo and Cinesite
  • Coordinator at Studio AKA and Industrial Light & Magic
  • Model Maker at Laika Studios (Coraline, ParaNorman)
  • Artists and Pre-vis Artists at DNEG
  • Part of the Aardman Animations team (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run)

How to apply

Ready to apply for 2025?

You can apply for our undergraduate degrees via UCAS. You'll need our university UCAS code (F33) as well as your course code (which you'll find on your course page) for your application.

Apply via UCAS

Course route UCAS code
Course routeAnimation BA(Hons) three year degree UCAS codeW615
Course routeAnimation BA(Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year UCAS codeFY23
Course routeAnimation BA(Hons) with professional placement UCAS codePY53

For starting your studies in 2025

UK applications: 29 January 2025 (for equal consideration)

Applications after the 29 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.

International fee payers

International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

Fees, costs & funding

Tuition fees

Annual tuition fee Student
Annual tuition fee£9,535 per year StudentFull-time UK
Annual tuition fee£17,950 per year StudentFull-time EU/international
Annual tuition fee£1,905 per professional placement year StudentFull-time UK and EU/international
Annual tuition fee£9,535 per Integrated Foundation Year StudentFull-time UK
Annual tuition fee£17,950 per Integrated Foundation Year StudentFull-time EU/international

Tuition fees for September 2026 will be confirmed in summer 2025.

Typical course costs

  • £70 - Recurring annual costs (materials, drawing supplies, USB storage, etc.)
  • Laptop or desktop computer capable of running 3D/2D animation software – typical cost approx. £1,500. Please note, you will also have access to specialist computers in our Animation and Production Studios throughout the course – see more info under the Facilities section, above.
  • £450 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration

If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter. 

Additional typical course costs for Integrated Foundation Year pathway

  • £250 for materials
  • A laptop/desktop computer
  • Adobe Creative Suite

To engage in the digital learning activity, although you will be able to access IT suites on campus, you will benefit from a laptop to access the platforms and tools we use. Depending on your subject, you may need a specific type of computer. If you're unsure about what you might need, please contact our course advisors.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. 

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

Ask a student

What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?

From course details and academic support, to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Open Days and events

From visiting campus to online application advice, get all the information you need about joining our creative community.

Find an event
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68%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for Animation (Full time) at Falmouth University

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84%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

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84%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for courses in Cinematics and photography at Falmouth University

For more official course information visit Discover Uni

See course data

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