Course overview

  • Starts: Sep 2026
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Mode: Full time
  • UCAS code: WQ16
  • Fees: UK: £9,535 (2025/26)* / International: £17,000 (2025/26)*

*Fees subject to change for 2026/27.

Take your first steps in 3D animation.

Step into the world of digital storytelling with our 3D Animation course with an Integrated Foundation Year. This course will ignite your creativity and imagination, so you can discover new ways of making, thinking and documenting.

The BA (Hons) 3D Animation with Integrated Foundation Year degree is an ideal fit for students who want extra focused time to develop their portfolio and skillset

Student work

Marty and the Bug 2025 - Preslava Glushkova

Marty and the Bug 2025 - Preslava Glushkova

Animation student using software programme

Animation student using software programme

Undergraduate work on the animation course

Student work entitled 'Sanctuary in the Clouds'

Undergraduate work on the animation course

Student work entitled 'Routemaster'

Why study this course?

  1. Excellent location with a host of animation studios on the doorstep
  2. Opportunities for mentorships with top industry players
  3. Collaborate on live briefs within industry
  4. Acquire the technical skills to apply your creative talent to a successful career in character animation
  5. Work collaboratively with other students to tackle creative briefs and bring ideas to life.

BA (Hons) 3D Animation with Integrated Foundation Year is a four-year course that begins with a dedicated foundation year designed to give you the essential skills and confidence to succeed in your academic journey.

This four-year pathway introduces you to the art and craft of bringing characters, environments and entire worlds to life. Your foundation year builds essential creative and technical confidence, preparing you for specialist animation study.

As you progress, you’ll explore character performance, motion, modelling, rigging, lighting, rendering and cinematic storytelling. Working in a studio culture that mirrors professional animation pipelines, you’ll collaborate on projects that challenge your imagination and refine your visual voice. By graduation, you’ll have a polished showreel and the industry-ready skills needed to join the next generation of animators shaping film, TV, games and immersive media.

Bluezoo quote

Key study topics

During Year 1 you will focus on:

  • Critical awareness and practical skills
  • Confidence and creative potential.
  • Ethics and industry knowledge.
  • Creative voice and communication

You’ll engage with the animation industry and collaborate with different disciplines to explore a range of observational and contextual subject-related areas.

During Year 2, 3 and 4 you will focus on:

  • Conceptualisation
  • Digital development skills
  • Asset creation
  • Character animation techniques
  • Storytelling techniques and
  • Life drawing
  • Idea development

 

Industry connections

Gain insights into industry best practices through our exclusive guest talks!

Locksmith animation guest talk and workshop - Olly Crawford, Levi Pugh and Elle Holmes

Locksmith animation guest talk and workshop - Olly Crawford, Levi Pugh and Elle Holmes

Name DNEG guest talk - Rebecca Meilak headshot

DNEG guest talk - Rebecca Meilak

What has been an exciting project you have worked on?

Having worked on so many it is hard to choose, but there was something particular fun bringing Mrs Twit to life in Netflix’s production of the Twits. Getting to work on a British classic is a privilege, but being able to animate a power-hungry, scheming and confident villain, was a pleasure.

What key skills do you look for in a graduate?

Skills I look for in a graduate can be split into two main categories: hard and soft skills. Hard skills would be understanding the core principles of animation, displaying skills in acting, performance and body mechanics.  

Soft skills I look for are the ability to take on feedback and apply it to their current and future animation; if they will be a cohesive member of a team; and creative problem solving and thinking. 

StrangeBeast workshop at Ravensbourne

StrangeBeast workshop at Ravensbourne - Amy Ashton

What has been an exciting project you have worked on?

Most recently I had the pleasure of producing Harry Bhalerao's Starface spot. It was great to see how he realised this super-fun brief with lots of creative freedom in Blender. Another personal fave of mine is our Google Heroes of Small Business film directed by Jeanette Nørgaard, which was epic in both style & team size!

What key skills do you look for in a graduate?

Studios & projects will vary in terms of roles & software used so more than anything, I like to see an open-mindedness & will to learn from graduates. They're at the start of their career when coming out of uni so as long as we know what field they'd like to go into & can see a supporting body of work, we can assess how to nurture & develop their talent in the working world. 

InMotion industry event

InMotion industry event

Sumo digital - Ollie Trotman workshop at Ravensbourne

Sumo digital - Ollie Trotman workshop at Ravensbourne

What was the most valuable thing you learned here that you still use in your work today?

The studying starts at university but doesn't end there. Growth comes from within. The never-ending quest to learn will drive you forward. Find your passion and you'll have a bottomless supply of fuel to keep the creative fires stoked.

How did your time at Ravensbourne shape your creative identity as an animator?

Learning alongside peers with different interests. Broadened my horizons. It inspired me to have a wider field of view creatively. 

The Third Floor - Marcus Ayrton guest speaker

The Third Floor - Marcus Ayrton guest speaker at Ravensbourne

The specifics

Downloadable course specification*

*Subject to revalidation

Pathways Details

Unistats Details