MA Animation

An applicant will normally be considered for admission if they have achieved an educational level equivalent to an honours degree in either animation, illustration, visual communication, graphic design or closely related subject, and present a portfolio of moving-image work. However, we do not exclude candidates who have graduated from other less strongly aligned disciplines.

This educational level may be demonstrated by:

• Honours degree (named above);
• Possession of equivalent qualifications;
• Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;
• Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

• Related academic or work experience
• The quality of the personal statement
• A strong academic or other professional reference
• OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.

• IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.
• If your first language is not English, you can check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English on the Language Requirements page.

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• Sufficient prior knowledge and experience of and/or potential in animation practice to be able to successfully complete the programme of study, and have an academic or professional background in a relevant subject
• Knowledge of visual culture and an ability to engage in critical discussion

Communicating with you

After you have successfully submitted your application online, you will receive an email confirming your application and providing your login details for the UAL Applicant Portal. Please log into the portal, as this is where we will send you important updates and requests, and you can contact us with any questions you may have about your application.

What happens next

Portfolio advice

Our MA students focus on style and technique. As part of your application, you’ll be asked to provide a portfolio of work which contains 5 items.

You should choose items for your portfolio which represent your best work, your research, or something you wish to develop further: for example, style, technique format, narrative or ideology.

Mandatory items

You must include both of the following mandatory items and submit them as video files (e.g. avi, mp4, mpg, mpeg, mkv, mov, wmv):

• One animation which showcases your best animation or narrative skills. This must have been created by you as an individual, not as part of a group.
• One film or short clip of an animation that you’d like to develop further. Remember to choose examples which best represent your work and skills.

Option items

You must also include a further 3 items from the following list of options:

• Life drawing/sketches/art – choose a drawing or image that showcases your drawing skills and capture style.
• Concept drawing/illustration/art/photo/video link/embedded video - choose an item that showcases and captures what most interests you. This can be in terms of style, character, topic, ideology or technique.
• Video link/embedded video: submit a showreel which features your best animation work (up to a maximum of 30 seconds).

You must ensure that you include 3 items in total from the ‘Option items’ list. For example, you can choose to include one item from each of the 3 options, or 3 items from one of the options. You do not have to include work from all 3 options.

Important: Overall, there should be a total of 5 items in your portfolio (2 mandatory and 3 option items).

Formats

You’ll be able to upload video files, stills or audio files (referred to as ‘images’ in our system) as part of your portfolio.

Read more about maximum file sizes and the file types we accept on our UAL portfolio advice page.

Please provide any link as text, not a photograph, and carefully check that your link works correctly. You should also ensure that you provide any required passwords for your files.

Applicants are usually interviewed by the course team before a place can be offered. Interviews will take place at LCC, or via Skype/telephone.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the outcome of your application through the UAL Applicant Portal.

Graduates of MA Animation will be equipped to work in an increasingly technologically informed and interdisciplinary design world, with in-depth skills in the following areas: animation and animation production both 3D and 2D visual communication, narrative and sequential image making, typography, and time-based design as well as having a portfolio of personal work to enable you to seek work as a commercial animation director.

A significant proportion of graduates from this course will want to practice as commercial animators.