MA 3D Computer Animation

• Disney Animation Studios - Moana, Big Hero Six, Frozen
• Pixar - Monsters University, Toy Story
• Framestore - Gravity, Guardians of the Galaxy 2
• MPC - Alien: Covenant, Maleficent, The Jungle Book
• Iloura - Mad Max: Fury Road
• Animal Logic - The Lego Movie, Ninjango
• Double Negative - Ex-Machina, Interstellar, Inception, Godzilla
• The Mill - Chemical Brothers/Beck Music video, Cif advert
• Illumination Mac Guff - Despicable Me, Minions
• Frontier Development - Elite: Dangerous
• Foundry 42/Cloud Imperium Games
• Creative Assembly
• Random 42
• Blue Zoo
• Microsoft
• AMD
• Glassworks
• DreamWorks
• Playground Games - Forza Horizons
• Next Limit,
• Golaem
• Epic Games - Creators of the Unreal Game Engine
• Chaos Group - V-Ray
• Realise Studios
• Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
• Blue Sky Studios
• Karrot Entertainment
• Dave McKean - illustrator for Batman: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
• The Foundry
• Media Molecule
• Nvizible
• Super Super Films
• Amuzo
• Axis Animation
• Industrial Light & Magic - Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

• Core Production Principles: This unit is the first practical unit on the course and establishes the core skills in computer animation tools that you’ll rely upon through the rest of the course. 
• Core Production Techniques: In this unit you’ll build upon the skills developed in Core Production Principles to expand your knowledge of animation techniques and add further depth to your computer animation practice. 
• Visual & Critical Studies: This unit provides the wider theoretical and critical context for your studies. It will introduce you to a range of conceptual tools and theoretical themes in moving image, to encourage debate and critical thinking in the field of computer animation. You will consider how to theoretically underpin your own creative practice within a contemporary context.
• Group Project: Working with students from the other NCCA Masters courses, you’ll conceptualise, design and execute a short, animated project, in a manner which is aligned with industry practice.
• Research & Development: This unit aims to assist you in developing an understanding of different research methodologies and their connections to creative practices in computer animation, visual effects and expanded fields of CGI. You will review three modes of research, i) research by publication, ii)  research by practice, and iii) industry led research. You should then be able to identify a relevant topic of inquiry and apply one of these modes in self-directed research.
• Production Development: During this unit you’ll develop your skills and knowledge in originating computer animation assets and content. With guidance from tutors, you’ll undertake conceptualisation, design and development of your own production project.
• Master's Portfolio: The focus of the third semester is completing the Master's component of your education. This project can be a standalone project or a continuation of the group project unit. In either case you can work alone or with other students. 

You have the option to undertake a three-month placement during the Master’s Portfolio unit, providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements officer are on hand to support you.

• 24/7 access to your studio 
• 2 x 24” Cintiqs in the studio
• Access to Green Screen facility
• Access to Mocap facility
• Programme-specific Software: Maya, Mari, Z-Brush, Nuke, Adobe Creative Suite, Substance Painter, Marvellous Designer, Unreal Game Engine, Unity Game Engine, Advanced Skeleton, Ziva, Mudbox, Motionbuilder, V-Ray, Maxwell Renderer, Shotgun, RealFlow, Houdini Engine plus a host of plugins to aid production.
• Cameras, lenses, tripods, sound recording devices and other resources associated with production.
• Departmental Software: RC++, OpenGL, Qt, Maya, Houdini, Renderman plus many more.

Bournemouth University is one of a small number of institutions from around the world who have been granted Houdini Certified School status by Side Effects Software.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

The admissions team will look at your online application including your qualifications, personal statement and any work experience, as well as your portfolio. Please make sure your application stands out from the crowd and leaves us in no doubt that you want to study at Bournemouth University.

MA 3D Computer Animation is one of four Master's degree pathways created by the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA). All pathways share a great deal of core teaching, but also have specific pathway teaching. If your primary area of interest is mostly digital effects and moving image theory, then our Digital Effects programme may be a better choice for you. If your skills are mostly technical or programming-based without much in the way of original artwork, then our Computer Animation & Visual Effects programme may be the better choice. Newly created by the NCCA is MSc Artificial Intelligence for Media, a pathway enabling you to develop transferable technical and programming skills, this is a technology centred degree where you'll be encouraged to develop AI tools supporting the production of animation and games.

Our assessment panels will automatically pass applications deemed better suited to another pathway onto them, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with all our Master’s pathways to help ensure 3D Computer Animtion is the right programme for you

Our students come from a broad background and age group. Applicants in the past have studied or worked in the field of fine art, illustration, painting, sculpture, graphic design, architecture, traditional animation, 3D visualisation, scriptwriting, performance arts and photography. This is by no means an exhaustive list but should provide an idea of the creative disciplines successful applicants have originated from.

Computer knowledge is not a prerequisite, neither is having worked in 3D before. We are more concerned with your aesthetic and/or technical abilities, as well as a passion for study this area.

You will be asked to submit a portfolio in support of your application. Your portfolio should contain a full range of visual material which illustrates your talents and working methods. It is not essential to include 3D work; we are more interested in your aptitude as an artist or designer.

The portfolio only needs to contain your strongest work; pieces which you are comfortable discussing with your peers. Sketch books and notebooks are also advantageous as we are interested in how you generate ideas, your observational skills and their aesthetic appeal. Works in progress are also fine.

