MA Animation
- Entry year
- 2025/26
- Course code
- W92012
- Application
- University
- Level
- Postgraduate
- School
- School of Arts
- Campus
- City Campus
- Duration
- 15 months
- Delivery
- Full-time, starts September
- Programme leader
- Julia Bracegirdle and Luis Cook
This course is open for applications.
Please note that this programme is currently being redesigned with additional module choices. A new structure will be confirmed by January 2025.
Page last updated 28 October 2024
UWE Bristol’s accredited MA Animation is ideal if you want to study a practice-led curriculum in a diverse, creative postgraduate community. This course is led by internationally renowned industry professionals in a city recognised as a global centre for animation production.
The MA Animation course at UWE Bristol positions animation as an artform at the forefront of contemporary storytelling. New technologies, diversifying media, and emerging audiences offering exciting opportunities for tomorrow’s filmmakers and designers.
Throughout the course, you’ll study alongside a purposefully small group of peers. Our celebrated staff team and extensive industry links ensure you’ll learn your craft from skilled professionals, whether you choose to focus on stop-motion, digital 2D, or CG technologies.
As a creative student, you’ll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol. As a socially and politically progressive city, it’s widely recognised as a global centre for animation production. Our strong partnerships with local organisations – including Aardman Animations – mean you’ll benefit from their input, along with many valuable networking opportunities in this thriving creative context.
MA Animation is based at our Bower Ashton site, part of our City Campus. Here, you’ll have access to exceptional technical facilities and resources including 2D, CG and stop-motion animation studios, sound recording suites, and fabrication workshops. You’ll also have access to a combination of traditional tools and the latest technology.
Accredited by ScreenSkills, the UK’s skills body for the screen industries, you’ll gain a recognised master’s degree and join our extensive network of industry-active alumni. You may also be eligible for the BAFTA scholarship.
Whether you’re an experienced practitioner with a story to tell or a creative looking for a career in animation, you’ll have the chance to tailor your animation projects to fit your own career aspirations.
You’ll graduate with a globally recognised qualification and have a broad range of career options available to you regionally, nationally and internationally. Our graduates leave with the skills and knowledge for careers in film production, character animation, production design and storytelling.
The image above shows the fantastic work from our Animation graduates (top left: Hend Esmat and Lamiaa Diab, 2018, top middle: Cornelius Joksch, 2016, top right: Andreas Fobes, 2022, middle left: Luke Frangeskou, 2023, middle: Madeleine Homan, 2023, middle right: Hugo Docking, 2023, bottom left: Karolina Bielskyte, 2018, bottom middle: Ché Dedames, 2024, bottom right: Chris Lambourne, 2022).
To see more of our graduate’s work visit our online UWE Showcase.
The course features a sequence of five modules delivered over three semesters:
Animated Encounters (30 credits) - This module introduces animation techniques through encounters with our three key animation processes: Stop-motion, CG and 2D animation. Essential training will lead to your first collaborative filmmaking assignment. Theoretical content focuses on the characteristics and diversity of the short animated film.
Animation Agenda (30 credits) - The aim of this module is to enable you to research, develop and pitch project ideas for your animated film or body of work (such as a character animation show-reel or a portfolio of design or story orientated work). You'll develop and examine your practice with the support of a designated specialist supervisor.
Animation Inquiry (15 credits) - All animation practitioners benefit from becoming practitioner-researchers too. In this research module, you'll investigate and develop a research project related to your interests and practice. Two research pathways are available: an academic pathway in the field of animation studies, or an enterprise and innovation pathway.
Studio A (45 credits) - In addition to academic supervision, this module is where our industry mentorship scheme begins. You'll continue to develop your major animation project work in line with your defined agenda of personal learning, creative practice and future career goals.
Studio Z (60 credits) - Film work, show-reels and portfolios are the essential 'calling cards' for animation practitioners. In this module, you'll complete your major project work. You'll also produce other outputs in line with your defined agenda of personal, learning, creative practice and future career goals. This final module will involve planning for your showcase screening event too.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
Taught by an acclaimed team with international industry expertise, you’ll learn to understand and push animated boundaries through technical and theoretical input. You’ll study through a combination of practice-oriented lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials, and you’ll also benefit from events with industry experts.
All School of Arts MA courses actively encourage cross-disciplinary discussion and multi-disciplinary interaction across our diverse community of postgraduate artists, filmmakers, and designers. This ensures you’ll bring different perspectives to your creative practice.
See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.
This is a full-time course, which starts in September and runs for three terms over 12 months. Learning and teaching sessions typically take place over three days per week, variable across the academic year. Outside of your contact hours, you’ll have the opportunity to access the available resources.
You’ll be assessed through a range of methods designed to mirror professional practices in the animation industry. You’ll be evaluated through presentation, portfolio, practical work and written reflection with ongoing feedback from tutors.
You’ll spend your last term working towards your final outcome for the year, which includes an opportunity to screen your work publicly.
Learn more about assessments.
This course is accredited by ScreenSkills, the UK’s skills body for the screen industries.
Studying at Bower Ashton offers an excellent base for our City Campus students, connecting you some of Bristol’s best creative and cultural organisations.
Hone your skills in industry-standard animation studios, which are equipped with the latest software and DVD authoring facilities and modern stop-motion studios. You also have access to the School of Arts’ recently upgraded media studios, EPI Centre, 3D Centre, print fabrication facilities and newly extended library.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Filmmaking, Animation and Photography and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Skills development is embedded throughout the course and you will develop the creative, technical and professional skills required by the animation and media industries and a range of other careers.
Through practical assignments, live projects and technical workshops you will develop key skills in scheduling, production management, budgeting, life drawing, visualisation, networking, marketing, and research.
Study support is also provided throughout and offers valuable advice and guidance for both home and overseas students on a range of matters including presentation skills support and coursework preparation.
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
You’ll will be taught by practising designers, makers, and researchers, bringing their skills and expertise exclusively to you studying at postgraduate level. Our students frequently go on to screen work in worldwide animation and short film festivals. Others have gone on to launch their own start-up studios, supported by UWE Bristol's Launch Space incubation hub.
You’ll have the opportunity to enter or continue employment in the animation industry. You might run your own business, or progress to PhD study at UWE Bristol or elsewhere. Past students have gained employment and worked on productions throughout the world with companies such as: Aardman Animations, Wonky, Rumpus, Sun and Moon, Wild Seed Studios, Blue Zoo and Laika.
Learn more about our graduate destinations.
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
See our funding pages for more information.
Find out about the MyWorld scholarships, which are available for home postgraduate students studying a creative technology-related course (full-time or part-time).
We are looking for highly motivated creative students with some prior experience in animation or a related area. Usually applicants will have an undergraduate degree in the Visual Arts but those with other academic qualifications or relevant professional experience are also encouraged to apply.
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages.
Applicants will be required to provide a portfolio of work reflecting your experience, interests, and potential in the field of animation. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview where you will be expected to discuss your portfolio and articulate a clear vision of the potential role of animation in the development of your own creative practice.
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades please visit English Language requirements.
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our pre-sessional English Programme.
Read more about postgraduate applications.
We accept applications throughout the year but if you are working to a funding deadline, you should build this into your application process.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.