BA Honours Animation Degree

Overview & facilities

BA Animation Degree with Honours in London is an exciting new programme reflecting the amazing technological times in which we live. Animation was once limited to cinema and television, but now has many new platforms including web design, electronic street advertising and mobile phone visual ring tones. BA Animation Degree with Honours at Middlesex is a gateway into this vibrant ever changing creative industry. You will be encouraged to find your own voice as a filmmaker and develop original and innovative approaches, whilst gaining a solid grounding in all aspects of contemporary animation production. You will learn 3D CGI, 2D digital, stop motion, as well as exploring classical 2D and experimental animation techniques. You'll be taught all the technical, design and cognitive skills necessary to establish yourself in today's highly competitive and exciting animation industry or alternatively to move on to post graduate study.

Facilities
The facilities at Middlesex are some of the best in the country. Built to professionally approved specifications, the animation studio is equipped with the essential industry standard technology, including Maya, Adobe Creative Suite, Toon Boom and Final Cut. There are excellent photographic studios, state of the art digital print out facilities, large numbers of studio and lab computers, a brand new 40 workstation digital darkroom, traditional darkrooms, an art and design library with over 75,000 books and screenprint, etching, metal, wood, laser cutting, plastics and ceramics workshops.

At the end of your degree you will exhibit your work at the Middlesex University Art and Design Degree Show.  The show is a celebration of the end of your studies and the start of your creative career, it's a great opportunity to show off your talents to friends, family and creative industry employers. 

The BA Animation staff are all working professionally and bring to the course specialised expertise in short and long form animated filmmaking, commercials, TV series and motion graphics.

Programme flyer (front)

Programme flyer (back)

Content & modules

Digital technology is a major part of animation practice feeding into almost every area of production, so in addition to learning the principles of classical animation you will also receive training in all the state-of-the-art industry standard software. Good draughtsmanship and design ability is essential in the animation industry and developing your drawing skills in the life room and on location is the starting point for character and background design and a cornerstone of the programme. Experimentation and coming up with powerful and original concepts, writing coherent scripts, understanding film language, timing and editing are all important elements of the course. You will learn how to enrich and enliven your animation with sound design and have the opportunity to work collaboratively with students from areas as diverse as Music Composition and Sonic Arts. Animation history is another component of the course, with a strong emphasis on learning by watching, analysing and critical discussion. You will gain useful insights from visiting lectures by industry professionals. Strong contacts with industry mean that you will have the opportunity to benefit from working on live briefs and work experience on placements at animation studios.

Modules

• Year 1

  Introduction to Animation (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This Module aims to develop: - a personal approach to animation based on research, experimentation and the exploration of animation and it s relation to other areas of art and design practice from a historical, contemporary and cultural perspective. - communication skills to enable articulate discussion, analysis and evaluation of one s own work and that of others. - a basic understanding of film language, narrative and the technical processes of animation with the ability to apply that knowledge in the planning and creation of animation sequences.

  Introduction to History of Art and Design (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to present Design History Visual Culture as diverse and dynamic fields of study. It will introduce students to methodological approaches employed in the critical analysis of the production, representation and consumption of design and material culture, and it will encourage a historically contingent approach to comprehending design and material culture over the past century. The module will enable students to develop critical and descriptive languages of the History of Design. It will also provide the opportunity to question authorised and personal understandings of objects, subjects and environments

  Visual Communication Workshops 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to provide an opportunity to explore a variety of different graphic media and understand their value as methods of visual communication. It aims to encourage an inventive and experimental response to the use of processes and materials in workshop areas chosen from photography, screenprint, etching, lino print, letterpress, 3D design, magazine design, life drawing, animation, electronic design and bookbinding. The module also aims to offer students the opportunity to learn a range of transferable practical and technical skills in art and design, through material handling, exploration of process, production and presentation. This module also aims to provide students with the opportunity to identify and develop a range of specific transferable skills which will enable each student to independently engage in effective learning at first degree level. Additionally the module aims to provide an initial framework for the acquisition of personal and career development skills. Both of these main aims are further developed at level 2 and 3 through subject specific modules.