Your portfolio will be reviewed by one of the tutors on the course and you may be invited to attend an online interview to discuss your application further.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject
• A professional qualification or diploma recognised to be equivalent to an honours degree
• Industrial experience deemed to be equivalent to an honours degree

Applicants are also required to submit a portfolio in support of their application for this course.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (four years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%  
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:4  
• China: Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above  
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0  
• Ghana: Bachelor's degrees from University of Ghana or Legon with a grade of 2.00 or above, or from Cape Coast with a grade 2.5 or above  
• USA: US Bachelor’s degree (four years), with a 2.5 GPA or above

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in writing, speaking, listening and reading or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

In 2016, we had two graduates collect awards for their work:

• Mark Ardington won an Oscar for his work on ‘Ex Machina’ 
• A BAFTA went to Paul Kavanagh and the ILM Team who created the effects for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. 

In February 2011 and 2015, NCCA graduate Andy Lockley was awarded an Oscar for his role as Visual Effects Supervisor on the Christopher Nolan film 'Inception' and ‘Interstellar’ respectfully; whilst a number of our graduates who also worked on the film shared in the celebrations. 

*All information shown has been taken from Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) or BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.

The roles our 3D Computer Animation graduates are in include:

• 3D Artist
• Artist
• Software Developer
• Character Animator
• Technical Animator.

• Animation
• Gaming
• Film
• TV.

• Framestore
• Double Negative
• MPC
• Outpost VFX
• Blue-Zoo Animation
• The Foundry
• Creative Assembly 
• Union VFX
• Jellyfish Pictures
• Playground Games
• Weta Digital 
• Rock Paper Film 
• Method 
• EA
• Fortune Fish 
• TT Games/Travellers Tales
• Random 42
• Animal Logic
• Frontier Developments 
• Darkside Studio 
• Axis Animation 
• Illumination MacGuff
• Free Radical Design 
• Aardman Animations 
• Lionhead Studios 
• The Mill 
• Glassworks  
• Industrial Industrial and Magic
• Pixar and DreamWorks
• Illoura VFX
• Cinesite
• Ninja Theory
• Sony Cambridge
• Sony Liverpool
• Rock Star North
• Codemasters
• Criterion Games.

Survey on Bournemouth University Alumni Facebook Page (2016). 

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master's, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Our fees commitment means your tuition fees are fixed at the price quoted.
• Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study.
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions.
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances.
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Student Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• ​Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding information can be found on our website. 
• Your will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office or Digital ID verifications charges. 
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

We offer a range of scholarships to eligible students who are beginning their studies at BU. Please visit our funding pages for details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For September 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Paula Callus is the Programme Leader for MA 3D Computer Animation and a senior lecturer at the National Centre of Computer Animation at Bournemouth University. She holds a PHD in "Sub-Saharan African Animation" from The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and has published on animation from this region. Previous experience includes educational consultancy and training for UNESCO's “Africa Animated” projects and compiling animation programs for various festivals such as Africa in Motion (Edinburgh), Cambridge African Film Festival, Meknes Animation Festival (Morroco), Africa at the Pictures (London).  ​

Adam runs the National Centre for Computer Animation’s (NCCA) MA programme in 3D computer animation where he teaches fundamentals of design, modelling techniques for production, human anatomy, Maya and ZBrush. Specialising as a 3D modeller, Adam’s production credits include the Xbox 360 game Disneyland Adventures and the Games Workshop graphic novel Macragge’s Honour.

He is part of the team behind the BFX Festival and is currently researching the development of British comics. Adam has been interviewed for various news outlets discussing animated films, UK film and television production, education in animation, tax breaks for the games industry, and the BFX Festival.

Sofronis has worked in the Film and Games industry for Animal Logic (based in Sydney, Australia) and Microsoft’s Lionhead Studios (UK) on projects such as "Happy Feet", "300" and "Fable 2", training artists and production staff on projects that would go on to win an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Games BAFTA. 

Sofronis (aka Saf) teaches fundamental of design, rigging, advanced animation processes and toolsets, shaders, lighting; a variety of 2D and 3D tools such as Autodesk’s Maya and a host of professional third-party tools.

Sofronis has worked with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe whilst also designing a 2D Animation curriculum with twofour 54 tadreeb and Turner Broadcast Systems, for the rollout of a course in Abu Dhabi that closely mirrors the Cartoon Networks production pipeline. Having proposed and developed a new Bournemouth festival and VFX/Animation competition with colleagues at Bournemouth University, Sofronis is now the BFX Festival Director, an event that attracts some of the world’s very best film, VFX, computer games and animation studios - http://www.bfxfestival.com/

Adam graduated from the National Centre for Computer Animation in 2006 with a Master of Arts degree in Digital Effects.  He then went on to work in the feature film visual effects industry in London for six years, during which time he worked on a number of successful and award winning films including Gravity, Harry Potter, Narnia, Prince of Persia, John Carter, Clash of the Titans, Wrath of the Titans, and Sweeny Todd amongst others.  He is now leading the BA (Hons) Visual Effects undergraduate degree at the National Centre for Computer Animation.

Paul brings over a decade of experience as a professional CG trainer and digital artist to the role of NCCA and BFX competition demonstrator.

Tasked with helping budding digital artists improve their skills and efficiency he recognises and values the importance of inspiring and motivating students to challenge themselves when learning. Versed in a wide range of software and techniques used in production pipelines he harnesses that knowledge to guide, mentor, help and inspire students to overcome technical barriers, develop their ideas and strive to create their best work within deadline.

In a rapidly developing industry Paul keeps his knowledge base current by trialing new software features as they become available and is also part of the Autodesk Maya Beta testing Program.