Curious about studying Animation - BA (Hons)at Bucks New University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
Do you have a passion for animation? Do you want to develop your skills ready for a career in this industry? On this very practical course you’ll cover a range of areas using up-to-date software, with the support and guidance from our experienced lecturers. Split between our High Wycombe campus and BNU teaching base at Pinewood Studios, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge you need for your future, all whilst studying right in the heart of the famous creative hub.
Why study Animation at BNU?Industry focused curriculumBNU's animation course is designed in collaboration with industry professionals, ensuring you learn the latest techniques and tools used in the field. This approach keeps you aligned with current industry standards and enhances your employability upon graduation.
Strong industry connectionsThe university's proximity to creative hubs like Pinewood Studios facilitates networking opportunities with industry experts, guest lectures, and potential collaborations. BNU also hosts regular events, such as industry panels and studio visits, where you can meet professionals and learn from their real-world experiences.
Industry expert teachersLearn from a dedicated team of industry veterans and experienced academics who provide personalised guidance and support. Their expertise enriches your learning experience and helps you develop a professional edge.
Flexible learning pathwaysThe degree offers a common first year shared with related courses, allowing you to explore various aspects of animation, 3D game art, and visual effects. This flexibility helps you make an informed decision about your specialisation, tailoring your education to your interests and career goals.
Career supportThroughout your studies, BNU offers dedicated career services, including workshops, portfolio reviews, and networking events. The program is designed to equip you with the tools needed to navigate the competitive job market confidently. Whether it’s refining your CV or preparing for interviews, you’ll have access to the support needed to land your dream job.
What facilities can I use?We’ve made sure you have access to industry-standard equipment and software, including: State-of-the-art Motion Capture EquipmentUnreal EngineUnityMaya3DS MaxSubstance SuiteZbrushMost of our 3D animation is currently done in Maya. For modelling you’ll use ZBrush, Marvellous Designer and a range of other pieces of software commonly used in industry. We review the list every year.
What will I study?The course covers everything you need to know to be career-ready upon graduation. Starting with the fundamentals, you’ll learn the basics of animation, visual effects and games art. You will begin to animate in a believable manner and get a feel for pre-visual narrative and layout.At the end of year one you will also be given the opportunity to change your degree and hone in on your passion, Visual Effects or Games Art, if that’s the field you wish to pursue.Throughout this course, you will also learn how to create detailed models from scratch through to lighting and rendering. You’ll also explore different aspects of the animator’s role. You’ll create stop motion sequences, experiment with different styles of animation and learn about 3D character acting, character animation, motion graphics and creature animation. By your final year, you’ll be working on projects to build your showreel for entry into employment in this exciting industry. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with students on other creative courses at the university.This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree.
You'll study how to make a 3D mesh, using the 3D modelling toolset from a modelling application. Through the process, you will also develop your observation skills using real objects and / or reference material. You will be expected to keep and submit a reflective learning journal as supporting evidence for their project.
You'll study how to texture a 3D model according to reference material, how to create the maps needed to accurately shade & render an object so that it will appear indistinguishable from the real thing, and how to recognise and replicate the properties of real-world materials. You'll be given models complete with UVs for workshops & practice.
You'll discover how to set up a three-point lighting setup and replicate it in CG, techniques for on-set lighting in film production, why each technique might be used in different scenarios and how to match these in CG for visual effects elements. You'll study the role of lighters in the VFX industry, and managing your time and scenes efficiently.
You'll study the core methods and principles of communicating a story with moving image. You'll have the chance to develop your understanding of cinematic techniques, using 3D software to experiment and test the creative possibilities of visual narrative. You'll also study the fundamentals of lighting and cameras.
You will learn the fundamentals of animation using the Maya interface, covering key principles such as human locomotion, weight, and flexibility, alongside modelling, lighting, texturing, and rendering techniques. The module teaches you how to plan and execute animated scenes, integrate sound and music, apply cinematography, and understand how story and character drive creativity. You'll explore various animation styles, study the animation production pipeline, and engage in independent problem-solving through online and distance learning methods.
This module builds your 3D keyframe animation skills through practical and theoretical study. You will refine your understanding of movement, weight, flexibility, and physical action, while also learning how camera work, storytelling, and industry pipeline structures support the creative process. Theoretical elements include the history of animation, critical analysis of visual styles, and case studies on contemporary animators and animation design. You will also be introduced to critical methodologies for analysing and contextualising animation.
This module aims to give you an understanding of how to animate human characters using appropriate techniques, software and workflows. You'll aim to produce a solid, versatile sequence demonstrating high level competence in character animation adaptable to games, VFX, or animated feature work.
You'll study how to produce effective and creative motion graphics. You'll develop your understanding of animation techniques and how they can be applied to various 2D and 3D designs, using industry standard software. You'll research and create your own motion graphics piece to an industry standard brief.
You'll master animating non-human characters like quadrupeds using the latest techniques and software. In hands-on workshops, you'll keep a reflective journal to track your progress and problem-solving skills. This journal will showcase your evolving workflow and understanding of animation.
This unit provides you with an opportunity to work on a small project, ideally in a small team but individual projects are possible where appropriate. You may also work with people studying other disciplines. Projects are the basis of much creative work and typically involve pre-production, production and postproduction phases, as well as teamwork.
You will explore a wide range of animation styles and techniques, expanding your visual vocabulary and creative toolset. Through the production of short, animated pieces, you will develop your personal voice, filmmaking skills, and project management abilities. Screenings, discussions, and analysis of current practice will deepen your understanding of the medium, and you will have the opportunity to integrate motion capture into your work. A reflective learning journal will support your development and form part of your assessment.
The rig is never seen by the audience but, for a computer generated character to be convincing, this is a critical aspect that has to work according to the brief. Rigging is a logical process, requiring strong organisation and problem solving skills. You’ll learn to create a rig for a humanoid character and bind the mesh to the rig.
You'll complete an industry style brief, fulfilling one or more roles (modeler, animator, compositor, groom artist and others) in an appropriate pipeline. The brief will be set and approved by the lecturers in conjunction with industry advice.
Complete your showreel & develop a work-oriented online presence. You'll research similar showreels to help determine how to make your own stand out then evaluate your existing work and choose a piece which can be significantly improved to bring it up to the standard of a junior industry professional. You'll make minor improvements to other pieces.
You'll plan a cutting-edge project, focusing on using up-to-date technologies & techniques in animation, film & game art production, or related content. You'll research your topic and use this to contribute to a project proposal/pitch. You'll receive feedback on the pitch and then be expected to implement it using your own judgement as a guide.
In this module you will complete a piece of work for use in your portfolio. This unit is an opportunity to produce a piece of work at the standard of a junior professional. You will be expected to maintain an annotated learning journal which will demonstrate how you have reflected on your work, leading to improvements and refinements.
This module follows on from Creative Project: Preproduction which is a pre-requisite. You will produce the project that you have planned using the assets that have been created and gathered for this purpose. You'll need to adjust your plan as it encounters reality and apply appropriate postproduction techniques.
4.4Bucks New University (BNU) is a student-focused university based in High Wycombe, with over 130 years of educational his...