• Year 2

  Animation Practice (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to further develop: - improved technical skills coupled with an independent and challenging approach to animation problem solving. - increased confidence in articulate critical analysis, evaluation and discussion. - a deeper understanding of animation from a contemporary, historical and cultural perspective.

  Contemporary Practice Research (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to enable students to acquire a range of conceptual tools for the analysis of cultural products, and to develop an extended piece of research on a chosen aspect of visual, textual or spatial culture that will form the basis from which to develop the final research dissertation. The module will consolidate the skills necessary to develop an articulate position in relation to both a chosen discipline and practice in the broader field of the creative industries, and to gain the group skills of discussion, debate and the presentation of ideas - as well as the ability to employ key research and writing skills in the synthesis of a variety of sources to develop a coherent argument. The module will support the development of a research working title which should be in the form of a specific research question and to write a 2000 word research paper on a chosen topic, discussing, evaluating and analysing research findings/data.

  Visual Communication Workshops 2 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to develop an understanding of specialist subject areas of creative practice through studio and workshop based activities. It enables students to develop individual approaches to visual communication and to begin to identify broad areas of interest that could form the basis for further specialist study on their programme. It will encourage the acquisition of intermediate specialist skills to work effectively in creative workshop areas chosen from; advertising, life drawing, publicity, editorial photography, publishing, magazine design, animation, etching and print, interactive and web design. The module aims to further develop skills in using creative processes analysing, evaluating visual pieces of work and presentation methods.

• Year 3

  Animation: Major Projects and Professional Portfolio Development (90 Credits) - Compulsory

  This Module aims to: - reinforce, extend and consolidate previously acquired skills to achieve a confident, independent approach to animation practice at a professional level. - cultivate highly articulate analysis, evaluation and discussion with an explicit critical understanding of current animation practice. - Identify potential career paths and anticipate the expectations of the animation industry in the presentation of a graduation showreel, portfolio and promotional material.

  Critical and Contextual Proposition (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to enable students to identify and deliver a research project that is the product of sustained and creative engagement both with a range of research resources and an area of studio-practice. The module will consolidate skills of project identification, research organisation and development, time management, written and visual analysis and the presentation of a critical argument/thesis. The module further consolidates the development of skills required for autonomous learning.

Entry & applying

We are looking for people who are excited about animation and creative ideas, interested in moving imagery, good at drawing and aware of contemporary media. We interview all students who apply and look at a portfolio of art and design work. For applications from mature students we also consider work and life experience. Most successful applicants will come from an Art and Design Foundation Course or equivalent. We also accept strong candidates direct from school with A levels 160 UCAS tariff points in appropriate subjects.

The UCAS deadline for guaranteed consideration of applications for Middlesex art and design courses is 24 March.

Entry requirements

Apply now

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification.  The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL (paper based) 550 or TOEFL (internet based) 79 with specified minimum scores for each component.  For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

Fees & funding

Studio levy

In order to cover the cost of materials, we require students to pay a studio levy in advance - this means we are able to buy in bulk which saves you money overall. The levy for 2010 is yet to be confirmed, but as a guide, the charge for 2009 entry was £250

Careers & placements

Animation at Middlesex will prepare you for a career in many areas of the animation industry including Animation Director, Producer, 2D Animator, Stop Motion Animator, Games Animator, Modeler, Rigger, Renderer, After Effects Artist, Compositor, Motion Graphic Designer, CGI Animator, Web Designer.

Middlesex has strong links with art and design employers. Our industry partners sponsor final year students, give visiting lectures and hundreds of art and design agencies, organisations and other employers attend our final year degree show each year.

Our Careers Service offers you a range of support both while you’re studying with us – and after you’ve graduated.

Placements

Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market – as well as being a fantastic experience. We encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity.

We have a dedicated Placements Service which helps you find and plan for a placement.