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Animation

MA
Duration
1 year
Start
September 2025
Delivery
In-person

Our MA Animation course will enable you to enhance your animation skills under the supervision of industry professionals. Whether you're looking to create brilliant character animation, an outstanding animated film, or amazing sound design, we'll help you master your craft.

Why study with us

  • Opportunities to work on ‘live’ projects with industry connections and build up an impressive portfolio of professional-standard work.
  • You’ll have access to extensive studio, workshop and computer facilities equipped with the very latest specialist software.
  • Key facilities include stop motion studios with lighting rigs, computer suites, rostrum suites for traditional animation and stop motion, a recording studio, and 3D printing and scanning.
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MA Animation student showreel

Degree Show 2024

Discover the award-winning creative work produced by our postgraduate Animation students. The degree show features work in a range of mediums by students from the School of Arts & Media.

Access the Degree Show
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MA Animation student work01 / 06

By Adam Vickerstx.
By Adam Vickerstx.

What you’ll do

  • You’ll get the chance to take part in our unique cJAM employability event, where you can pitch to industry professionals offering work opportunities.
  • Regular visiting industry professionals and trips to animation festivals will help and encourage you to network with the animation industry and are a key part of this course.
  • You'll be taught by professionals who have created and directed their own animation series for terrestrial broadcast - Channel 4 and BBC. Sarah Ann Kennedy and Mark Mason still work in the industry today and have active academic research profiles.

Modules

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Looking to start your postgraduate journey?

Our range of subjects and study modes can support your goals. Take your next step with a postgraduate degree.

How to apply

Adobe Creative Cloud

Unleash your creativity at anytime, anywhere. From September 2024, you'll have access to the industry-standard Adobe Creative Cloud package on both your personal device and on campus. Get hands-on with this widely recognised package and create a portfolio that showcases your skills.

Academic expertise

This course is taught by a dedicated animation team who have extensive industry experience. Course Leader Sarah Ann Kennedy is also the voice of Mrs Rabbit in Peppa Pig and Nanny Plum in Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom. Mark Mason is an experienced 2D animation director who has worked in the industry for over 20 years. There are a number of other experienced animators and model makers on hand to give you advice and support.

During the course you’ll benefit from opportunities to hear from keynote industry speakers as they describe their career journey and offer their expert advice.

MM
Mark Mason
Lecturer in Animation

Future careers

Our Animation graduates have gone on to enjoy successful careers as animators, model-makers, editors, directors, scriptwriters, set designers and sound designers.

Others have gone on to work at major companies such as Nintendo, The factory, McKinnon and Saunders, Sony Pictures, TT Games, Soccer Manager, the BBC and many others.

Entry requirements

All applicants are requested to submit digital supporting material and where possible will be invited to attend an interview with a portfolio of recent work.

  • Applicants should hold a 2:2 degree or equivalent professional experience or learning in a related field
  • Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits in the light of the nature and scope of the programme
  • IELTS: Score of 6.0 with no component score lower than 5.5
  • A high level of achievement in undergraduate studies at a university elsewhere such as North America: Minimum overall GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
  • All applicants are requested to submit digital supporting material and where possible will be invited to attend an interview with a portfolio of recent work

Fees and funding

2025/26
UK
Full-time£9,450 per year
Part-time£1,050 per 20 credits
International
Full-time£17,900 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

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This course is delivered by the School of Arts and Media

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page