Animation (With Foundation Year)

This mixed-media course is designed to give new and emerging animators a competitive edge when entering the world of work. Course highlights include character design and model making as well as motion graphics, augmented reality and special effects. Hone your craft with a combination of one-to-one tutorials, seminars, demonstrations and independent research. With insights into a range of animation techniques and new technologies, you’ll be well equipped for a future career in the creative industries.

Foundation Year In the Foundation year you will study three days per week. The focus will be on academic writing skills and numeracy, plus subject-specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree. The course has been designed to develop your skills and to prepare you for entry onto the first year of your chosen course. It provides a balance between content related to your chosen subject and the range of wider skills required for undergraduate study. This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will be required to pass the foundation year in order to progress to the first year of your BA (Hons) degree. This course is ideal for those who do not meet our standard entry requirements or those with a non-standard educational background. It will allow you to graduate with a full undergraduate degree in your chosen subject in four years.

Facilities and Specialist Equipment

Spacious studios and facilities in Alexon House, the previous home of the Alexon and Eastex fashion company.

Industry-replicating stop-motion suite with three-point lighting.

Mac computers with access to Creative Cloud, Dragonframe and TB Paint software.

Creative Cloud for personal use.

Equipment including drawing tablets; cameras; C-stands; and coloured gels.

360° green-screen room with motion-capture suit.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The course partners with a graphics arts course at MSA University in Cairo, Egypt, for international student collaboration.

Project collaborations include with our official education partner Luton Town Football Club; the NHS; and Luton Council.

Your Student Experience

Work the way you would in the creative industry, collaborating in teams across disciplines, in a studio environment.

Engage with a wide range of graphic and animation work, from street art to visual identities, character design to motion graphics, and beyond.

Take the opportunity to work on live projects through entering national competitions and awards such as D&AD, RSA Student Awards and Penguin Design Award, alongside local collaborations and University-wide initiatives.

Our in-house studio, Guildford Street Press, which is led by one of our alumni, offers internships that allow you to get live experience working on projects for external clients.

Benefit from regular visits to galleries, studios and exhibitions.

Attend talks from designers and animators from across the world, broadening your understanding of what is possible in the creative industries.