BA (Hons) Animation and Illustration

• 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications
• Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Relevant creative and art and design-related subjects are preferred.
• You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
• You'll be required to attend an interview and provide a portfolio of appropriate work.
• The quality of the portfolio/interview is the primary basis on which applicants are selected; therefore special consideration will be given to applicants without the above qualifications who have a strong portfolio.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

This course offers you a practical and critical exploration of both illustration and animation. Animation modules aim to develop your visual voice and technical skills, your communication and storytelling skills, as well as your ability to work with others and take instruction. In addition, you can increase your networking skills and flexibility, by working between several projects simultaneously.

Illustration modules aim to make the most of your imagination and enable you to develop your knowledge of computer-aided design techniques and printing processes, including computer graphics and screen printing. Furthermore, it can provide you with the opportunity to increase your research skills and develop the ability to market your skills to potential employers.

What can I do with this qualification?

Professional careers in the disciplines of animation and illustration include such roles as storyboard, layout and concept artists, character animators and technical directors, and visual development artists in character design and/or environment design for animated films, shorts and special projects. You can also consider careers in publishing, book illustration, or editorial and advertising.

Some of the other more common career paths include graphic designer, video editor and web designer. Graduates can work freelance for magazines, newspapers, publishers and TV production companies. They can also pursue careers in games, multimedia, special effects and design.

Postgraduate opportunities also exist within disciplines such as illustration, advertising, fine art, furniture design and museum studies. Some graduates also pursue teaching qualifications.

Alternative career options

Graduates can use the qualification to enter a range of other careers, and for some of these roles, both relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. They include:

• Exhibition design
• Produce design
• Animated commercials
• Poster production
• Greeting card design
• Music promotion
• Advertising and marketing
• Studio management
• Arts administration
• Fashion design
• Education and teaching

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2022-2023 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

For 2022-2023 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2022-2023 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

Learning and teaching methods use a blended style which means you’ll have face-to-face sessions as well as taking part in online learning. Active learning is promoted via seminars, lectures and tutorials, practical workshop demonstrations, a visiting speaker programme, critiques, study visits, self-directed study, IT sessions, library and guided study, and online learning.

Online learning is delivered via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) used by the University which is called Moodle. Moodle allows students to access learning materials and study aids either on or off the campus. The use of Moodle is of great benefit as it allows self-directed study to be completed from anywhere at any time.

Module-based design briefs offer you an insight into the professional environment; this is achieved by using simulated design briefs, client-led live briefs, and competition briefs. You’ll be supported through the course by having group tutorial and critiques, one-to-one tutor feedback, and regular feedback from clients and collaborators.

Our aim is to fully engage you in the teaching and learning process and you’ll be taught using methods designed to help you gain maximum benefit from your studies and fully achieve your goals.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Digital Methodologies
• Visual Storytelling
• Introduction to Animation and Illustration
• Contextual Studies in Animation and Illustration
• Introduction to Studio Practice in Animation and Illustration
• Employability and Enterprise
• Past Present and Futures: Theory into Context
• Principles of Animation
• Principles of Illustration
• Open Study
• Advanced Studio Practice
• Visual Style
• Character Design
• Professional Practice and Self-Promotion
• Research in Context
• Major Project

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.