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

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.

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

The specifics

Facilities

woman sat working at imac suite

iMac suite at Ravensbourne

iMac suite at Ravensbourne University - ideal for design students and computing students.

Find out more.

Student using the materials library

Materials library

The Ravensbourne materials library is curated by Material ConneXion, a business that introduces brands to the latest material innovations.

The materials scientists at Material ConneXion select innovative materials relevant to the courses at Ravensbourne and that reflect current trends in design and manufacturing.

Samples of these materials are then added to the library so students and staff can browse the physical collection for inspiration, material ideas and applications.

The library hosts 1,500 material samples and an interactive table for further research and access to the Material ConneXion database.

External visitor information

If you wish to come and see the materials library and have a short tour, please contact us to organise.

The materials library can be used by external students registered with the SCONUL access scheme.

Find out more.

Girl sitting in library

Library at Ravensbourne

The Ravensbourne University library has a large collection of print, online and multimedia resources available for staff and students to use.

Find out more.

Staff in the Kit Store

Kit Store at Ravensbourne

As a digital student, you'll need access to equipment relevant to your course that will support your learning.

The Kit Store provides a wide range of equipment that students can borrow to complete their projects. Staff can also borrow equipment to deliver their practical sessions. 

It houses a wide range of equipment from industry standard manufacturers, including cameras, audio, lighting, and more.

Staff at the Kit Store are trained in various relevant departments and are available to give advice on all the equipment within the store, to help you realise your project.

Find out more.

Unistats Details